How much TV watching?

Just curious about how much TV those of you with 1-2 year olds allow them to watch in a day, if any.

I know the recommendation is no TV until the age of 2, but I also know that many parents allow it before then. For those of you that do let your kids watch TV, how many min/hrs per day do you allow?

 

"Just curious about how much TV those of you with 1-2 year olds allow them to watch in a day, if any"

[SIZE=12pt]This is probably not the answer you are looking for
(but I am sure others will follow!) but I didn't
watch any TV with my guys until they turned 2.

At 1-2 they were pretty much drawn to anything that was
on TV, there were a few times we had a Sox game on and
both of them would twist themselves around to watch it. :huh:

I personally did not want to rely on the TV as a way to entertain them; I
preferred to interact with them, take them out, watch them play, etc... and
I knew that those moments would be gone were I to put them in front of the TV.

[/SIZE]

 

QUOTE(Stellaluna @ Feb 21 2008, 02:12 PM) [snapback]633634[/snapback]
"Just curious about how much TV those of you with 1-2 year olds allow them to watch in a day, if any"

[SIZE=12pt]
I personally did not want to rely on the TV as a way to entertain them; I
preferred to interact with them, take them out, watch them play, etc... and
I knew that those moments would be gone were I to put them in front of the TV.

[/SIZE]


I agree with this BUT my two do watch morning TV. Usually about 20/30 minutes of Sesame Street or Elmo's world in the morning when they wake up. Gives me time to wake up have a coffee and get their breakfast ready. As soon as we sit down to breakfast TV is off for the rest of the day. We are usually busy during the day either with our programs or playdates (and in between napping and eating) that we are to busy to really watch TV.

 

My two love having the TV on, they don't necessarily watch it. I guess they are used to it being on with their big sister here. When we are here if it is off one of them will turn it on. They really only watch The Wiggle and Doodlebops right now, but it is on in the morning while they are playing.

 

Our TV schedule:
7:30 -8:00 Wiggles
10:30-11:00 Sesame Street
5:00-6:00 Mickey Mouse ClubHouse/Sesame Street.

Now they never sit and just watch TV, only while drinking their milk, otherwise they are playing and will watch for a minute here and there. Somedays the TV will be on more then others, somedays we aren't home so no TV time. Once summer comes we'll be out more.

 

I don't really have any issues with them watching tv and would let them if they wanted to, but they couldn't care less about it. I've even tried sometimes with Baby Einstein DVDs, Sesame Street DVDs, Disney Channel, etc. just to see if something would pique their interest. They're interested in all of it for maybe 5 minutes, but then they just want to get moving and playing. They're so unlike their couch potato parents.

 

We put Sesame Street on at 10, before lunch. They don't sit and watch it, they will watch for a few minutes, then play, then watch, etc. We have been stuck in the house SO much this winter, if it's just one of "those" afternoons, I turn on Jack's Big Music Show in the afternoon. It's about a 25 min. program.

 

I allowed none before the age of 1 (except what happened to be on if DH and I were watching, but I tried to keep that to a minimum too). They weren't very interested, anyway. From 1 to 2, they watched maybe 20 minutes a week, if that. I tried really hard not to get into a habit of watching anything, although they did watch a lot of Sesame Street if they were sick.

But since they've turned 2 (and especially in the past few weeks, because DH has been away or working a lot), I've allowed 20-30 minutes a day. I figure it won't kill them and it's really useful when I'm trying to get a meal on the table.

 

We keep the tv off till they are in bed. I know it would make my life easier if it was on but there is no gain for the children that I can think of and possibly some losses if it was. We do listen to music a lot but that really isn't the same I guess. I think I will hold off tv watching till they are about 3 or 4 when they can actually understand what it is they are watching and then I would keep it to a minumum.

 

They watch part of Elmo's World first thing while they drink their milk and I make breakfast. They really don't like Mr. Noodle so I fast forward through that part. I'd guess it totals about 15 minutes.

Generally they watch one segment of Wonder Pets (about 10 minutes) while I make lunch. They are waaaaay into being in the kitchen right now and I am SO worried about them getting burned. Thankfully, they will stay away from me for the Wonder Pets!

Depending on the afternoon, they may watch a Baby Einstein, but not always.

DH and I watch the news, so the television is on, but they could care less.

 

30-45 minutes and day of Baby Einstein or Curious George, especially in the winter.

 

My kids watch tv whenever always have we never restricted it.

 

My girls didn't watch soo much, but they did watch Sesame Street in the AM while I was getting ready for work, Dora on weekend mornings, about one Backyardigans a day (or Muzzy or some other video) and one Baby Einstein a night at that age.

Sounds like a lot.

 

Guess I would be considered the terrible parent but my tv is on all day. Sometimes with shows for me and sometimes for them. My girls started watching Einstien around 10 mos. and Wiggles from earlier than that. They also have a tv in their playroom which plays only dvds and vhs. My girls have only ever watched educational programming (and Wiggles). They don't watch it all day and there are definately times of the day where I just shut it off to insure that they are having quality play. But I have to say that my girls have learned SOOOOOOOO much from the programs they watch. Right now my dd Lorien watches a show called Super Why that teaches reading. I have even begun to label things in my house because she is so motivated to try to read and she isn't even 2 yet! She is starting to connect that letters make words so I am just going with it. It's totally because of the kinds of shows she watches. I don't care what anyone says and I respect everyone's decisions they make for their own kids. I KNOW I am not hurting my kids in any way by exposing them to as much tv as we do. We have playdates and go to Mommy and Me and they are just as active and into doing those things as when they watch tv.

