Television: Babysitter, Tool, or Energy Suck?

I’ve written this post in advanced and scheduled it to go live while I’m away at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. I say this because while you’re reading it, know that I’ll be curled up on my parents’ sofa watching cable television. My children will most likely be watching a different program on a different television in a different room.

I was never going to let my children watch television or play with the computer. Of course not! I was going to actively parent them at all waking moments and provide lovely crafts or art supplies to stimulate their imaginations and they would merrily cook beside me in the kitchen.

Ha! Hahahahaha! How I laugh at my righteous, pre-parent self!

My three-year-old watches an hour of television most days–which is to say he watches videos on the television or else on my computer, since we don’t have cable. As an aside, I’ll mention that we’ve tried all sorts of configurations with antennas to try to receive PBS and NBC, but it hasn’t worked yet.

My husband, my son, and my brother-in-law enjoying some screen time together last Thanksgiving

Sometimes, my kiddo doesn’t even ask to watch television because it’s nice outside, and I sure don’t bring it up! Other days, we’re stuck inside or sick and he watches even more videos. I have endless arguments with myself about his screen time, but in the end it’s such a good tool for me to: cook dinner, nurse the baby, take a shower, make a phone call…pretty much any task that can be completed over the course of a 22-minute kid’s show.

Right now, he’s very particular about what he wants to watch. This means he’ll watch the same 22-minute video every day for as many days as I can bear it before I force him to mix it up. That, or PBS Kids takes down his favorite episode of Daniel Tiger.

I feel good that I’ve limited his choices and really do enjoy watching the PBS programs with him if I’m nursing the baby while he watches. This is getting tricky as my baby gets older, because now he pops off and tries to watch, too!

I think it’s funny that my older son doesn’t understand what a commercial is, so when he watches actual television at someone else’s house, he gets really frustrated when his cartoons are interrupted. “Turn this off!” he’ll yell, or else, “What happened?? Where’s my show??? I don’t wanna watch this!”

I also think it’s amazing how my son can intuitively use my phone or laptop. He can’t read, but as long as I get him to the right website to start out, he sure can navigate to the video he wants to watch. I love watching him learn to use the technology that will be so important in his life. But I also want him to like playing with blocks and play dough…

My son finding a video to watch on the laptop

In general, I’ve come to appreciate the added stillness in our small house when we don’t have a video going. It’s so loud here and crazed from the noise and energy of two young children. Even though the kids are quiet while they are transfixed by the digital babysitter, there’s something very stimulating about the bright lights and sounds from the television.

My son is usually a disaster once we turn off the screen. So much so that it makes us want to go cold turkey and cut his viewing. But, gosh, there is some good stuff on TV. How can I say he’s not allowed to watch any of it at all when I rush to turn on Downton Abbey the moment the boys are down for afternoon nap? How could I deny him the chance to watch Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer when I have such fond memories of it from my childhood?

For now, I’m happy about using television as a tool to accomplish what I need to get done.

If I lived closer to my family, I might just drop him off at my uncle and aunt’s farm in the afternoon to play in a field while I cook dinner. If he were a bit older, I’d send him down the street to play with his friend while I take a shower or pay the bills. But for where we are right now, I think it’s ok that he enjoys a little bit of magic from the producers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

What about you–did your television reality match your television expectations for your children? Leave us a comment to share your experience.