I'm sure I'll get flamed, but my 4yo gets a lot of screen time. I don't even know how much, I don't count.

She goes to day camp for half a day. In the afternoon, my mom helps out because I have a baby too and DH and I are home working. We/they do a mix of things. 1 day a week I take her to swimming lessons, my mom does some school work using the worksheets her PreK 3 teachers provided for the summer or some activity books I bought for her, she loves playing with dolls and slime, sometimes we bake. Occasionally she has a play date but it's hard on weekdays. They play with her baby brother. When it's not so hot, she likes to play in the yard with her sand/water table. But she also watches TV or Ipad.

I figure it's a balance. If all she does is watch screens after camp one day then I make sure she does something else the next day or days but I don't count the time or anything.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the responses. While I had been hoping for more at least one hour of screen time post - I appreciate that less time is better.

Currently my 4 year old gets one hour during the 2 year olds nap and the 2 year old gets none. He only gets TV, we do not own any tablet and he is not allowed on my phone. I was thinking I was on the low end, but I guess not. We do stay busy getting out to the playground/woods in the early morning and a water activity in the afternoon and then all the activities while at home but my 4 year old is high energy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with my kids, but damn if I'm not exhausted between 1-3. Way more tired than when I am out of the house working.

OP this all sounds fine.

When my oldest was 4, he'd do some quiet time prior to video time during his little brother's nap. Him successfully completing quiet time "earned" his video time so he learned very quickly he actually had to stay in his room and play quietly. You could try that if you wanted to reduce video time during the nap.

But, if not, then don't worry about it. This is working for you and your family right now and honestly that's what's most important.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the responses. While I had been hoping for more at least one hour of screen time post - I appreciate that less time is better.

Currently my 4 year old gets one hour during the 2 year olds nap and the 2 year old gets none. He only gets TV, we do not own any tablet and he is not allowed on my phone. I was thinking I was on the low end, but I guess not. We do stay busy getting out to the playground/woods in the early morning and a water activity in the afternoon and then all the activities while at home but my 4 year old is high energy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with my kids, but damn if I'm not exhausted between 1-3. Way more tired than when I am out of the house working.

You’re doing great. TV time can be great. 4 year old DD wants to learn more French to be like a Fancy Nancy, and learn about digestion because of the Magic School Bus, and plays all kinds of games because of Bluey. Some days she gets hours some days she gets no tv. We love movie night and rewatching the classic Disney movies of my childhood and I LOVE it. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about it.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the responses. While I had been hoping for more at least one hour of screen time post - I appreciate that less time is better.

Currently my 4 year old gets one hour during the 2 year olds nap and the 2 year old gets none. He only gets TV, we do not own any tablet and he is not allowed on my phone. I was thinking I was on the low end, but I guess not. We do stay busy getting out to the playground/woods in the early morning and a water activity in the afternoon and then all the activities while at home but my 4 year old is high energy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with my kids, but damn if I'm not exhausted between 1-3. Way more tired than when I am out of the house working.

You are doing great, OP! And the bolded part is so true!

This is OP. Thanks for the responses. While I had been hoping for more at least one hour of screen time post - I appreciate that less time is better.

Currently my 4 year old gets one hour during the 2 year olds nap and the 2 year old gets none. He only gets TV, we do not own any tablet and he is not allowed on my phone. I was thinking I was on the low end, but I guess not. We do stay busy getting out to the playground/woods in the early morning and a water activity in the afternoon and then all the activities while at home but my 4 year old is high energy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with my kids, but damn if I'm not exhausted between 1-3. Way more tired than when I am out of the house working.

Anonymous wrote:If you aren’t working why in the world are you people giving them screen time? A box of crayons should do the trick.

Sure, I mean, why give them books, stuffed animals, building blocks, magnatiles, or anything else if "a box of crayons does the trick?" The dripping judgment here is so unwarranted and how in the world is it going to help OP?

I get it, OP. Kids crave variety and stimulation. And screens provide both. No one truly believes that limited quantities are doing long-term harm. And if your kids are only doing it during the summer because it's too hot to go outside, they aren't in daycare, and one more book or crayon coloring just isn't interesting to them, it's ok, OP. Personally with a four year old I would consider more than an hour excessive, but that's partially because my kid isn't very screen-motivated and after 15 minutes will hop off the couch and want to do something else. With him (3 years old), we've recently started doing one "show" a day, but it's always with a parent/caretaker sitting next to him and trying to discuss/point out things. Why do we do it, if we have available caretakers? Frankly, it's because it imposes an interval of calm and focus that seems to have a beneficial effect on his mood. More running, more climbing, more basketball, more soccer with no end tends to hype him up in a way that leads to meltdowns.

We have indoor basketball hoop, plasma car, tent, no need to be outside and no need for screens

If you aren’t working why in the world are you people giving them screen time? A box of crayons should do the trick.