Electronic Babysitter? Or is mom using her time wisely?

I am often alone with my son while my husband is TDY or deployed. My son doesn't have a set TV limit and goes well over what I think is good sometimes and so I wont let him watch for a few days. Usually, though. He watches TV in the morning after he is up and dressed while I'm getting ready for work. Then he watches one show while I cook dinner and get settled after work. Sometimes two if I have some homework to do (I'm taking courses also). Usually I plop him down while I do what I need to do and he comes and gets me if he needs something. Our apartment isnt huge so i can pretty much always have an eye on him and he doesnt do much of anything else anyway (during TV time). SO...is this me using an electronic babysitter or using my time wisely? Why sit and watch it with him and then later have him trying to grab the stove while I'm cooking? An opinions are good. Be nice. I'm a good loving mom who spends lots of quality time during my busy day with my little man.|||As long as you are comfortable with what he is watching, and can keep an eye on him, I don't think this is a problem. With your husband away, you need all the help you can get. Don't beat yourself up, you're doing a great job!|||You didnt mention how old he is.... lots of kids can only be distracted by a few things.... Its not how much he watches it's what he watches... now a day sthere are plenty of developmentally friendly programs for kids.... i your only one person and you shouldnt have to burn yourself out because someone online says your bad.... you shoudl try the leap pad baby video game.. its controller goes from baby to toddler and you get different games for it... you program it to your dvd player so there are no cords! they're educational and engaging.... best of all you can program up to 3 different dvds to the controller because there are 3 buttons.... you can bring it to someone elses house and all you need is the disc and the controller!|||Yes Tv is an electronic babysitter for many children but it is always best for them to have active things to do instead of watching tv all the time. I understand your situation though as a single mom who needs some "me time" sometimes. It is easy to fall into the tv trap. Is there anything else he can play with while you are busy doing your school work? How old is your son? If you give them 10-20 minutes of playtime with you doing something of his choice then he should do ok entertaining himself with toys (or books if he can read) for long enough for you to do homework. I do understand the TV in the morning though, I remember that being the only reason I got up early in the morning for school when i was younger. And while most Dr's recommend no more than an hour of TV a day I find that a little more isn't going to hurt but I would draw the line at 2 no more than 3 hrs of TV a day if your son only sits there. My boys are active and still play and interact with the shows and movies while watching them.|||You are doing what you need to do to raise a happy healthy son. If TV is part of that then so be it as long as you have some time set aside for things just the 2 of you do together. You are in a sense raising him as a single mother and you need to use your time wisely. It sounds like you are doing a great job.|||Sounds to me as if you're doing just fine. At least you are being conscious about the amount of time he spends in front of the TV. Another great way to occupy your child while attempting to accomplish the hundreds of other tasks a mom has is to have him sit in the kitchen with you. Put him at the kitchen table and give him crayons and coloring books. Or even play-doh if you're feeling adventurous! These are good activities that will keep him busy and will help make you feel better about the TV issue. I have three boys, a full time job and the housework so I feel your pain!|||All mothers take the easy way out from time to time. We have to. Don't beat yourself up. All kids watch too much tv. Make sure it is educational and not harmful. You do your best, and giving yourself a couple of hours during the day to get done what needs to get done is not a sin.





As long as you spend quality time with him when you can, you are fine. Make sure you do a lot of reading with him too. You might also want to let him build with blocks or legos or something while he is watching tv.





One thing I did when my kids were 3 or 4 was have them count and keep track of how many of a certain item was on TV during a certain time frame. This keeps their mind actively working while watching tv. It could have been as simple as how many different girls are on this show? Or as complex as count all the square items you see. Anything, the objective is to keep them thinking.





Good luck, and you are doing a great job, Never second guess yourself|||As long as he is watching something that is educational or geared for his age group then I think that it is fine. I do home daycare and when I go to make lunch (I won't do cold meat sandwiches so lunches take a bit for me to cook), I put a movie of some kind in for the kids. I know that none of the children are going to get hurt while I am in the kitchen then. (My house is set up so that I can still hear everything that is going on in the living room and the kids are free to go into the toy room and play if they would like.)


I say that if it is easier for you to do something with him watching tv then go for it. If he is not sitting in front of a tv all day then there is nothing wrong with it. All parents deserve to have a little time to themselves, if this is how you get it then so be it. He is still getting attention from you and I bet if he really wanted you to sit and watch some tv with him, then you would take the time to do it. It isn't like you are trying to neglect him in anyway, it is just easier to get some things done without a kid hanging on you. I understand completely.