TV in Preschool

[Laurie]

I'm a massive TV watcher myself 😬 But... I don't turn it on during daycare hours.
I've got parents who don't care if they watch and I have parents who are completely against it.
My personal opinion is... the parents don't pay me to set kids in front of the tv and let them zone out. I work with the kids the entire they're with me. We keep very busy and I don't see the need for it at daycare.
Once everyone leaves for the night, it's turned on and I veg out for a while!

[Sunchimes]

New AAP recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their recommendations.https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-...media-use.aspx

I don't have a tv in my playroom. Years ago, when I started special needs, the therapists were very firm about no tv. Before then, the oldest was allowed to watch when she woke up first. Then we moved to a tablet. Only one uses a tablet now. She is a late pickup, and we are all worn out by then. She watches 15 minutes or so on the days mom works late and everyone is gone. My last special needs kid ages out tomorrow, but I don't plan to change.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

I actually wrote myself an allowance for two shows per week in my handbook. We have yet to watch the first show. We just haven't had time for it.

I do use computer for some activities when we can't go outside (Hullabaloo, kiddie yoga, etc...)

[Unregistered]

I have 1/2 hour per day 7:30-8:00. Parents don't mind! They see all the great stuff they do here all day and are impressed.

I need calm and quiet at least before 8:00 am and I'm a morning person! I do allow table toys or TV. I don't watch much TV myself.

It's a life saver for me and I've done this for years! Other in home centers here have TV on all day for back ground noise. My parents think I'm a saint for the little amount of TV time we have. I'm work 7:00-5:30. I know what I need to survive in this business and this is it!

[Josiegirl]

I'm not anti-tv; I just don't own one or like sitting there zoning out, plus so much of it is mindless, biased, trying to sell those impressionable lil ones everything that's new on the market. A lot of scary, inappropriate, confusing and downright wrong information that kids can pick up along the way. And do not get me started on car dvd players or ipads that have to be used during a 5 minute trip to dc.
Why does a young mind need that kind of a mental stimulation(or lack of) or break so often?? Let them get lost in daydreaming or the pictures in a book.
As has been said, so many important things to do, see and learn besides letting a box entertain them, better ways to bring the real world into their lives.
Our regs. USED to allow 2 hrs. daily. I have no idea what it is now because it's no longer applicable to my dc situation.
And oh my, do not get me started on instant gratification.

I hate the habit. Detest the habit of using television. I remember too many times, as a family, we took an overnight trip. First thing my dh would do when we walked into a motel room was turn on the tv. Great...let's spend 100 bucks to do something we could've done at home.

If I still had a tv, it would not be used in dc. There are enough options on youtube if I ever got desperate enough.

[Ariana]

Many attention problems/behavioral problems, delays in a variety of areas (language, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, etc. due to a lack of exposure to the "real world"), etc.

The ones who have an abundance of outdoor time and aren't watching a lot of TV? Exceeding expectations in every area. Not to say a screen attached child couldn't exceed expectations as well but over here that'd be rare.

In my opinion (and based on anecdotal evidence only) I have noticed the opposite. The children I had who were not exposed to tv had more behavioral issues and poor language.

My own kids watch tv and they are extremely imaginative, intelligent and have large vocabularies. I also grew up watching a lot of tv. Many people did. I personally do not believe the "experts" on this subject. Of course if kids are watching tv 8 hours a day then I think thats not good but some of the recommendations are ridiculous IMO.

[Ariana]

We don't do tv as a rule here but I have been known to turn it on once in a while for my own sanity. I used to have it on while I made lunch a few years ago because I had two crazy kids who would destroy my living room (my daycare was in the basement and we had to come upstairs for lunch). They didn't last long though.

One thing I find about tv is that some kids will not watch it! It doesn't end up accomplishing what it is supposed to so I don't bother with it too much.

I personally feel that tv increases vocabulary and intelligence and can add to childrens play scapes. I have seen it with my own eyes with my own kids. I do limit my kids tv but they watch at least an hour a day. Then I see them bring those ideas to their play. I don't believe the experts when it comes to tv. Camped out in front of the tv for 8 hours is not likely healthy but 1/2 an hour a week? Give me a break!

[Kajada]

I don't have a preschool program, and have mostly younger children right now, but I don't have any specific rules regarding TV. My daycare is very family-style, so my families know that I'll occasionally put on a show for the older kids towards the end of nap time, maybe once a week, like I do for my own kids. I do sometimes use the tv/laptop for educational-type videos (ex : checking in on April the girafe, finding videos of the birds we've seen in the yard and studied, trains, space shuttles, etc.). If we've been focused on one subject for a while I'll pull up a video to show the kids the subject in action.

