[SKL]

My girls are 2. I don't like them watching TV regularly, but not everyone agrees with me. My younger daughter seems to get "sucked in" as soon as there is a child-oriented program on, and I don't feel it's the best thing for her at this point. My older daughter could really care less one way or the other, except that she loves watching musicians and dancing to their music.

I've allowed my daughters to occasionally watch DVDs selected by me. Recently, these have included a few movies. But for the most part, I want them to be interacting with their environment as much as possible at this age.

I've heard lots of pros and cons regarding TV - they talk sooner, they get violent, etc., etc. Well, I've been around long enough to take psychological research with a grain of salt. But I'd like to know what my favorite community of parents thinks about this.

Thanks!

[carolynpep73]

IMO I think that TV, just like anything else, is OK in moderation. My daugther, now 3, does not care to watch TV all that often. She likes a few movies but rarely sits through anything for longer than 20 min.

Number one thing is choosing the right program. Disney channel is excellent for this. They don't get bombarded with commercials for sugary cereals, toys, or fast food. Their programing is light and educational. I really like Doodlebops, Tigger and Pooh, Imagination Movers, Little Einstein, and JoJo's Circus. (oh, and Olivia likes those too )

I've found Nickelodeon to be hit and miss. You can get really good shows like Dora and Diego and get some really mindless shows like Spongebob and Yo Gabba Gabba (I don't get why that's so popular. Yes, I hear the nice messages but it's so strange. I think I'm missing something).

I also feel it's important to sit and talk with them during a program and explain things you feel they may misinterpret (especially with movies that have a good guy/bad guy theme). My daughter is forever asking why questions during a movie.

These are just my feelings and I'm certainly not an expert. We limit TV but don't cut it out. There really is some great stuff out there...

[noahsark]

Jacob recently turned 2 and can recognize all his letters- Thank you Sesame Street! Everything in moderation.
Maureen

[joepegcamp]

For us, it's Sesame Street on PBS, Diego, Dora and Wonder Pets on Noggin. Blue's Clues is also a favorite in our house.

I have no problem my son watching television--I can get lots done and he's up and dancing and interacting with the little characters on the TV.

BUT, we only let him watch an hour or two (if that) per day. We have our play time, our music time and our reading time everyday.

Personally, I have no guilt popping in a DVD so that I can get something done.

[debhorner04]

I am not a tv watcher. I put the news on and an occasional game show, but that's it.

Marissa (17 months) is allowed to watch a Clifford video for about 1/2 hour in the morning as she eats breakfast and I clean up and get ready to get us all out the door.
She has enjoyed "Elmo Saves Christmas", but only once a day during the Holidays---then it will get packed away. I much prefer her to listen to music and play. she absolutely LOVES books!

I thnk everything in moderation---a little each day, but not hours! Also, make sure it's something you eel is educational.

[GuatMommy2Be]

M watches Backyardigans and JoJo's Circus. Every other Saturday night we do family movie night.

[Gabri]

According to our pediatrician, TV is bad for brain development before the age of 2. That said, my 5 yo watched hours of TV from his infant seat at his foster home and was an early talker, reader, etc., and has very little interest in TV now (though he does have some sensory issues). My 2 yo on the other hand didn't watch any TV until after he turned 2, talked late and is now a TV addict. (I literally have to unplug it because he can work the remote.) I chalk it up to different personalities, but who knows... Personally, I like PBS because it's essentially commercial free, doesn't have any violent programming and also doesn't have children's programming on all day, so it's easy to say "Oh, I guess there's just nothing on right now...".

[guatparents2be]

we are strictly no tv with julian. he does watch an occasional signing time video but no tv.

we personally don't think that all things are ok in moderation. some things, but not all things.

the american academy of pediatrics recommends no tv until age 2.

a recent review of the studies on kids and tv show the strongest connection was found between the amount of TV watching and childhood obesity:

* 86% of these studies found a statistically significant relationship between increased media exposure and an increase in childhood obesity.
* 82% of studies concluded that more hours of media predicted increased weight over time.
* A longitudinal study of 5,493 children reported that those who spent more than eight hours watching TV per week at age three were significantly more likely to be obese at age seven.

i really don't judge parents who let their kids watch tv, i just don't want it for my family.

