Most mums I know let their little ones watch TV. Not from dawn to dusk, obviously, but maybe an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Yes, a few of them probably use the goggle box as a sort of virtual au pair, something to entertain their children so they can get on with their chores without being interrupted, but on the whole they let them watch TV because the kids enjoy it and it's something they do together.
Now, according to a new study from Down Under – the country that gave us Home and Away and Neighbours! – too much screen time can stunt development and shorten kids' attention span.
In my opinion it's how you interact with your children that encourages their growth and development. In our house we've always talked about what we're watching (and often, it has to be said, all the way through it). We've sung along and played the games. I'm not a fan of those four little creatures with the TV screens on their tummies, but I do recognise that they have something to teach small children. Ditto Waybuloo.
Let me know what you think.
written by Liz Jarvis