I'm also on the fence about the effects of TV. Personally, I think the problems come from just sitting kids in front of the tv. I think active watching can be good - watching with the kids, talking about what you're watching, even acting it out later - but as with all things in life, moderation is key.

[Pestle]

We have an old (non-cable) tube tv and a vhs player in the playroom.

I hope that thing is secured six ways from next Wednesday!

http://newschannel9.com/news/local/5-year-old-killed-when-a-tv-fell-on-him-at-a-daycare-center

[mommyneedsadayoff]

We don't do tv as a rule here but I have been known to turn it on once in a while for my own sanity. I used to have it on while I made lunch a few years ago because I had two crazy kids who would destroy my living room (my daycare was in the basement and we had to come upstairs for lunch). They didn't last long though.

One thing I find about tv is that some kids will not watch it! It doesn't end up accomplishing what it is supposed to so I don't bother with it too much.

I personally feel that tv increases vocabulary and intelligence and can add to childrens play scapes. I have seen it with my own eyes with my own kids. I do limit my kids tv but they watch at least an hour a day. Then I see them bring those ideas to their play. I don't believe the experts when it comes to tv. Camped out in front of the tv for 8 hours is not likely healthy but 1/2 an hour a week? Give me a break!

I don't have a preschool program, and have mostly younger children right now, but I don't have any specific rules regarding TV. My daycare is very family-style, so my families know that I'll occasionally put on a show for the older kids towards the end of nap time, maybe once a week, like I do for my own kids. I do sometimes use the tv/laptop for educational-type videos (ex : checking in on April the girafe, finding videos of the birds we've seen in the yard and studied, trains, space shuttles, etc.). If we've been focused on one subject for a while I'll pull up a video to show the kids the subject in action.

I'm also on the fence about the effects of TV. Personally, I think the problems come from just sitting kids in front of the tv. I think active watching can be good - watching with the kids, talking about what you're watching, even acting it out later - but as with all things in life, moderation is key.

I agree. Watching tv in ADDITION to playing outside, eating family meals, ect., is not so bad. I think many parents use it as a SUBSTITUTE for the other activities, though, so balance and moderation are important.

[hwichlaz]

I use it while I make lunch. I make them clean up the playroom while I cook (the diningroom is the playroom and I can see them from the kitchen) and then if there is any time left over they can watch a PBS show. It's great incentive for getting clean up done. Usually they get about 10-15 min of dragon tales or something similar.

[daycarediva]

No TV. When I have older kids, I sometimes bring my Chromebook out--we might play a song and clap to the beat, or learn what the family of horns sounds like, or look up a bird we've seen. But we don't sit and watch anything. Basically, it's for research or as a substitute for photos and a tape player.

Yep. We love you tube. "Miss, what causes...how do they....why is warm in summer...etc" lets look it up!

Today, they watched a printing press make books. Then they all ran to the library area and open each book. LOOK, I FOUND THE BOOK JACKET, here is the staples! I see them! COOL!

I wanted to add, because it was not addressed, that even doing embarK12, ABCMouse, The Learning Box, time4preschool or Time4Learning programs on the bigscreen as a group or tablet as an individual counts as "TV". :dislike:

I like to keep the kids enrolled in one of these programs because it allows the parents/grandparents to participate at home. Not everyone is creative to come up with appropriate activities on the sly, this gave them a fighting chance to be on the same team.

I use one of these and agree, it definitely allows the parent to see where their child falls academically. I set a time limit, and I have actually never had a child even reach the 15 minute limit/day.

I have seen mixed anecdotal results. I grew up on 'quality' children's tv. Sesame street, Mr. Rogers. I think the quality of programming has most definitely decreased and now with it being readily available, it's abused. Back in the day we had to wait for it to air on Saturday mornings and got our couple of hours before we could go outside to play. ::

[Snowmom]

I hope that thing is secured six ways from next Wednesday!

http://newschannel9.com/news/local/5...daycare-center

Yes, it's inside a built in media cabinet.

Looking at that picture in the story, who in their right mind would think that it was a good idea to put a large tv on top of a small cart with the tv hanging a good 4-5 inches over the side in a room full of kids!

[CityGarden]

I have a TV in the space but the children do not watch it..... the TV is in my living room on the wall at some point we may move it to another room and replace a picture to cover the damage the TV cause to the wall but it will not be anytime soon.

[Second Home]

Here we are only allowed 30 min of screen time per week . Any more then that we have to write up an educational plan , not worth all the paperwork in my opinion .

I have put a holiday show on for the kids at times but I always find that they then expect it to be on everyday and some have meltdown when I won't put it on .