I know I shouldn’t, but my child does watch TV
“Sometimes as a mum I just need 15 minutes to make dinner in peace, nip to the loo on my own, or get ready in the morning so I don’t look like I’ve been run over by a steamroller. The TV - whatever anyone says - helps me.” – A Working Mum
It’s probably no exaggeration to say most babies encounter the TV at some point. They enjoy the sounds and colours, and a whole new world opens up to them. Almost every parent, though, wonders what happens if we sit little ones in front of a screen too early.
Five arguments in favour of letting them watch
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Age-appropriate programmes can teach real skills. When attention is on the content, children can genuinely pick up new things.
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It can build empathy. Many stories are about friendship and helping others. Seeing this modelled can nurture a quality we all want to encourage.
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It may support inclusivity. Shows that include characters with different skin tones and from different countries can normalise diversity, so similar encounters feel natural in real life.
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Music helps learning. Lots of programmes teach through songs. Children love it, rhythm improves, and lyrics make things easier to remember.
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It can inspire real-world play. After seeing something on screen, children often want to try it — sports, painting, clay modelling and more.
But what are the possible downsides?
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Less physical activity. More sitting and lying down can nudge movement into the background.
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Sensory overload. Constant sound and fast-changing colours can be a lot for developing brains to process.
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Blurry line with reality. Young children don’t always distinguish TV from real life, so they may look for things that simply don’t exist.
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Eye strain. Focusing on one spot for long periods can tire the eyes and may contribute to short-sightedness later.
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Speech may be affected. Distorted voices and rapid dialogue aren’t great models when fluent speech is still emerging.
However you decide to handle screens, the most important thing is to watch your child’s reactions and avoid excess. Balance, boundaries, and plenty of real-world play go a long way.
If you’d like to read more on this topic, we recommend:
NHS - Screen time