[JillnChris]

I hate her watching t.v. The only program I don't mind is sesame street. She LOVES t.v. and begs to watch it all day. When it is on she just sits there lifeless watching whatever is on. I have allowed her to watch way more t.v. than I am comfortable with but try to keep it under 30 minutes a day. I also try to always be with her watching so that I can interact with her about the program.
Whenever she is watching it I feel super super guilty.
I have discovered that I really don't like her watching movies or programs with human actors (except for sesame street!). The reason is she just sits there and soaks it all in and I am afraid she is going to get a warped perception of reality if she watches it too much. This is such a young and impressionable age and they are learning so much about social/emotional interaction.
Kids at this age learn way more but interacting with people, playing with toys, and using their imaginations.
However, I just discovered a new program on our cable's "on demand" service. It is 12 minutes where they teach spanish words for young tots. She seems to like that and it is so short that I don't mind.

[guatparents2be]

Originally Posted by JillnChris

I hate her watching t.v. The only program I don't mind is sesame street. She LOVES t.v. and begs to watch it all day. When it is on she just sits there lifeless watching whatever is on. I have allowed her to watch way more t.v. than I am comfortable with but try to keep it under 30 minutes a day. I also try to always be with her watching so that I can interact with her about the program.
Whenever she is watching it I feel super super guilty.
I have discovered that I really don't like her watching movies or programs with human actors (except for sesame street!). The reason is she just sits there and soaks it all in and I am afraid she is going to get a warped perception of reality if she watches it too much. This is such a young and impressionable age and they are learning so much about social/emotional interaction.
Kids at this age learn way more but interacting with people, playing with toys, and using their imaginations.
However, I just discovered a new program on our cable's "on demand" service. It is 12 minutes where they teach spanish words for young tots. She seems to like that and it is so short that I don't mind.

this is one of the reasons i don't like it either. i look at him and he's in this limp sucked in state...it's weird.

what's the name of the 'on demand' show?


-s

[SKL]

Perhaps it depends on the personality of the child. If you could see my youngest, you'd understand why it bothers me. It's like she's hypnotized. She's a very bright girl and normally interactive with her environment, but turn on the TV, and all she does is breathe and stare for as long as I will let her.

My other daughter is not like this at all. Actually, I don't think she likes children's programming. When her aunties have it on for them, she asks them to switch it to a music channel. Her sister then gets ticked off!

My little vidiot also tends to be heavy and she is quite content to sit still for long periods (reading, etc.) - which is again different from her sister. Thus the research mentioned above about obesity makes sense to me. Unfortunately, I can't restrict just one of the girls from TV, so I have to figure out what approach has the greatest net benefit for both.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by SKL

Perhaps it depends on the personality of the child. If you could see my youngest, you'd understand why it bothers me. It's like she's hypnotized. She's a very bright girl and normally interactive with her environment, but turn on the TV, and all she does is breathe and stare for as long as I will let her.

My other daughter is not like this at all. Actually, I don't think she likes children's programming. When her aunties have it on for them, she asks them to switch it to a music channel. Her sister then gets ticked off!

My little vidiot also tends to be heavy and she is quite content to sit still for long periods (reading, etc.) - which is again different from her sister. Thus the research mentioned above about obesity makes sense to me. Unfortunately, I can't restrict just one of the girls from TV, so I have to figure out what approach has the greatest net benefit for both.

I have the same issue with restricting having three kids. My oldest son and my daughter will watch a show or two and be done. DD has learned a ton from the Letter Factory DVD's and the Dora and Diego shows. DS#1 tends toward watching Food Network and HGTV. But then my younger son is exactly like your youngest. You described it perfectly:

It's like she's hypnotized. She's a very bright girl and normally interactive with her environment, but turn on the TV, and all she does is breathe and stare for as long as I will let her.

