How to ensure TV or tablet time is quality time
When it comes to watching the TV or tablet, there are various schools of thought on what the right amount of screen time is for kids. When our own four-year-old (nicknamed Barnacles) was born, experts were recommending zero screen time for children below two. We agreed with this at the time and the only exception we made before Barnacles turned a year old was to allow him a Skype video call when his daddy was overseas for a work trip.
However, we recently read that the “no screen time before age two” guideline has been scrapped, and now focuses on a more nuanced approach. Indeed, technology is so pervasive, it is virtually impossible to avoid screens altogether.
When Barnacles was about one-and-a-half years old, we started letting him watch videos of himself, or of his cousins playing. Through observation, we noticed that he had a keen auditory style of learning and good memory retention. To tap on this learning style, we purchased a few audio CDs from the Letterland series, whose catchy songs Barnacles loved. He learned to work the CD player and played the songs on repeat, which helped him to learn all the A to Z letter sounds without any intervention from us!
In our family, we have no live-in or part-time helper, and pockets of time during the day are spent doing household chores. We thus take the moderate route with screen time, partly because giving Barnacles some screen time also means some down time for the exhausted parents. However, we are quite selective about the shows we choose and try to ensure that whatever Barnacles watches has educational value.
To supplement the Letterland CDs, we bought Barnacles some DVDs from the LeapFrog series, which teaches elements such as blending sounds to make different words, and mathematics through counting and learning about shapes and figures. All the subjects are taught through catchy child-friendly songs.
Another good DVD series we found on sale at Popular Bookstore was the Rock ‘N Learn series, which has a range of discs from Sight Words and Phonics, to Addition and Subtraction as well as read-along stories. When our one-year-old (Kwazii) was born, some of these DVDs were useful in keeping Barnacles occupied when Mummy tried to get Kwazii to nap or go to bed. Watching the DVDs also taught Barnacles to recognise several words when he saw them in books – the first steps to reading – so they were definitely a worthwhile investment.
Speaking of worthwhile, one way to make your investment go further would be to pool funds with a friend who has children of similar age, acquire a collection together and exchange titles as your child progresses through the series.
After good experiences with LeapFrog merchandise, we decided to purchase the LeapPad Platinum – a children’s tablet – for Barnacles’ fourth birthday, as we were intrigued by the idea of learning while playing childrens’ games. Software about cooking, for example, teaches skills such as measurement and counting of ingredients, and there are also themed games such as “Octonauts” which allows the player to rescue virtual sea creatures while learning about ocean science and ecosystems.
Several apps are included with the tablet, with other game apps available for purchase from LeapFrog. We especially liked that the tablet allows for parental controls. As expected, the LeapPad was a hit with the kids, and Barnacles gets to play his tablet several evenings a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time. Definitely a good distraction if it is Kwazii’s bedtime.
Apart from educational DVDs, with all the engaging children’s cartoons these days, Barnacles also developed a liking to several cartoon series including “Fireman Sam”, “Paw Patrol” and “Octonauts”. We were pleased to find that these shows did include teaching elements such as learning about fire safety, emergency rescues and different types of tools and equipment. However, he is only allowed to watch such cartoons on weekends.
In our house, we also limit daily screen time (this includes all types of screens) to 60 minutes, and 90 minutes on weekends. One rule we have at home and outside is that watching shows during meal times is strictly off-limits. With the myriad of visual materials tailored for kids these days, our advice is to carefully curate what works best for you and the family.
Mummy and Daddy Daycare are a Singaporean husband and wife who are raising two young boys aged four and one, nicknamed Barnacles and Kwazii, respectively, after characters from the “Octonauts” children’s series. Get into the minds of this couple who describe parenthood as a lifetime adventure – you are always learning something new! Whoever said parenting was a walk in the park?
