Do you let your child watch cartoons?

Amy - posted on 09/13/2012

I agree with both Jennifer and Angela - we don't let our children watch tv either, well, unless they briefly see the news or weather when we have it on which is for a very limited amount of time. There are times that we will let our 3 year old watch a cartoon for a 5-10 minute period as a special treat, but that's it. It bothers me that it seems that some people think kids need tv as entertainment - they are can be completely entertained and interested simply by playing amongst other kids or even on their own....it's called using imagination :)

Amanda - posted on 11/24/2010

We keep our baby's T.V time to a limit, although I do have to say it mostly started because she doesn't pay much attention to it. Its not that I'm against it or anything. But, I do like the idea that she would rather sing nonsense songs along with me and count blocks. Since being back at work I really enjoy that one on one time with her v.s watching a movie.

Melisa - posted on 11/17/2010

We watch baby first tv sometimes. It's the only channel he really enjoys and I like it because 1) no commercials, 2) all the programs are educational, and 3) I can interact with him to the programs. We especially like the my gym at home program because it's just a lot of fun to see different activities we can do together. I know they say tv isn't good for babies under 2 and some studies have shown that babies don't talk as much if they watch tv, but my son is the most social baby I have ever seen. He says several words already and engages other people where ever we go. Even when he is really tired, if there are other people around, he'll give them sleepy smiles and say hi. So, I think some tv is fine as long as baby is still getting lots of social interaction and the tv doesn't become the nanny.

Bianka - posted on 11/17/2010

my son only watchs the start of cartoons as its always music, and he just loves to dance to rupert bear, chuggington or bob the builder. but after the intro song is over he goes back to his toys.
but he likes to watch the commercial breaks lol dont know why really :)

Tiffany - posted on 11/17/2010

we let our little girl watch cartoons.......well sort of we dont have cable or anything like it, so she has baby eistiens and other leap frog movies but they are all very educational and she loves it,and at grandmas she gets elmo but she loves music more!

Sunn - posted on 11/16/2010

I love this post, YES i let my daughter watch TV. and now after reading this i dont feel guilty. She watches some programmes/cartoons when the tv is off she will carry on with her toys or babbling. Today she was laughing out loud (and believe me that is not something she does) and i enjoyed watching her, she is 11 months :)

Tanya - posted on 11/05/2010

I actually sit down with my baby and watch nick jr with her..they show very educational cartoons

Tessa - posted on 11/04/2010

my son only will watch tv if elmo is on. he loves elmo as soon as he hears his voise he crawls straight up to the tv its so cute.

Kari - posted on 11/02/2010

Our lil Kylie LOVES Mickey Mouse club house she will get so excited... no matter where she is in the house or what she's doing when the hot dog song comes on she has to watch it and dance... all I have to do now is say hotdog hotdog and she'll start dancing

Brittany - posted on 11/01/2010

We do watch TV but not cartoons. I don't like the children's cartoons. I don't like for many what they teach (If I want my child to know a second language I will teach it). We watch animal planet or other stations with animal shows, we also watch cooking shows.

The only kids shows she's seen are Veggie Tales and the Wiggles.

Jennifer - posted on 11/01/2010

i found this article so keep this in mind...
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/w...

Dee - posted on 10/25/2010

I love this post!

Dee - posted on 10/25/2010

My son watches TV since he was real tiny......but it never takes away from our reading time and playing time. Interaction is huge, but I feel he does learn SOME from the educational programs..but not as much as he does from daycare or his daddy and I.

So yes, he watches it!

Cassandra - posted on 10/21/2010

my daughter and I watch the SPROUT channel, its just like the baby first. She loves it too, she dances with the music, and is trying to talk. I think educational shows are ok for her to watch, we also read alot together. we got the Your Baby Can Read program when she was 3 months old and Ive noticed a huge response from it with Angel. She is so interested in books and wanting to follow the words with her eyes, not just looking at pictures. Its a great feeling to watch you child learn and learn with them.

Jackie - posted on 10/21/2010

i bought baby einsteins for her to watch and she loves them, i also babysit kids so when they watch cartoons she watches them too

Debbie - posted on 09/29/2010

yeah my daughter loves baby tv and also nick junior she loves fifi and peppa pig, dont see y they shouldnt b allowed to watch sum tv as long they get plenty activity time aswell x

Brittany - posted on 09/28/2010

Kind of... not really cartoons... I'll put the wiggles on for her when she's cranky... but really I could just have their music on and she'd be just as happy. She LOVES Dirty Jobs though I think it's Mike Rowe's voice because she also gets excited over the commercials that he does.