I personally think there is a lot of great programming out there (lot of horrible stuff too!) but I also have to really monitor DS#2 and quite honestly there are times the other two get to watch and he has to go play somewhere else in the house.

[Quesita]

I swore that I was not going to let Liana watch TV until she was three. Ummmm.....it didn't work out that way.

As a single mom, I've found the TV essential while I'm taking a shower, doing hot things on the stove, etc.

I am VERY careful about what Liana watches. We talk about the shows together, and actually, I'm really delighted with some of the things she has learned from tv. She is a very empathetic kid, and she gets very worried about the charactors in her stories... obsessively concerned actually. She used to get upset when I read Hop on Pop and got to the page "Wet, get, two dogs get wet. Help, yelp, they help for help." She would hold her finger on the page and tell me the dogs were stuck and needed help.

A few weeks ago, on that page, she announced the she was going to get her hat and her boots and her backpack (all Dora and Diego stuff) and that SHE was going to save the dogs! What a great solution to the problem.

I think if you are careful about what kids watch, you can find a lot of really decent stuff on tv. We are also fanatics about the Little Einstiens. She is really learning to sing from the show, and learning about tone and pitch and rhythm, as well as lots of other stuff. At the museum a few weeks ago, she jumped up and pointed excitedly and said "Look mommy! Sphynx!!!!!" And sure enough, there was a little sphynx! She leaned about that on the show's trip to Egypt.

So yeah.. careful selection, moderation, active participation. That is my new tv mantra.

[ERAmy]

Originally Posted by guatparents2be

a recent review of the studies on kids and tv show the strongest connection was found between the amount of TV watching and childhood obesity:

* 86% of these studies found a statistically significant relationship between increased media exposure and an increase in childhood obesity.
* 82% of studies concluded that more hours of media predicted increased weight over time.
* A longitudinal study of 5,493 children reported that those who spent more than eight hours watching TV per week at age three were significantly more likely to be obese at age seven.

i really don't judge parents who let their kids watch tv, i just don't want it for my family.

I do think alot of kids need to spend more time outside and be more active. I think if parents are aware of that and truly make that an important activity for their children, that allowing some tv isnt going to hurt them.

My oldest LOVED tv when he was a toddler. He has adhd. Hes now a 7 yo who LOVES to read and will choose that over tv most days.

There is alot of good programming for kids out there. My kids have learned from tv. But they also learn from us. We dont use it as a replacement for anything but more of an enhancement. Our kids seem to learn best by seeing and hearing then doing it hands on.

[JillnChris]

The whole child obesity thing scares me to. It has increased at a riduclous rate and I have always swore that I would make sure my kids ate healthy and got plenty of exercise. It's funny you brought this up because I have been thinking about this in regards to the television latley. Probably becuase there has been an increase in sweets around our house becuase of the holidays as well as more holiday t.v. we have allowed our dd to watch.
I think the only way to limit it for one child is to limit it for both your children. It can never hurt to NOT watch television but it could hurt to watch too much.

Originally Posted by SKL

Perhaps it depends on the personality of the child. If you could see my youngest, you'd understand why it bothers me. It's like she's hypnotized. She's a very bright girl and normally interactive with her environment, but turn on the TV, and all she does is breathe and stare for as long as I will let her.

My other daughter is not like this at all. Actually, I don't think she likes children's programming. When her aunties have it on for them, she asks them to switch it to a music channel. Her sister then gets ticked off!

My little vidiot also tends to be heavy and she is quite content to sit still for long periods (reading, etc.) - which is again different from her sister. Thus the research mentioned above about obesity makes sense to me. Unfortunately, I can't restrict just one of the girls from TV, so I have to figure out what approach has the greatest net benefit for both.