[minibus]

I've been pretty darn determined not to let the kids watch TV yet (J is 5.5 months old, K is 22 months old, we've had them in our care for 2 months). I've been concerned that it would become another battle, especially for K, who wants to do what she wants to do when she wants to do it. Right now, we don't let them watch anything, not Baby Einstein, not Dora, nothing. (Ok, I think that when I leave my mom alone to take care of J during the day, she watches The Closer with him). K is also catching up on her language development and we're slogging through attachment vs. following the rules of the house.

Anyone else not letting their kids watch TV/movies at all? Am I fighting this battle needlessly and letting precious opportunities go where I could be NOT having to occupy them?

[vernellinnj]

My son watches about an hour or so a day (he's 4). Only Noggin, "Pre-school on television". On weekends perhaps a little more....he enjoys it and I enjoy the time to myself, too!

Whatever works for you and your family....

[SupaModel]

OT but I LOVE The Closer!! Yay mom

[jren]

We didn't have DD watching TV for the first 2 years of her life. Prior to age 2, there's really no benefit for them to look at a TV screen.

Now that she's 4, she does watch Noggin. There are some educational uses to TV at this age - when we were little, we learned our ABCs from Sesame Street. Still, we try to limit it, but it's harder when they are older and not napping anymore. I let her watch it for her "downtime" - maybe 15 min. in the AM and a show in the afternoon. More if she's sick or it's really rainy out. I can tell when she's watched too much, b/c her behavior is definitely worse.

Don't feel bad about not giving them TV, they won't miss it, really!

[katie52]

I really don't think there is any thing wrong with a little bit of video time for kids. I remember how much our kids LOVED their fave Disney movies when they were little.
They would learn all the songs by heart and sing them in the car for us. I loved that.

One thing I do know is that the neighborhood kids who were not allowed to watch tv, would be glued to ours whenever possible. lol There were 2 brothers whose parents did not allow them to ever watch tv, and they became kind of obsessed with it. They would come over, and our kids would want to play with them, and ride bikes, or play ball, and they would ONLY want to come in and TRY and watch tv. I would turn it off when I caught them, but they were sneaky and had a one track mind about trying to watch tv whenever possible.

I really believe that once something is 'outlawed' , it takes on more power. Like, never tell your daughter that you hate her boyfriend, until after she breaks up with him.

[Slatond10]

Like others said .. b4 2 DD watched little TV and even now @4 it is limited. She does like to watch 1 - 30 min show b4 bed ( normally Dora, Diego or Backyardigans)

She is however a HUGE fan of MOVIES. I do not have DVD in my car thank goodness but Nana does :-) and so when she rides w/ her it is MOVIES everywhere! we are normally so busy on the weekends that TV is limited then as well but we do usually have a MOVIE night once a week or / weekend if we didn't fit it in during the week.

[sbaglio]

We don't plan to let our DD watch TV, at least for the first 2 years of her life. We put our money where our mouths were, and got rid of 2 of the 3 TV sets we had at home. The remaining one is downstairs in the guest bedroom, so is never watched unless we have visitors staying over. We listen to radio and to music instead.

[jules17]

You all may have heard me say this before, but my parents raised me in a no TV household. And this was over 30 years ago! (guess they were cutting edge, much as it pains me to say that - LOL) I learned to read when I was 3 and when I started kindergarten, I would go to the 2nd grade for a lot of classes (and that continued through school).

We spent our time talking, going to museums, going on walks, painting, playing with animals, anything fun and educational. And never once did I watch TV, nor did I know what I was missing.

It wasn't until I was on the bus about people would talk about "The Dukes of Hazzard" or "Magnum PI" that I would wonder about it. So, eventually, my parents agreed to rent a TV for a week and we would enjoy some as a family. It always felt odd to me - an invader of our space and time.

Our kids get to watch a teensy weensy bit and it is always educational and always WITH us. So we can talk about it, etc. They are usually more interested in talking with us than the TV and that is just the way I like it.

[Saya]

I actually feel like the realities of parenting have overtaken my no-TV-for-young-kids ideals.

Anabel watched VERY little TV until she turned 2 years old. I can't say none, but very little. We made sure we never watched it when she was awake, and she just didn't consider it to be part of her life. And it was actually OK with her - she was so active that even when she did see TV, it just didn't hold her interest.

