This post is two fold: too much screen time? And quiet time advice. I’m trying to teach my daughter (4 years old) balance because she becomes a zombie in front of a screen. Here’s our routine:

In the morning we watch one episode of whatever show she or my son want (25 minutes) then they get to pick 3 video clips from YouTube, like cocomelon or songs from Sesame Street (15-20 minutes). So they get about 45 minutes of TV.

Sometimes I’ll show video clips for preschool (5 minutes)

Then she gets 15 minutes of Khan Academy when she chooses

So she gets about an hour of screen time a day. The other time is filled with preschool, play time with her brother or by herself, outside time (walks or play in the backyard), story time, and then crafty stuff like coloring or play doh.

I want to stop her naps because she will not sleep at night if she naps. I made quiet time boxes but they don’t keep her entertained for the 2 hour quiet time/nap time block in our house. And I totally need it for my sanity. So it was thinking about shifting things a bit but I’m wondering if it would too much screen time.

I would break her quiet time block into this:

1:00-2:00- quiet time in her room

2:00-2:30- Khan academy (this would increase by 15 minutes)

2:30-3:00- coloring, play-doh, blocks

Does this seem like an appropriate amount of time? Thanks for any advice or insight?