Screen time... our philosophy and our reality

Before becoming parents, we were like everyone else.  We had ideas, goals, wishes, dreams, and things we swore up and down we would never do. 

Then we were handed this baby who was a preemie and all that went out the window. 

Well, not really, some of it did. 

One of the things we never really thought about was screen time.  Would be approve of it?  Would it be okay?  Would we prescreen everything and only let her watch "age appropriate" things? 

The short of this post is that we approve, and love, screen time.

The bigger question people seem to have is when it is appropriate and when do we allow it. 

We don't really limit her screen time.  Obviously we have one TV, that is hooked up to a laptop because we don't have cable and reception with the rabbit ears is shaky at best (we get one station really... just one).  So we rely on amazon prime mostly to give her an opportunity to enjoy some of the shows we did as kids.  Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street being the big two. 

We have added in some new and improved kids shows of today, Daniel Tigers Neighborhood being number one in her book. 

With that said, if we are in the living room, chances are the TV is on.  And she mostly ignores it.  Even sometimes when it's shows she normally watches.  Because TV has never been an off limits subject here, we firmly believe that she has learned to self regulate.

But during the day, she and I also don't spend a lot of time in the room with the TV, so it's not the main focus of her day.  We are typically upstairs or out and about doing things together and with friends. 

I do encourage it's use when I'm cooking an involved meal that she really can't help with, though that is rare, or if I'm baking a lot and need her safely away from the oven.  That is really the only time I actively encourage her to go watch TV. 

Will she continue to self regulate?  I don't know, only time will tell.  For now this is working and so we'll keep working it!