Introducing the PBDVDD

Today has been one of those days where there was lot of parenting by DVD. I’ve been ill, the rain’s been chucking it down so we’ve only been able to go outside for a short spell and my wife’s still recovering from having given birth a couple of weeks ago.

Something has had to give. Unfortunately it’s meant our eldest has been left to watch a couple of DVDs and, er, one or two cartoons. Don’t get me wrong, she hasn’t been dumped in front of the tellybox all day but she’s spent more time in front of the cathode ray tube than I am comfortable with (yes, we still have an old fashioned television).

I’m a bit funny about television. When she does watch TV, we try desperately hard to limit it to 30 mins during the course of the day. When we exceed 30 minutes I get fidgety. I just feel like I should be doing something with my child like painting, going for walks outside, playing football or anything but watching television.

To put my mind at ease, however, I’ve started analysing the day’s activities on the odd days when we have a parenting by DVD day (PBDVDD). I’ve been very surprised at just how much we seem to pack into such days.

Take today as an example. Our eldest watched one film in the morning and one in the afternoon, so well exceeded the 30 allotted minutes.

In the interim, however, we briefly went to play in a local park so she got to play outside in the fresh air. We then ate lunch in a restaurant so she had to eat in public and behave herself. While waiting for the food I made up and told her stories, encouraging her to be creative and imaginative.

Following this we drove to a soft play area. On the way we sang a song together in French, so she practised her fledgling linguistic skills. The next couple of hours were spent running round a soft play area with a couple of her little friends.  We then returned home and, well, that’s when the second and final film went on. It was, however, the end of the day and nearing bed time so a good way to wind down.

I personally try to avoid PBDVDD. Let’s face it though, they can’t be avoided and we all do it (we do all do it don’t we? That’s certainly the impression I have). So long as they only happen occasionally I shall do my best not to feel too guilty about it.