whats everyones thoughts on tv?

Charla - posted on 10/27/2011

My daughter's father and I didn't really allow her to watch TV until she was officially 2. Her grandmother would sneak it in here and there, though. Now, we still only watch movies with her. It doesn't seem to decrease her attention span, which is what we were worried about. On the contrary, she is able to sit through a 2 hour movie at 2 and a half years old. I'm still questioning whether or not I want her to watch TV. I'm not really strict on it. She watches PBS shows, like Word Girl, when she goes to her gramma's, and that seems to have a positive effect on her learning.

Jaylin - posted on 10/27/2011

thanks everyone!!! we are still very limited on the tv but i feel less guilty. all the feed back helped me!!!

Kathleen - posted on 10/24/2011

Amanda that is what we basically do. Nick Jr, or PBS. Our son has pretty much grown out of nick jr, but many pbs shows are right up his alley. Other than that most of what he watches is cooking shows with me lol I usuallly have Food Network or Cooking channel running all day long. Mostly for background noise. He's always been able to watch those shows with me...though he's gotten a bit more opinionated and says he has to watch his shows not mine hahah

Kathleen - posted on 10/24/2011

don't feel guilty. We allow our son to watch some television. I have gotten to the point in turning it off more and making our son play with his toys more lol. However, as long as you monitor what she is watching and actually know the content a couple of shows (most of them are like 15-20 min) a day is not completly bad. It's when the sit there all day long. My son used to watch morning Nick Jr. As they usually replayed all the episodes that afternoon too lol. There are a few choice shows we do not allow in the house, but it is after I watched it and knew the content. It's up to you what you feel is appropriate but we do not watch Max and Ruby and we don't watch spongebob, and for our 3 year old we don't let him watch many of the older kid cartoons like Ben 10. Now, my son is allowed his tv for part of the day so a movie in the morning. That is mostly because I've been sleeping in due to pregnancy. Then in the afternoon when I'm making lunch and again in the evening when i am preparing dinner. Other than that he plays with his toys or we go outside. On a positive note, if you know which shows she's watching it is possible for her to learn something, watch with her, ask her questions. I did that with my son watching Dora, Diego and even that inbetween show with Moose A Moose. My son started recognizing letters, a few words in Spanish, and can tell me shapes. His first shape was an octagon...so not all tv is bad. Just know what she is watching.

Katrina - posted on 10/24/2011

We still don't let me son watch TV and he's 5. On Saturdays, maybe once a month, he can watch up to an hour of selected videos. I will say it gave us the chance to sleep in on occasion when we desperately needed it. It has stayed special for him. That's the choice we've made.

AManda - posted on 10/24/2011

I allow my kids to watch mainly PBS kids and learning shows on tv. My youngest is 4 and he watches those and learns alot. if its anything other than learning I only allow them both a certain amount of time. they usually play more than watch tv. i make sure i stress exercise and stuff. most the time 1-2 hrs a day of learning shows is what they watch then play time for the rest of the time

Heather - posted on 10/23/2011

My kids probably watch way too much TV, but I am not worried. They are both chatter boxes and they play more than they pay attention to it. I think TV is great for them! Try PBS, Sid the Science Kid, Sesame Street, Super Why, and Cat in the Hat! My kids LOVE those shows!

Anna - posted on 10/21/2011

I don't allow mine any TV or computer viewing at least until 2. Then I'll see. Take a look at this article:

No TV for 2-Year-Olds Because It Slows Learning, Doctors Say
2011-10-18 18:04:07.733 GMT


By Elizabeth Lopatto
Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Children under the age of 2 shouldn't watch
television or videos because studies suggest it may delay their
development, including the ability to talk, according to a group of
pediatricians.
The advice about young children and television was first issued in
1999 by the American Academy of Pediatricians. Today, the group, which
is meeting in Boston, reiterated its recommendations based on the
introduction of numerous screen devices and a decade's worth of new
studies on the negative effects of TV on learning, thinking, language
skills, mood and behavior.
Children learn more from play and interaction with people, the
doctors said. Further, parents who watch their own programs while a
child is around may be distracted, and that detracts from play and
activities that are key to a child's development.
Parents should avoid placing a television set in their children's
bedrooms, and be aware that their own media use may have a negative
effect on their children, the group said.
"The concerns raised in the original policy statement are even more
relevant now, which led us to develop a more comprehensive piece of
guidance around this age group," said Ari Brown, in a statement released
by the doctor group today.
The policy statement will be published in the November 2011 issue of the
journal Pediatrics.
The recommendations add data showing that TV viewing around bedtime
causes poor sleep and that young children with "heavy media use" are at
risk for language delays once they start school.
Findings also have shown that video programs marketed as
"educational" for infants and toddlers aren't backed by evidence to
support that claim, the doctor group said.

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--Editors: Angela Zimm, Chris Staiti

Michelle - posted on 10/18/2011

I let my 4yr daughter watch her cartoons while eating breakfast & lunch. Each show is about 30min. (Little Eiensteins, Mickey Mouse, etc.) after that, she plays out doors or in her room. This is always been the way since she was 2. Just a matter of how you feel on the subject?

