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Content, co-viewing and background TV

What your child watches and whether you watch with them, including whether the TV is on in the background.

What should our child watch, and should we watch with them?

In short: Parents choose between 5 main approaches: Educational and slow-paced only; Curated mix; Anything age-rated; Child chooses; always watch together; Independent viewing. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: toddler.

Evidence
Your call
Best settled
Toddler
Part of
Learning & the wider world

Content, co-viewing and background TV: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 5 approaches.

  1. 1. Educational and slow-paced only

    The child watches only calm, educational programs.

  2. 2. Curated mix

    The child watches a selection you have chosen.

  3. 3. Anything age-rated

    The child may watch anything rated for their age.

  4. 4. Child chooses; always watch together

    The child picks what to watch, and an adult always watches too.

  5. 5. Independent viewing

    The child watches alone.

Content, co-viewing and background TV: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

CPS recommends co-viewing for preschoolers; nothing sourced on background TV

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

What a child watches matters as well as how long. Watching together lets you explain and discuss. A television left on in the background reduces how much adults talk to young children.

Questions to ask each other

  • What do we want our child to watch, and what is off-limits?
  • How much will we watch with them?
  • Is the TV on in the background in our home, and do we want it to be?

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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.