A Sabbath State of Mind

Hello, my darling, and welcome back to the blog!

Today I feel quite calm, chilled, and relaxed, and it’s simply because it’s a Sunday Sabbath. I always feel like this on a Sunday. It’s family day, family time. Not all weeks look the same for us in our household, and sometimes it’s about completely shutting off from everything. But today was a little different.

We went to church in the morning, and afterwards we just decided to take it easy. We ate together, and now Sham ❤️🥰 is downstairs chilling with KeKe, while I’ve got a little bit of time to myself. I decided to come upstairs and finally write a blog post I’ve been meaning to do. It’s a short one, but I think it will be quite impactful for this homeschool category.

The Topic: TV Shows

I know some people are very against their kids watching TV at all, but I’m not one of those parents. I think TV (and screens in general) can be a very useful tool when it’s used with intention, not all the time, not as a babysitter, but as a tool.

How We Use the iPad

My daughter has an iPad (not a brand-new one; we bought it secondhand, which I honestly recommend for young kids because they drop things so easily). It’s super useful. I mainly use it when we’re out and about.

Supermarket Example

Take the supermarket, for instance. If I know I’ve got a long shopping trip, I’ll prepare her iPad. Sometimes she’ll interact with me while shopping (“Mummy needs cheese, can you help me find it?”), But after a while, she doesn’t want to sit in the trolley anymore. She wants to run around or push it, which can be a bit chaotic.

Snacks used to help, but now that’s not enough. So, I load her iPad with a few pre-downloaded, approved videos (always on airplane mode). I select ones that are educational and align with what I’m teaching her, like phonics. That way, even if I’m focused on shopping, she’s still learning while sitting in the trolley.

It’s like killing two birds with one stone: I get my errands done, and she’s engaged in learning at the same time.

TV at Home

At home, she rarely watches TV. Most of the time, she plays outside, uses her playhouse, scooter, kitchen set, or just gets busy with imaginative play. I prefer her to use her brain and creativity.

The only times I put the TV on are when I’m unwell, tired, or she truly has nothing else to do indoors. And even then, it’s just one short show.

I’ve also written another blog post on my wider values around TV and media, especially as a Christian parent, so this one is more practical.

Shows We Do and Don’t Watch

Yakka Dee

This one is excellent. It isn’t Christian-based, but it’s fantastic for speech development. It repeats words slowly and clearly, and I’ve noticed a huge difference in her vocabulary from watching it.

Cocomelon

This one I don’t recommend. I found it unhealthy because my daughter would completely zone out in a way she doesn’t with other shows. She memorised all the songs, which made me realise just how much of a sponge she is. So if she’s going to absorb information that quickly, I’d rather fill her mind with truly useful things.

Phonics Shows

Some of these may seem “dull” compared to flashy, colourful shows, but honestly, less stimulation often means kids absorb more. They still have colour, but not in an overwhelming, Instagram-like way that keeps them hooked unnaturally.

That’s what I like about calmer shows: my daughter will naturally switch off after a while and go play with her toys or head outside. That’s very different from shows designed to keep kids glued to the screen indefinitely.

Boundaries Around Screen Time

I’m not against screen time, but I do put boundaries in place. I pay attention to how different shows affect her behaviour. If something has a negative impact, I simply switch it out.

Every child is different, and what benefits one might overstimulate another. For some kids (especially those with ADHD or shorter attention spans), low-stimulation shows or even normal TV with adverts can actually be helpful for building patience, instead of YouTube with no adverts.

I also include a few Christian YouTube channels and videos in her little library, which I’ll link down below.

My Recommended Shows & Channels

Here’s a list of some shows and channels that I currently recommend or have found useful for my daughter’s development:

• Yakka Dee (YouTube) – Excellent for speech development and vocabulary building.
• Educational Phonics Shows (YouTube/Apps) – Slower-paced and less flashy, but brilliant for language learning.
• Christian YouTube Channels – I’ll link a couple of these down below in the blog.
• Some Disney Episodes – Selected ones with calmer tones or cultural elements.

(And on the flip side: Cocomelon is one I personally avoid and wouldn’t recommend.)

Wrapping Up

So yes, I’m not a “no-TV” parent. I just prefer balance, intentionality, and making sure what she watches is adding to her development rather than taking away from it.

With that said, I hope this blog post has been useful for you and your little one. If you have any shows you’d recommend, feel free to drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear what works for you.

Alright, my darling, I’m off to make myself another cup of tea. Today’s been a slightly unusual Sunday for me; I don’t normally do blog work or social media replies on the weekend, but it’s felt calm and productive. So all in all, a very blessed day.

Sending blessings to you!

Scherise. X