I think of tv as a babysitter if you are constantly telling your kids to stop what ever they're doing, liek playing noisily and telling them to sit and watch tv quietly so you can do things. Not stuff like cooking or what ever, but things that they could help with or if it makes no difference if they watch. Or even if they're playing a game that isn't convenient for you. If they watch tv more than they do other things.

But, yep, tv is on most of the day here too. I honestly don't think my kids are any worse for wear for it being on. They're both bright happy little people. We get up at a ridiculous time of a morning (about 5am usually) plus about 2+times a night, so it goes onto something I know they will watch so I can try to wake up have a coffee and feel human of a morning. It's the only time I actually actively encourage them to watch something. They eat breaky (#1 at about 6ish, #2 about 8ish this is when I eat too) I also usually try to get a few things done that I don't want them around my feet while I do it, like dishes or putting on a load of washing. At about 9ish I turn it off to do stuff with the kids, drawing, playdough, painting, building- what ever. We go outside about 10.30ish, hang washing, inside at 11.30 tv goes back on and they have early lunch watch half an hour to wind down for nap time. DD is growing out of her naps and even if she does nap she falls asleep in front of the tv on the lounge. DS I take to bed and rock to sleep at about 12ish still. Then I make DH and my lunches (DH comes home for lunch) and a snack for the kids when they wake, I will watch what I want for an hour or so, eat lunch have a bit of a rest if I need to. It will go back onto kids shows for the arvo when the kids do as they please. I usually do more washing/folding so they come outside with me and play, sometimes if I'm lucky they stay out there, usually they follow me like puppies. They follow me most of the day and 'help' me do what I do with the house. I try to do something constructive with them of an arvo, like puzzles, reading, trains...sometimes we go outside and weed the garden together, though it will be too hot to do that in summer here. Then the TV goes off for dinner/ bath time. They watch 30mins before bed again and then it's story and bed time.