I'm not anti-tv... but I'm not really for it either. Nothing like turning to Disney and hearing a song about sex.... Kids channels disappoint me I will never let my kids watch them. I'd rather have them watch Food Network, PBS, or Discovery.

I will put on Animal shows and talk to her about the animal on the screen. But I don't let her just sit there with out any interaction from me. We talk about what we see.

Melissa - posted on 09/27/2010

the tv is on and she watches it for a couple min but she could care less. Studies show that babies under the age of 2 who watch tv spoke less words. There is no such thing as educational tv thats why the babie enstine videos were recalled

Stephy - posted on 09/27/2010

My 3 year old LOVES watching tv. When a show that she likes comes on she'll sit there in front of the tv (not directly in front of it but on her bed) and you won't hear a PEEP from her until the shows over. Now my 10 month old sits there and watches Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse....she loves it as well and as long as its educational and there's no violence i dont see a problem with it at all. Besides from learning from us, the two of them learn spanish from some shows! It's amazing how smart kids of this generation are getting!

Jennifer - posted on 09/26/2010

no, we don't. the professional recommendation is that no child should watch television before the age of 2 years, and even at 2 years it should be no more than 30 minutes a day.

even the most educational television program is not as educational, or beneficial to brain development as real life interaction.

Janelle - posted on 09/26/2010

I let my son watch discovery kids and sometimes he watch it, sometimes he don't. Most time he likes playing with his toys on the floor. But when Hi-5 is on, my son stops everything just to watch it.

Angela - posted on 09/25/2010

We do not allow our son to watch TV. We do put children songs up for him to listen to and he loves it. We do read a lot to him. A child need live interaction with another human being not a TV, in my opinion. Our pediatrician also stated that TV is not beneficial to baby's development and learning.

Kathryn - posted on 09/25/2010

tv is ok as long as they watch stuff that is good for them! i like NickJr b/c all the shows are educational! my 10 month old doesn't really watch but he'll play with his toys while his big sister watchs tv!

Sabrina - posted on 09/24/2010

Our house has constant activity. The Tv is usually on.....music is usually playing somewhere. Our little girl enjoys watching The Backyardigans, Tinkerbelle movies, The Little Mermaid, all the Baby Einstein dvds and we are getting the Your Baby Can Read dvds for her first birthday. She watches TV while running in her walk-around, playing in her playpen or jumping in her bouncer. It isn't her only focus though...it's more like background noise. She does all sorts of activities and doesn't rely on the TV. It's just there and when she wants to pay attention to it, she does. When she's interested in a toy or activity, she could care less if it's there at all. I really like the Baby Einstein series. It's teaching her and she doesn't even know she's learning. She's running in circles, listening to Baby Mozart and Baby Bach...learning classical music. She's in her playpen watching Baby Galileo...learning about our Universe. I really love them!

I think the Tv is fine as long as it's not used as a babysitter ;) If baby cries when the TV is turned off...then you have a problem! Your baby watching a few cartoons while playing or doing other activties is fine ;)

Kara - posted on 09/24/2010

My Son loves watching Playhouse Disney! We don't have the TV on much during the day, but first thing in the morning he enjoys watching the cartoons to get him started while he eats his Cheerios! :)

Callie - posted on 09/23/2010

I let my daughter watch cartoons sometimes. If she isn't feeling well or tired because she didn't sleep well, we will cuddle and watch some cartoons.

Natasha - posted on 09/23/2010

My 10 month has shown no real interest in TV. She may watch for a few moments and then gets distracted and doesn't really go back to it. Now, if I put music on, it's a whole other story! lol

Sarah - posted on 09/23/2010

Yes. I Let My Son Watch Cartoons. I Don't See Anything Wrong With That Either. He'll Watch Baby Brain Works, Which Has Cars, Trucks, & Planes & The Other One Counts Up To Ten. He Watches Some Of The Cartoons I Used To Watch When I Was Younger As Well. I Think It Helps With Their Speak & Education! (:

Racheal - posted on 09/23/2010

My 5 yr old watches cartoons and our 10 month old loves to watch it with him! its so cute to see the older one laugh at the show and the baby laugh at his brother!!! :)

Ashley - posted on 09/23/2010

my 10 month old does not watch tv. we let him play with his toys and be active. he could care less about tv. every once in awhile he will notice something on tv and watch it for a minute or 2 but then he is over it and back to his toys etc.

Ali - posted on 09/23/2010

I have an older girl who watches quite a bit of Playhouse Disney and my little girl loves it too. My opinion is so long as it's kind of educational and you talk to them about it afterwards and you don't have it on all day - then why not? Anything to give you some tie to do something else - like clearing up or doing your hair!