[smcd_fmr_attorney]

Alright, so I have an eight month old that is a pretty busy little guy. He is crawling, standing and cruising (but no walking yet) and pulling everything from the tables. I am always looking for ways to entertain him and one friend suggested that I let him watch kids programs like Noggin (whatever that is??). Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I thought I'd get a discussion going...


My inclination is no. I have been pretty careful about not watching TV when he is around, I don't want him to just sit there and be mesmerized by the picture and sound. I have also read that you should avoid exposing children to intense media until they are older (potentially even MUCH older--like three!). I have no intention of being a TV-free house, I watch TV, but I would rather him do something interactive and hands on. I was never allowed to be a couch potato, so I don't want to start early on that. My friend was saying that its educational and it taught her daughter to clap. That kind of made me feel guilty like, "Am I keeping him from learning??" Then I thought about what nonsense that is. He sees me clap everyday--he doesn't need to see it on TV! Plus, there's no telling what other things they "learn" from sitting in front of the TV for hours. I would just rather wait until I am desperate (like when I have another baby and I am juggling a thousand things etc.) to turn to the TV as entertainment for him.

What do you all think?

[sheababy]

We always seem to have the TV on. I do monitor what I have on-no more Forensic Files, Law & Order SVU etc. If I put on cartoons (My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Imagination Movers etc) DD may watch for a few minutes but as for long enough for me to get something done-forget it!

It is true, no TV is recommended until age 2 or 3 (our daycare does not allow it until age 3).

You are not hindering your child from learning by not letting them watch TV! I don't think my DD has learned anything from the TV. The only thing she is now starting to recognize is if someone on TV is cheering and clapping she gets excited because we taught her how to do that and she sees someone else doing it. She has more interest in shows that have music-loves to dance and jump around.

IMO a little TV is ok but if they start taking interest in it versus other things I would shut it off.

[maxkinzie]

my $.02 worth...
I was amazed by just how much violence (disguised as humor sometimes) is in a lot of these "kid" programs. We needed SOME tv to get hair done, but when DD was under a year I found DVD's a good alternative (the Baby Einstein series, Clifford, and the Wiggles were our tried and true)

[SchmennaLeigh]

The only TV either boy got in the first year was Signing Time videos. Parker has about 20 signs he can do (12.5 months) and many more that he understands. He's now occasionally allowed to watch Super Why with Nick while I'm making supper (whereas he used to sit in the kitchen with me while I cooked) but still not much else yet. Sometime soon. Just not yet.

[lovemy2boys]

My friend's DH calls Noggin "Crack for kids".

Seriously - 24 hour a day cartoons with no commercials geared for the under 4 crowd? Ugh!

Now, don't get me wrong...I love me some tv - and so do my boys. In fact, when my oldest was about 2 (right when baby brother came home ) we let him watch the wiggles. It was his "big" tv treat of the day and he loved all the singing and dancing.

And I know people use the argument that there IS some educational content in children's programming, and I can even buy that. I mean, when I was 3, I learned to count to 10 in Spanish and French watching Sesame Street (yep, we had Canadian television in Michigan, so there was a french version as well)

But to hear someone say that their child learned to "clap" by watching tv kind of makes me sad.

[minibus]

Granted, we've only had our kids for 5 months, but we don't let either of them watch TV or movies yet. (Our daughter is 2 and our son is 8.5 months). For me, I'd rather have the kids interacting with us than with the TV. It's a lot harder and a lot more energy draining on us (and I'd never be able to do it as a SAHM or a single parent), but we make it work. Also for me, it's a precaution for MYSELF. I could see myself relying on TV as a crutch - SO much easier to plop my needy 2 y.o. in front of the TV rather than try to get her to find something else to do ... I don't want to give myself that option before it's necessary, you know?