Finally... TV, It can be okay!
Continuing on from my last post 'Ideas to develop Language from being in Lockdown - Part 3: Books you don't just have to read them' I felt it important to discuss TV.
Please note that I do not gain any financial or other incentives from you clicking on any of the links included in this post. I just wanted to provide links for you to find bits we love :-)
I'm finishing with the big question... is TV okay??? Big statement coming... I don't think I would have lasted the last year without our new Disney+ subscription!
However, keeping it limited is always a good idea. I try to keep it to later on in the day, after an afternoon activity for no more than an hour to giver her some down time. I prepare E for when her TV time is going to be and what we are doing before it.
What is also important to think about is that it gives us a bit of a break too. We can have that cup of tea or coffee and have a brain break.
Why is lots of TV not a good idea for toddlers???
I get asked this a lot, as kids love it and it keeps them quiet. The main reason is that it doesn't promote backwards and forwards conversation. The TV cannot answer a question, or comment on something they have attempted or said. It moves onto its next item without having the time to develop a backwards and forwards conversation. It doesn't allow for proper human interaction. If you need a little down time it great, but it cannot teach your child language.
What types of TV should my child watch???
This is not something I can say they should watch this or that. I have found BBC's Julia Donaldson Collection is great as E loves the books so to watch the TV version is just a story she already knows and she loves the fact she can quote the text while it is happening. Otherwise Disney+ have a great selection of short episodes of all the favourite films (for us Frozen and Cars are definite favourites).
How long should my child watch TV???
Again, this is not something I'm happy to specifically answer. I have found E can watch and entire full length film if she is really into it and on other days she can only attend for 10-15 minutes. I would go with them, but my only advise would be to limit the amount of time they are watching.
So how can I support my child's language development while watching TV
The best way to do this is to talk about what you have been watching what is has finished. Rein act the part of a film/show you have just seen together using toys or pretend play. Draw pictures of the characters, make up your own story to follow on from what you have watched. Go for a walk and look for the characters in the local environment. Talk about where they could live etc.
TV doesn't have to be an absolute no no, it can be used as a tool to give us adults a break and to give us ideas of activities we can do together or talk about.
Don't get me wrong, TV is not a good way to support your child to learn language but there is definitely a place for it, especially with these extended periods of time at home.
So that concludes this series of Ideas to develop language during lockdown. There are three other articles in this series:
Toys and ways to use them
Let's get creative
Books... they're not just for reading
All of them are ideas for keeping your little ones entertained at home while developing all the different areas of their speech, language and communication.
Thanks for reading. If you have any concerns or questions about your child's speech and language development please contact me for a free 20 minute telephone consultation where we can talk through some basic strategies to support language development and if required what I can do to support you.
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