definition of tv babysitter

**beansbeans!** · October 4th, 2010, 02:43 PM

I am so tired of people telling me that letting my DD's watch kids shows is tv babysitting. I don't consider them watching playschool or the like as that, after al they are learning and dancing and what not.

So my question is: what is your definition of tv babysitting?

**MummaSue** · October 4th, 2010, 03:00 PM

My definition is leaving your kid alone there for hours on end watching TV.

We watch TV (much to the disgust of some) in the mornings when I am making breakie and in the evenings when I am making tea (so around an hour a day). We don't watch it when we are eating and it's never on in the middle of the day. DH and I have ALWAYS done this, it's part of our normal family life and stuff anyone who has an issue with it. I don't mind DD watching TV, many of the kids programs are educational now and yeah, like you say there is singing and dancing!

If YOU don't have a problem with it then I'd be telling everyone else to bugger off!!

Sue xxx

**glenny_c** · October 4th, 2010, 03:03 PM

I think the only time it is a problem is when people stick their kids in front of the TV and use it instead of spending any time with their kids. I think it's quite closed minded to just make a blanket statement that ALL TV is bad and ALL parents who put the TV on are using it as a babysitter.

As Sue said, if you are happy with the way you use TV, then everyone else can go shove it!!

**Early Kids** · October 4th, 2010, 03:09 PM

I agree, if it's only a short amount of time and you are ok with it then who cares what others may think.

We have the TV going in the morning, usually discovery channel or animal shows ect, but it gets turned off as soon as breakkie is over and isn't turned back on until DP gets home, sometimes well after the kids are in bed. I am actually more concerned about the electricity use than my kids sitting in front of it.... they won't sit still for anything lol, tv is no different.

To answer the question, my definition would be those who use the tv for hours and hours per day, not just 20min here and there while you make a meal or feed a baby, ect.

**ladybird11** · October 4th, 2010, 03:14 PM

Like everyone else has said...leaving the kids in front of the TV for a prolonged period of time, in my books, counts a a 'TV babysitter'.

**Arimeh** · October 4th, 2010, 03:18 PM

I must be one of those horrible parents who have the tv as a babysitter.

Mine is on all day, my kids come and go and watch whatever they want. At the moment, DS is in front of the tv just chillin', DD1 is in the garage playing with her kitchen, and DD2 is at my feet in the kitchen cupboard. They watch tv when they want to, and if they don't want to, they find something else to do. If they want me, I'm there, if they don't want me, I'm happy with that too.

I don't mind DS watching tv, he has an incredible vocabulary for his age, and his preschool teachers are always telling me how smart he is - so I'm not concerned that he's watching too much tv.

And yes, I'll probably be horribly judged for this but meh.. I do what I can to survive each day.

**beansbeans!** · October 4th, 2010, 03:07 PM

Thanks Sue,

I try not to listen to people when they judge how my family works, well most of the time anyhow!

Before kids this was a term I had rarely heard of, then afterwards it seems to have become as common as hello, I hear it, see it and read it everywhere. Yet it seems to hold such a vast definition according to who is using the term.

**tattoo_mama** · October 4th, 2010, 04:09 PM

Same as Arimeh. Ours is on all day but DD comes and goes. 'she usually just dances at shows theme songs then crawls back to what she was doing she just likes the music parts.

rhyb · October 4th, 2010, 06:07 PM

Arimeh were the same but I stopped caring a while ago if others didnt like it. DS doesnt have naps anymore he lies on the couch and quietly watches a movie. Its his rest time. Without it he gets very violent(rest time or a nap that is) and getting him down for a nap is close to impossible. I settle for what I can.

**Indadhanu** · October 4th, 2010, 06:22 PM

We are like Arimeh, TV is on a lot of the day while I'm at work and Shel is at home. On kids shows. Nothing particularly 'educational', mostly just Nick Jnr or Playhouse Disney. More for background noise really, and Jazz gets into some shows, give's Shel five or ten minute stints to do something... tidy or study or have a coffee. Shel is mostly with her, interacting, and taking the time to go do things when Jazz wants to play alone or watch TV.

My definition of TV as a 'babysitter' is when parents sit their kids down and expect/encourage them to watch lots of TV for prolonged periods while the parents do other things (other things does not include making dinner etc).

**MrsFabuloso** · October 4th, 2010, 06:53 PM

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.

**ShootingStar** · October 4th, 2010, 09:20 PM

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.

**Ca Plane Pour Moi** · October 5th, 2010, 06:40 AM

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.

**Diamond75** · October 5th, 2010, 12:35 PM

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.

**skybie** · October 5th, 2010, 12:40 PM

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

**Tegam** · October 4th, 2010, 08:16 PM

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!!!!