# Content, co-viewing and background TV

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

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

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.

- Area: Screens, phones and digital life
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: Toddler
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/screens-phones-and-digital-life--content-co-viewing-and-background-tv

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

1. **Educational and slow-paced only**: The child watches only calm, educational programs.
2. **Curated mix**: The child watches a selection you have chosen.
3. **Anything age-rated**: The child may watch anything rated for their age.
4. **Child chooses; always watch together**: The child picks what to watch, and an adult always watches too.
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:

- [CPS](https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/screen-time-and-preschool-children)

## 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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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=screens-phones-and-digital-life&topic=screens-phones-and-digital-life--content-co-viewing-and-background-tv