That has changed a lot in the past 6 months - she's much more interested in watching TV. However all she basically watches is Sesame Street - and she much prefers a few videos we have to actually watching the show. Plus I have to say my priorities have changed a bit now that DH is gone every week half the week. So if A asks to watch "Ernie" (Ernie's 1-2-3 Count With Me video) in the morning I'm OK with that - it's really the only way I can take a shower, make breakfast, etc. in the AM. And then I sit with her for most of it anyway - we sing the songs, etc.

I have good friends who have their TV on ALL THE TIME. I couldn't live in their house. BUT I will say that their 2 daughters, aged 4 and 7, are two of the sweetest, brightest kids I know and they DON'T care that much about TV. I mean they'll watch it, but it's never been a big attractive deal for them, because it's just always been background noise in the house. Not how I want to live, but one of many examples about how TV exposure in itself is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Snick22]

Hi ladies,

There really is a lot of good programming on PBS kids. My DS is 2 and watches educational TV only --- but he is already reading, spelling, knows the alphabet and can count to 20, knows colors, and shapes too.

One of the best shows to come along is new this year and it's called "Word World". I was so proud of DS when he learned his ABCs, but this show has him spelling and reading already! I can't say enough good things about it. It's really well done.

If you only let your kiddos watch 1 show, I highly recommend this one. I believe *educational* TV in moderation is a good thing.

hugs,
-Snick

[feelingreyt]

My 13 month has no interest in TV, but my almost 4 yr old and 8 yr old love to watch their favorite shows. I don't have to limit TV because they limit it themselves. They are very active, love to look at and read books, play outside, you name it, TV is just one activity out of many that they enjoy.
My 8 yr old was reading at 3 yrs old. She memorized numerous books and rhyms before that. Today, in 3rd grade, she is still an above average student. I don't think watching TV has hindered her in the least.
My ds loves for us to read to him, but at almost 4 he still has not learned to read(which is totally normal). However, he knows several letters and he can reconize a few sight words. He is just too active to sit for too long!
Neither one of them are overweight. They are both perfectly healthy. I don't see TV as harmful as long as it is not their only activity.
I do realize that everyone is different and have different views on this subject. To each their own, I say!

[mommmmy]

I'm one where life has changed quite a bit over the years. Sometimes I feel like that silly diaper commercial I once saw.

20+ years ago with my first child I only breastfed (no fake nipples of any sort) all homemade baby food, organic whenever possible, only natural fabrics, attachment parenting, NO TV...somewhat Waldorfian in educational philosophy then turned into homeschoolers...and on and on.

With each child and each year things have changed and evolved and many things that I was rather militant about I no longer feel so passionate about. I'm now more of one who appreciates most things in moderation.

For me the TV issue also has a great deal to do with the child's overall environment and personality. However, I don't agree with infants watching TV and/or videos no matter how "educational" the programs may be. And my idea of moderation seems to be very restrictive in comparison to many others. I also agree with modeling whatever behavior we wish our children to exhibit.

[Fran27]

No TV here... Reading all those articles about how TV is bad for kids below 2, you bet that's not going to happen in my house.

We've watched a couple movies when they were in the room but they're really not interested and we usually avoid it. There will be NO kid program that might attract them with music, songs etc for sure, until they're 3 probably... maybe 4. But again, I don't watch TV either (although I'll make an exception for the new season of Heroes, but they're in bed by then anyway). If I watch TV, it's usually movies I rent and it's when they are sleeping.

[marythemom]

The AMA says NO TV for children under 2. It shouldn't even be on as background noise. That said, I didn't follow that!

As a writing assignment, one of my daughters recently had to do a research paper on the effects of media on children. It had some VERY interesting points. (PM me if you want to read it). You would not believe how much violence is in the media - especially cartoons! I dare you to watch TV looking for violence - you will be horrified.

This does not include most educational shows mentioned already, but my kids are 9, 12, 13, and 15 so we watch a lot of tween TV shows.

One thing I found interesting is that while children definitely become more aggressive while watching violent TV. They are something like 87% more likely to mimic any POSITIVE behavior they see. That's why my children are only allowed to listen to Christian music and I've banned many channels. Sometimes the show/movie was one I approved of, but the commercials were full of inappropriate information and violence.

I limit what the children watch, but not the amount. I'm working on that though. We only have one TV they are able to watch, it's downstairs, and they have to agree on a show (and I have to approve it too). My kids with ADHD don't watch TV much, but my biodd tends to be on the sedentary side.

[lovemy2boys]

My boys didn't watch tv until they were a bit older...

It wasn't a conscious effort to turn it off, but my own personal loathing of background noise - haha.

They have certain shows they love to watch, but they pretty much regulate themselves, so I havent really had to.