Q: I have a toddler who is happy, healthy and very active. As she is so active, I am very strict about letting her watch TV as I want to encourage her to be outside breathing in the fresh air! She is allowed to watch a little every weekend but, other than that, the TV stays off. But some of my friends are saying that TV is fine and it will help her to socialise and be creative in other ways. I am being too strict?

A: The issue of watching television is an ongoing area of concern for many parents, especially with children's programmes spread across various different channels throughout the whole day.

Naturally you want your child to entertain herself and be active in other ways, but equally a little controlled TV is probably not unreasonable.

On the positive side, children's television can stimulate young minds through important topics such as counting and basic language skills. They can also view interesting things they wouldn't normally get to see, such as exotic animals and faraway places.

On the negative side, too much time in front of the TV is known to lessen a child's creativity and affect their ability to use their imaginations through active play.

It is of course all about finding a balance so, as with any aspect of parenting, the best thing to do is follow your instinct. If you are uncomfortable with your daughter watching television on weekdays, so be it. If you also believe she is fully stimulated, happy and occupied throughout the day in other ways, then there is no need to involve the television during her weekly routine.

Equally, it is probably best to continue with your weekend television routine so that your daughter can continue to enjoy her favourite programmes in a controlled way, as well as interact with her friends about the characters, stories etc.

Finally, if your friends use the television more than you do, that is their decision. However, just because others allow more TV time than you, you shouldn't feel you are incorrect or too strict for keeping the television off limits.

So, if you have found a balance that you are comfortable with, stick to it and don't question yourself any longer.

Do you limit children's television?