Anonymous wrote:I never did and my oldest is now 8. My kids wouldn't sit in front of the TV for more than one movie, so like 2 or 3 hours max. When sick they spent time in the bathtub, sometimes 2 baths a day, and if little enough id push them in a stroller for a long walk, or we would sit outside and paint rocks or something mindless. Also they would sleep or read, even before they could actually read. I never had a kid sick enough to need that much tv.

But clearly you aren’t working. I take off time all the time to spend the day playing with my kids. But when they’re sick I can’t always take off. When they’re sick they don’t really need you either, they need rest. I know my kids are done being sick when they’re bouncing off the walls and begging to go outside to play.

Yep!!

My 4 year old actually looked at me the other day and said- “remember when I was sick and got to watch tv all day? That was the best day ever!!!” And he sighed. I thought it was so funny. We’re not anti screen time but I like to play games or play outside with them a lot. They never get to just mindlessly lay on the couch all day unless sick.

At that age? Heck ya! Not old enough to read independently enough to spend all day in bed with a book. Need something to keep them from going stir crazy while they lie on a couch. Not physically tiring. TV fits the bill, it's actually a great way to get them to lie still with a blanket. It has nothing to do with you working, it just makes sense for a sick kid.

Hope he feels better soon!

No guilt in sick day screen time regardless of age, but I will say that at 4, if my kid was really sick, I found they were more likely to fall asleep if I read to them instead of watching TV. I remember snuggling in her bed with her at 4 and just reading stories from that big Winnie the Pooh collection until she passed out -- maybe 20-30 minutes. Then she'd sleep for hours.

Worth it to me because that's really good rest for a sick kid (better than zoning in front of the TV) plus it would buy me a couple hours of totally uninterrupted time. I might pause to take her temperature but otherwise no worries. Plus she's in her room where I can pull the blackout curtains and close the door.

But I also did plenty of TV time with no regrets. We limit it a lot usually so it's not like she was going to get used to it or think it's the new normal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All day? No
More than normal? Yes.

+1 not all day!

+2

I never did and my oldest is now 8. My kids wouldn't sit in front of the TV for more than one movie, so like 2 or 3 hours max. When sick they spent time in the bathtub, sometimes 2 baths a day, and if little enough id push them in a stroller for a long walk, or we would sit outside and paint rocks or something mindless. Also they would sleep or read, even before they could actually read. I never had a kid sick enough to need that much tv.

Yes. For my four year old, I try to get him off the tv to take a nap, but other than that, it’s tv time.

Yes also iPad games and Lego kits and or art kits to break up the day when they get bored. We keep a stash of Lego small kits for emergencies.

Nothing wrong with TV. It’s been an important part of our our lives as a species for decades. I don’t really understand the premise of the question

Anonymous wrote:I would allow it for a 4 year old. For my older kids I say they can rest or read if they’re sick. They started to enjoy the screen time and wanted to stay home all of the time.

+1. I let my older ones listen to a podcast or audiobook. The youngest definitely.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All day? No
More than normal? Yes.

+1 not all day!

If your kid is really sick than yes all day.

Anonymous wrote:All day? No
More than normal? Yes.

+1 not all day!

All day? No
More than normal? Yes.

Yes, and I also let my 2yr old do this when sick. All damn day. The only time they were not watching TV is when they would fall asleep or the 30ish mins I made them take a bath.
You should stop thinking/guilting about this, it will have exactly 0 effect on their life.

OP here- thanks everyone for the sanity check! Guilt absolved! Appreciate it!