How much TV is too much for kids?
7.2.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
Kids are fascinated by TV – and for parents, the momentary peace and quiet such fascination entails is a dream. But should we really be plonking our little ones down in front of the telly in the first place? And for how long?
Granny, Aunty, neighbours and friends – I’m sorry, but you’ve all been outshone. Our most reliable babysitter of all is still the TV. It doesn’t need to make any inconvenient journeys to get to your home or ask where the diapers or socks are. Nor does it ever make any sly digs at our parenting. And no statement can cut short a tantrum as effectively as «Or no TV for you!»
Basically, the TV does exactly what it’s supposed to do: keep the kid occupied and give Mum and Dad a break. But is our trustiest babysitter also our best one? And can there ever be too much of a good thing? How long can I avail myself of my favourite babysitter’s services without being forced to go on trial for lazy parenting?
It’s definitely no secret that you’re not meant to let your kids watch TV for hours on end. There are certain recommendations parents should stick to.
How much TV should kids be allowed to watch per day?
There’s no definitive answer to that question in this guide. There are, however, recommendations – including from the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. In its brochure
«Geflimmer im Zimmer» (The Flickering in the Room), the organisation has compiled everything worth knowing about the TV’s place within the family. On average, children aged 3 to 13 watch a good 90 minutes of TV a day – more than recommended.
Here’s what the Ministry advises:
- children aged 3–5: 30 minutes per day max.
- children aged 6–9: 45 minutes per day max.
- children aged 10 and over: 60 minutes per day max.
Not a whole lot, is it? Still, there’s good news for parents who, like me, occasionally like to (misuse) the telly as a babysitter. The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs says we can make exceptions on weekends for films, football matches or similar programmes. However, the (perhaps) bad news is that we should «avoid letting children watch television on a daily basis».
I often asked myself the «how often?» question during lockdown, when I sometimes saw no other choice but to let my kid watch TV. Kindergarten was only open sporadically, and sometimes we parents were left with no option but to park our little one in front of the TV. Subsequently, the TV hasn’t been on nearly as much since things went back to normal at kindergarten. If at all, only our oldest, who’s three, is allowed to watch television – and only in the evening. Weekends are the exceptions that prove the rule.
Still though, it never feels good to have your child sitting in front of the box for an unduly long time. While our little guy can often go long days without any screen time, sometimes he’s permitted to stare at the flickering screen for longer than 30 minutes. And I’m not alone in that. According to a recent study published by the health insurance company AOK, about half of children aged 4–6 spend more than half an hour a week watching TV or using other digital devices. It goes on to say that, «excessive or inappropriate media consumption can have a detrimental effect on children’s health». I, too, often get the sense that the less TV a child watches, the more creative and focused they are when they play.
Is a total TV ban the way to go?
And what about those holier-than-thou parents who strictly forbid their children from watching television? Although I object to my kids watching TV every day for an overly long time, I’ve never had any interest in measures as drastic as that. I don’t want to ban my kids from doing something that I personally enjoy so much. Not only that, but if you ask me, watching TV is part of growing up. I, too, was allowed to watch (a lot of) TV. Whether it’s done me any harm remains to be seen. That said, what Sailor Moon, Care Bears and Schloss Einstein were to me, Fireman Sam, Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig are to my son.
Little childhood heroes I don’t want to take away from him. Which, by the way, he also loves seeing in books, on T-shirts and toys – not just on screen.
Header image: Shutterstock / KaliAntye
A true local journalist with a secret soft spot for German pop music. Mum of two boys, a dog and about 400 toy cars in all shapes and colours. I always enjoy travelling, reading and go to concerts, too.
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