Amanda - posted on 10/17/2011

I have 2 1/2 yo twins. I let them watch tv in the morning and they again while I am making dinner. Alot of the time they dont actually pay attention to the entire show - they are playing and reading too. But I am picky about what I let them watch. We watch Disney Jr channel (ie: Mickey mouse, Handy Manny, Special Agent OSO...) and I also put on Seseame Street for them. They LOVE elmo and OSO, and have picked up tips and learned things from watching them. Plus it helps to get them to do things when it involves their favorite character from tv (mine loved to brush their teeth with elmo toothbrushes). Some tv or limited tv is good, just not all day. Dont feel guilty about tv, just limit it.

Jennifer - posted on 10/16/2011

We usually have something on when we're at home but it's not a focus. She'll pick a DVD she wants to listen to and we'll pop it in but she will then pull out books, flashcards, blocks etc. and play more than she watches the show she picked. Unless she's tired, then she'll watch.

I'm also pretty picky about what she gets to watch. We don't have cable but she gets to watch some shows on Netflix and we have a growing collection of DVD's. I don't think there's anything wrong with them watching TV so long as it isn't the main focus of the day.

Julia - posted on 10/16/2011

i think a bit is fine as long as it is age appropriate and not too violent! ABC kids is a great channel for little ones. Playschool and the educational ones are good and even ones for a bit of entertainment are still okay - singing and dancing etc. I treat DVD night as a special reward for good behaviour and make sure that my 4yr old does not have more than an hour a day of tv, ipod, computer or electronic games.

Karenda - posted on 10/14/2011

I figure TV is a part of life and even if I were to restrict it my kids would have to deal with TV at some point in their life. I try to help them have a healthy relationship with their TV viewing.
1- No TV on as background noise, if we just want background sound we turn on a radio.
2- Disengaging from the TV and being able to move on to another activity.
3- Making smart choices about what TV shows they watch - they can't watch everything so they have to make some decisions about what is most important to them.

I try as much as possible to give them parameters and allow them to make their own decisions within those guidelines (i.e. only 1 hour of TV a day, but I let them choose when they want to watch, and what show from a group of acceptable shows)

Rachael - posted on 10/14/2011

i intended not to give my son any tv, but he watches a fair amount now. i would guess about 2 hours a day. because i am alone with him a lot and need to be able to get cleaning and cooking and homework done, it distracts him so that i can get that stuff done.

Angie - posted on 10/13/2011

My son didn't start watching TV until he was about 2 years old. He only gets to watch Sesame Street now, so one hour a day. I don't even have the TV on during the day as background noise. His dad turns on sports at night sometimes and he'll watch that on and off.

I don't think it's bad to allow them to watch some TV. I just think it needs to be quality TV and the time needs to be limited.

Melissa - posted on 10/13/2011

I just heard a report that a part of the brain actually turns on when the tv is turned off. That said, I like to make sure by child gets adequate exercise before relaxing in front of the tv.

Donna - posted on 10/12/2011

what, you let your kid watch tv? omg that's terrible. haha just kiddin. So what I bet she probably doesnt focus on the TV the whole time shes in front of it. For the most part I think kids are more into play and toys anyway. We dont manage tv habits b/c my kids just would rather be doing other things

Louise - posted on 10/12/2011

In the UK there are Pre school channels that are safe for your child to watch and educational. My daughter has learnt to count in spanish and recognises letters and numbers by watching "Super Why". Tv is not all bad as long as it is balanced and not used as a baby sitter. My daughter has days when she does not watch it at all to days when she is tired and flops infront the tv. You have to decide what you deem is enough for your own child.

Sharon - posted on 10/12/2011

We have the tv on whenever we want to, have always had it that way and never really restricted it. BUT he gets bored with it after about 5-10mins and goes off playing. Could be because it's not a kids show, or that he finds it all boring. He does get to watch Yo Gabba Gabba 2-3 times a week, which he actually LOVES, and dances the whole way through. We will continue the way we are going, until he seems to be getting more interested in the telly than playing. I think everythign in moderation is the key. And besides, the 25mins that he watches Gabba allows me to do a bucketload of housework.

Jaylin - posted on 10/11/2011

we were all baby einstein for the first 15 months and than it was thomas and dora on demand. she would rather play with her dolls or read or do crafts but for some reason in the morning she climbs into our bed and wants to snuggle and watch tv:-)

September - posted on 10/11/2011

I think that moderation is key. Our son spends far more time not watching tv but I don't deprive him of it either. Our son enjoys reading and would ask to read books before he would ever ask to watch tv. I think as long as she's not sitting in front of the tv all day, then I don't see an issue with watching a little bit of television.

April - posted on 10/11/2011

i was anti tv for the first year but when i had to have a sitter things kinda changed...now i'm just picky about what they watch. we have on demand with cable and it allows us to pick shows based on age and has no commercials...those are the worst part of tv. even dvd's like baby einstein are great not because of the making you baby smarter cause thats not true but its great because they say young kids need slow moving more mellow programming. my 4 yr old still likes baby einstein... he likes to talk about all the items they show...it encourages dialogue. i also think its important to watch tv with your child just for that reason...you can encourage the dialogue. it also allows you to be aware of what your child sees :)