Is 4 hours of screen time too much during coronavirus?

[Anonymous]

I have a 5 year old and a 7 year old. Summer camp/daycare is closed for 2 weeks because a teacher tested positive for coronavirus. We expect intermittent closures of school and child care for the next year. I'm trying to make a plan for how to stay employed and get my work done during these times.

I'm wondering if 4 hours of tv/screen time is too much each day. I feel like I really, really need these times to get some work done. I am doing the rest on weekends and when the kids are asleep. I

And, yes, I have a DH and he is great but he is completely slammed at work (working 60 hours per week) and just cannot help right now. FWIW, I make more than DH but our salaries are very close to equal.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine but there are two rules:

1. Don’t sit too close to the screen.

2. Watch from a list curated by you.

[Anonymous]

It’s on the high side but it’s ok. It’s too hot outside and there is so much reading / drawing / Lego etc that a 5 and 7 year old can unsupervised. It’s a pandemic. It’s ok.

[Anonymous]

It’s ok. You might also look into educationL apps and games that hold their attention. My kid will do Prodigy for an hour!

[Anonymous]

Dealing with the same situation here with a 4yo and a baby. Both DH and I are WFH with multiple telecons each day, so we can't always shift our hours. 4yo ends up with several hours of screen time a day. Nearly all of it is PBS Kids via our TV (not kindle/iPad). She doesn't really watch that long, though. Often, she will watch for a while, then wander off to color or play with something else.
I'm in survival mode here and parenting like my 1980s mom...minus the 3 hours of CBS soaps I watched at that age!

[Anonymous]

If they're only spending four hours a day on screens you're fine. It's a global pandemic, cut yourself some slack!

[Anonymous]

It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

We've been up to 4 hours a day here as well but we're out of other things to do

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think it’s too much. A child’s brain development doesn’t change by outside circumstances like corona virus or the need to work from home. As hard as it is, AAP recommendations are still valid.

I know how hard it is, OP. I’m up at 4 every morning to get my work started before my 7 yr old and 2 yr old wake up. We’re in a virus surge in LA and daycare and camp are closed too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I think it’s too much. A child’s brain development doesn’t change by outside circumstances like corona virus or the need to work from home. As hard as it is, AAP recommendations are still valid.

I know how hard it is, OP. I’m up at 4 every morning to get my work started before my 7 yr old and 2 yr old wake up. We’re in a virus surge in LA and daycare and camp are closed too.

NP-- I think this is correct.

Something can be "too much" and also possibly not be able to be helped. Like if you're really poor, yes, ramen 4x/week is still unhealthy, but it may also be the best you can do. That doesn't mean you should feel guilty per se, but it also doesn't magically become healthy or okay because it's necessary (if it really is necessary).

[Anonymous]

I agree with the poster who said the pandemic doesn't change AAP guidelines. If it was "too much" before COVID, it's still too much. The difference is you might not have a choice now. So, you have to do the best you can.

But, if you thought that 4 hours of screens was too much in February, it is still so much now. Maybe you're asking for suggestions on how else to fill the time?

If you have no other options, then it is what it is. Still not good, but it's survival.

[Anonymous]

It’s too much. But that’s how many of us are surviving. This is a temporary indulgence during an extreme period in time. Try to break it up some with non screen time and let yourself off the hook.

[Anonymous]

I have an 11 year old, so I get that it is different, but he certainly has more than 4 hours per day. At his age it is how they get their social-emotional connection. They are able to interact through game play.

I feel like it is not a problem for your young kids as well. if I remember correctly there are some shows that encourage them to get up and move, so if they can do something other than just sit and watch that would be great but if not that is fine too.

With working parents and very few camps/daycare, what else can we do? Many of us need our incomes so there is no other choice.

If you are worried about their eyes, what about audio books? We have never allowed TV before school so when my son was younger he liked to listen to audio books in the morning. It still keeps them engaged but no screens and they use a bit more imagination to try to picture the characters. If they like to draw, maybe after a reading session they can draw their favorite scene and you can get 30 more min of work in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an 11 year old, so I get that it is different, but he certainly has more than 4 hours per day. At his age it is how they get their social-emotional connection. They are able to interact through game play.

I feel like it is not a problem for your young kids as well. if I remember correctly there are some shows that encourage them to get up and move, so if they can do something other than just sit and watch that would be great but if not that is fine too.

With working parents and very few camps/daycare, what else can we do? Many of us need our incomes so there is no other choice.

If you are worried about their eyes, what about audio books? We have never allowed TV before school so when my son was younger he liked to listen to audio books in the morning. It still keeps them engaged but no screens and they use a bit more imagination to try to picture the characters. If they like to draw, maybe after a reading session they can draw their favorite scene and you can get 30 more min of work in.

BTW I meant the audio books as a supplement, or partial replacement. I would never suggest another parent give up on screen time for kids. It is what keeps us all sane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It’s fine but there are two rules:

1. Don’t sit too close to the screen.

2. Watch from a list curated by you.

+1 and not in one 4 hour chunk, but maybe one hour each session, physical activity in between session.