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The Television: Should You Let Your Charges Watch?

© Colleen Bittner

Whether or not to let the children you are babysitting for watch television is often a big question. Many babysitters plop their charges down in front of a movie, or cartoons for the entire time the parents are gone. This is not good babysitting. If you aren't doing any work, you shouldn't get paid. Really, the television should be the one getting the money in that case, because it is the one entertaining the children. But doesn't it seem silly that a simple object should get paid? If so, then shouldn't it seem silly that you are leaving that same simple object to keep the children out of trouble?

There are certain circumstances where letting the children watch some television is okay, and some where it is not. My general rule is that unless the parents specifically say that the child can watch this show or that, the television does not get turned on. If you are doing your job right, in most situations they won't even think of the television. It is your job to keep them happy without a giant purple dinosaur doing it for you.

Sometimes when I am babysitting the parents will tell me ahead of time that the child was promised they could watch a specific cartoon when it comes on. That is fine, let them watch the cartoon. Don't, however, let them watch the next six shows afterward. In many cases, that cartoon may be the half-hour of television the child is allowed to watch each day. The child probably won't tell you this, and the parent might forget, so you don't know that it is all right for the child to watch them.

Another common thing for parents to do is rent a video specifically for viewing while they are gone. If the parents are going on a date, they don't feel as guilty this way, knowing the children get to do something fun also. If the parents don't specify when the children are to watch this, a good time is right before bedtime. Have the children get into their pajamas and even let them bring blankets out to the living room. The little ones might even fall asleep during the movie, and this saves a lot of hassle later. This is good for a child of any age. The period where they are sitting is a good calming down time, and helps them relax before climbing into bed. Then they can brush their teeth and go to sleep.