definition of tv babysitter

Ok so from a different point of view....

My kids almost never watch TV. Maybe a DVD once a fortnight and Playschool once a fortnight. They watch some at friends house (which is a total pet hate of mine as if i have gone to the effort of organising a play date then i want the kids to play hehe but thats another thread.

Why dont they watch TV. Well DH and i arent much into and what we would like to watch we dont think its good for the kids to watch eg the news...

And when we have tried DD1 freaks out. She is sensitive to all the emotions, happy, sad, scared and she just gets to overwhelmed.

So when there are movies on at school she has to ask the teacher to do something else. Her choice. The only thing i have ever told her about TV is that she never has to watch it if it upsets her, she needs to say "hey no this isnt for me'

SOOOOO

getting to the point'

Does this make me think anything worse of people that watch TV or have it on all day

NO WAY man!

Thank god we are all different and give our kids different experiences.

We all do what we have to do and in admitting that thats what makes us great mums. If we can do a better job at being mummy and wife with the help of the TV then i think youd be dumb not too!!

Definition of TV as babysitter, if you turned it on and went to the pub!!!!

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Definition of TV as babysitter, if you turned it on and went to the pub!!!!

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LOL. I like that definition!

Tegam ... :spit: :rofl: but seriously, and sadly, I'm sure it's happened somewhere :(

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Tegam ... :spit: :rofl: but seriously, and sadly, I'm sure it's happened somewhere :(

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I know i only half wrote it as a joke!! Scary bears and we put ourselves through the ringer if we have a bad day......

Its the same as Arimeh's house in my house. My kids will watch what they want to, then go and do their thing. They are never glued to it for hours.. i think because they are allowed to and its not kept from them. Like Arimeh, my DS i feel is incredibly intelligent from this. He has just turned 4 years old.. he can speak in spanish, can count to 100, can read the time on a digital clock, knows his ABC's including the sounds each letter makes.. to the point now he has taught himself to read the names of the programs when he goes to the guide on foxtel guide, signs, books, anything. He sounds out each letter until he knows the word. So in my eyes.. unless your kids are watching violent slaying tv shows, i believe tv is actually quite benefitial.

As for TV babysitting.. i would be a tad peeved if my babysitter wasnt supervising my child to not get in any danger while they go along their ways. lol. I dont feel the term is fit.

Mel, what you said. Our tv is on everyday and goes off when DD1 and DS are at kinder school. If the kids are home then it's on all day. They like to watch it, it's their chill out time. Sometimes they'll play with something and come back to it, whatever. Personally, I don't have the time or the patience to play with the kids all the time. Wonder if I'll get in trouble for that statement? ;-)

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Definition of TV as babysitter, if you turned it on and went to the pub!!!!

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i know of someone who does this. has 6 yr old twin boys and leaves them home almost every night to go to the pub. (without adult supervision). unfortunately i dont know any more than her first name so cant dob her into DCP :(

I use a TV babysitter. It is great when I want a shower and DS is being funny with me, or when I need to cook a meal, or even at 3am so I can sleep and let the TV babysitter take over.

However, I also watch TV with DS, play the programmes/films we watch, read the books of the films... TV can be a great imagination tool, or for getting children into reading. When we watch TV together we get a lot more out of it. Having said that, we also act out books and make up games, so we don't rely on the TV for that. To my mind, using the TV as a tool is different to TV babysitting, which is when I expect the TV to keep DS out of my hair and occupied.

I tend to have the tv on/off all day switching between abc 1 & 2. Although I do my very best to avoid Dirt Girl because she is so friggin annoying!

The kids pretty much base their day on what ever Mister Maker makes.

Each to their own but it doesn't bother me.

ABC2 is on virtually all day for in our house, DD2 has no interest in just yet, but dances to catchy tunes, DD1 floats about watches snippets of shows and then goes and colours and plays or whatever. it doesnt bother me really and i dnt think its babysitting as such because we still all play together even when its on (we just made bead necklaces on shoe strings, we're very pimping ATM!)
If i do need the TV to babysit for whaterver reason, important phone calls ect, then i put a movie on for DD1 because she'll sit and watch the whole thing

Well, I could say I'm doing it right now :dunno: DS has a fave movie & insists on watching it back to back most of the day.
His choice not mine. I do try to get him out of the house at least once a day, but a 2.5 year old can be stubborn!

ETA - Mister Maker is the BEST!! lol, DS loves him!

They watch their shows in the mornings and evenings. my eldest has learnt alot from his programs like his abc's and using his imagination

people who on purpose use the tv to "entertain" their kids is my definition