Technology use in Toddlers.

[pompeyvix]

Definitely no tv in the bedroom. I didn't get one until I was 14 years old and I remember what I did get it I was up until very late watching stuff.

We have a family ipad and my daughter gets good use of it. She mainly watched youtube videos on there. I don't feel bad her having it as we are out and about a lot and during the day time. If we are at home, our TV is usually off or has a music channel on for background noise whilst Anabella plays with her toys. Sometimes we put a DVD on late afternoon / evening and it's usually a disney film.

 

[MindUtopia]

Me personally, I'm pretty anti-screen time for toddlers. We do let our daughter watch tv sometimes on the weekends when we are having a quiet morning at home just trying to get things done around the house, or in certain circumstances when she has to sit for a long time, like when we flew on a plane, we let her watch some things on one of our phones. But otherwise, I'd rather she play and she will if given no other opportunities to watch tv or play on a screen of some sort. I don't think it's terrible, but I think there's better things they could be doing right now. I know for myself, I'm stuck in front of a computer all day most days for work. There will be loads of time in the future for using screens, but for now, I think it's better to play. Ours is about to turn 4 and we will be taking a really long flight (11 hours) next year and for that we probably will get her a cheap tablet to play on, but it will still be kept just for special occasions, not for daily use or something she can access without us supervising her. But I'm pretty old-fashioned about these things, I think!

 

[babyrough]

I had a TV in my sons room when he was about 2 and a half...it was my tv but I used to let him watch it before bed on the days he didn't have nursery, however he became reliant on it and would stay up late watching it. We moved house since and he hasn't got one in his new room and bedtime is so much easier now.
He probably will have one in his room in the future, but only to have on in the daytime at the weekends if he's playing etc (he's 4 and a half now). I'm certainly not against tv, but also don't see the need for it in their bedroom.
He doesn't have a tablet and doesn't play on my phone etc. But he does go on the tablet at my mums and watches YouTube videos mainly.
I don't think he would be impressed if I brought him a TV or a tablet for a present, he would much prefer toys.

 

[Boo44]

Basically in agreement with everyone else (and you!) that a tv in a child's room is totally unnecessary. I don't actually know anyone who has a tv in their child's room.

Interestingly I've found the age of 2ish to be the time my children have been most 'dependent' on screen time. DS1 used to love watching iPad and I would constantly be aware of how long he had been on and restricting it. And it would cause upset when I stopped it etc and I would worry to OH is he watching too much. I remember having to actively persuade him to play other games. Fast forward 1.5/2 years and he's barely interested in iPad or tv. He will occasionally choose to watch one or two episodes of Lion Guard or Paw Patrol, but then he'll get up himself and wander off and ask me to do writing with him, or draw pictures, or make some kind of underwater sea scene out of boxes and toilet rolls (as we did yesterday for hours!). I just find it so interesting that he basically grew out of it. I think school has really helped. I wasn't allowing lots of screen time don't get me wrong, but I don't have to even think about it with him any more

My youngest is turning 3 and I'd say he's like the oldest used to be right now, if allowed he would sit for hours with the iPad. So I will let him have a bit and then turn it off (he's not happy!) and distract him with playing football or 'cooking' for me in his little kitchen. I do feel more relaxed about it this time as I'm hoping he'll grow out of it like his brother did

What has helped for me is I always explain to them that looking at a screen for a long time makes you feel very grumpy and moody and often tired. If they tantrum a bit when we turn it off I explain they feel like that because staring at a screen does that to you. I actually think they both understand that, and thinking about it has definitely put my 4. Year old off using them so much

 

[Teri7489]

My daughter used to sleep in my room and for a while watched tv until sleep time. It then took her ages to fall asleep. I decided to get rid of it and ready stories before bed which results in her either falling asleep with the story or within minutes of me finishing it. My niece on the other hand from the age of 2 had a TV in her room and would be up and down all night pressing play on her favourite film. She can't fall asleep without it and doesn't sleep through the night still at 6. I'm glad I got rid of the TV as I do think she would have gone the same way as my niece. x

 

[lindseymw]

I am not against technology at all. My two have had free access to tablets from a very young age. They went through phases of using them all the time to not using at all.

One tablet broke and we never got around to replacing it. They never bothered with the iPad (we had a Samsung & an iPad) so DH is now using it for work. They haven't asked for another one. The last time they played on one was over a year ago on a 4 hour flight. They also have an Xbox 360 which they have been on maybe 10 times in a year? Their choice.

We have just ordered a Kindle each as they were on offer and they have been set up so they are child friendly (can't download app, in app purchases, internet off etc).

However, I wouldn't have a TV in their room. We don't have one in our bedroom.

 

[sequeena]

Thomas has been using technology since about 2. Watching cartoons on a tablet etc. He got his iPad at 4. My husband bought him a tv when he was about 2-3 but I've refused to put it in his room. I may put it up now he's 5, I'm not sure yet.