None. Don't acclimate them to screens. Read books to and interact with them. Show them how to do stuff around the house if you can't think of anything. Make them practice until they get it.
Do you have a toddler?
This is obviously what we are trying to do. But there are some times were you need 10-20 mins without them clawing at your leg and pulling at your sleeves.
Also when traveling on an airplane for 11+ hours, there is not much you can bring to occupy their minds as much as a couple of videos will.
Before having kids I was strictly against screens, but conscious screen time is more realistic. They will also grow up to be adults in a world that is surrounded by tech. Even remote Africans now have iPhones. Sheltering them from tech is not only impossible, but I believe would harm them more than benefit them.
Dad of two here with 1 and 3 yo. Just know and control the time and I think you'll be fine. We grew up with TV so I don't view it any different. Don't use it as a crutch and as soon as you can. Interact and play with them
Yep you can always tell the ones that aren't really raising kids. Sure, they may sire and spend 20 minutes with them, but as a 24/7 job? No. I have and you need a break occasionally.
Isn't it just being lazy? Somehow parents managed this before TV. It's the easy way out.
Yet somehow we managed to raise toddlers and travel on airplanes without screens prior to 2010?
Bring a coloring book and some toys. Screens are horrible for kids.
You aren't wrong either. My wife is stay at home mother and it's not easy for her. If it gets her 30 minutes to clean the house and what not then so be it. Coloring books and playdough only go so far
I understand perfectly. Riding home from the zoo with tired, cranky toddlers was hell and such shows, if used wisely, with activities later ( draw daddy the part of this show you liked the most) can reinforce things. My youngest turns 18 soon. My eldest is about to be 28. They aren't idiots/thugs/criminals and they are good people, despite me as a mom.
Old Blues Clues. With Steve. Not Joe. Blue was a girl with Steve then they resexed Blue as a Boy in Joe's shows. Old "Smurfs" will teach them to avoid big nosed creepy men. Old 3-2-1 CONTACT from PBS teaches easy science lessons. Madeline cartoon for girls. Oswald was harmless. Little Bear. Wonder pets. Max and Ruby. Wow wow Wubbzy Miss Spider's Sunnypatch Friends. My children were little in the 90s and early 00s. I avoided any social justice crap like dora and go Diego. They didn't like them anyway. Add Peppa Pig. Magic Schoolbus. There was a European animation/cartoon show called Small World that had strange yet great shorts.
Don't forget to avoid the TV show Caillou with the drugged out parents and a pedophile neighbor that always gets great joy in watching caillou.
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