Most toddlers love to watch the television. The bright colors and different sounds that are produced by it are captivating to them. The family television can actually be a learning resource for your toddler, but care must be taken to ensure that your toddler is getting the most out of his viewing time.

If you are uncertain about how much time your toddler should be spending in front of the television, keep the following helpful hints in mind:

• Limit the amount of time he spends watching television -Set limits on your toddler’s viewing time. Let him watch one or two of his favorite shows each day, but don’t let him spend hours mesmerized by whatever program happens to be on at the time.

• Monitor what your toddler watches

  • Choose content that is relevant to your toddlers interests - Your toddler will relate to programs better if he focuses on subjects in which he is interested. Programs about animals and bugs, other toddlers, or singing and dancing often make excellent choices.

  • Watch your toddlers Favourite programs with him - Doing this will allow you to make sure the program’s content is appropriate for your toddler. It will also give you an excellent opportunity to talk to him about situations in the program that might be confusing, upsetting, or scary to him. Ask him questions about what he would have done in the same situation, or talk about his feelings regarding the program.

  • Watch your own home videos - If you have a library of home videos, sit down and watch them with your toddler. This can be especially meaningful for both you and your toddler if you have videos of important family moments, such as your wedding or your toddler’s first birthday party.

• Provide your toddler with fun alternatives to watching television - Instead of letting your toddler sit in front of the television for entertainment, engage him in other activities, such as playing games, listening to music, reading stories, or doing craft projects together. This will allow you to spend quality time together and help inspire his imagination at the same time.

The television can be an educational resource for your toddler if you limit the amount of time he spends watching it and screen which programs he watches. You can also enhance his viewing experience by watching his favorite programs with him and engage him in conversation about what he has just watched.