 

About 30 minutes of TV while I clean the kitchen after dinner and have a "cuppa".

Just gives me a chance to catch my breath.

They don't really watch it but the noise captures their attention every now and then - when there is singing. (usually Backyardigans). Other than that - they are playing and it is background noise.

 

We turned the TV on for the 20 minutes of Elmo's World since they were about 1 year old; however, they did not watch the full 20 minutes. Lately we have been turning it on for 30 minutes (10 minutes of Sesame Street and 20 minutes of Elmo's World). Our DD will sit and watch the full 30 minutes, but our DS will watch about 15 minutes total because he's too busy playing with toys, etc. I wasn't planning on having them watch so much TV, but they've recently had a spark on numbers and counting and Sesame Street does a great job with this.

 

None at all. We are planning on introducing TV to them when they are 2 (or later).

 

Mine watch sesame street in the morning and somedays a half hour video right before dinner. So about 1-1/2 hours.

 

We have it on a lot during the day but they don't really pay attention. I watch the news for a little bit to see what is going on in the world in the morning. Then I turn it to Sprout. They do like the Sunny Side Up Show. Sometimes they pay attention other times they don't. They are really active, so DH and I aren't too concern about the amount they watch.

 

Whenever I do put the t.v. on for them, I try to make it interactive. I try to get involved in the show too, as in, I count the numbers with the Count on Sesame St. I do the Jack's Big Music show dance (the opening song) with them. I can't tell you how cute it is when they are crying or just not in a very good mood and I start, "C'mon everybody give your foot a tap", and they start tapping their feet and clapping their hands.

But I do shut it off right after the show is on because it's not so much that I'm worried that they're wasting play time, but I get absorbed into the t.v.! So, I shut it off and just play with them. I totally have Adult ADD.

 

QUOTE(cathmar @ Feb 23 2008, 11:33 AM) [snapback]637121[/snapback]
Whenever I do put the t.v. on for them, I try to make it interactive. I try to get involved in the show too, as in, I count the numbers with the Count on Sesame St. I do the Jack's Big Music show dance (the opening song) with them. I can't tell you how cute it is when they are crying or just not in a very good mood and I start, "C'mon everybody give your foot a tap", and they start tapping their feet and clapping their hands.

But I do shut it off right after the show is on because it's not so much that I'm worried that they're wasting play time, but I get absorbed into the t.v.! So, I shut it off and just play with them. I totally have Adult ADD.

 

I didn't let them watch t.v until they were two (except for sick days). I still limit their t.v. to at most an hour a day, I've kept it out of the routine. I put sesame street on when I am sick or it's really hectic, the house is a wreck and I need to make dinner. Because I limit their t.v., I can use it for emergency situations that pop up and it works! They are glued to the screen the entire time it is on. The kids I know that watch t.v. all the time don't do that, their like immune to the narcotic effects of the coma machine. Therefore I actually think it is to the parents benefit in the long run to seriously restrict t.v., not necessarily for the kids benefit, but for ours! We need to have some kind of ace in the hole!

 

my babies are 27 months and they do not watch any TV at all yet.
My big kids (8 & 6) watch about 4 hours a week, if that. They usually watch nature shows and some cartoons.

I just don't think there is any need for it.

 

The girls don't watch any at all. I plan on letting them watch a few minutes a day when they turn 2 and carefully monitor what they see.

 

QUOTE(Shadyfeline @ Feb 21 2008, 08:35 PM) [snapback]633885[/snapback]
My kids watch tv whenever always have we never restricted it.


Mine too. My tv is on all day long i need the background noise. They have a few favourties that they watch during the day x

 

1 hour per week tops of Baby Einstein.

 

QUOTE(double-or-nothing @ Feb 22 2008, 02:52 PM) [snapback]635311[/snapback]
Guess I would be considered the terrible parent but my tv is on all day. Sometimes with shows for me and sometimes for them. My girls started watching Einstien around 10 mos. and Wiggles from earlier than that. They also have a tv in their playroom which plays only dvds and vhs. My girls have only ever watched educational programming (and Wiggles). They don't watch it all day and there are definately times of the day where I just shut it off to insure that they are having quality play. But I have to say that my girls have learned SOOOOOOOO much from the programs they watch. Right now my dd Lorien watches a show called Super Why that teaches reading. I have even begun to label things in my house because she is so motivated to try to read and she isn't even 2 yet! She is starting to connect that letters make words so I am just going with it. It's totally because of the kinds of shows she watches. I don't care what anyone says and I respect everyone's decisions they make for their own kids. I KNOW I am not hurting my kids in any way by exposing them to as much tv as we do. We have playdates and go to Mommy and Me and they are just as active and into doing those things as when they watch tv.


We are the same! I never restricted it either. Started watching Einstein's about the same time as you. Now that they're older most of the time they're coloring or putting puzzles together while they watch so they're not just glued to it sitting like couch potatos. We're also in the mom's groups twice a wk and do bike rides about 3 times a wk. so it's not just TV. Our AZ. heat is coming and when it's 115 degrees out I have no problem putting on a disney movie etc.. for the afternoon.

 

Mine turn the tv on and off themselves. There was a point they wouldn't stop watching it, now they rather play. It isn't going to kill them and honestly, I am not going to hide the tv from them. That seems extreme to me. I have noticed them saying things they have learned from shows such as "what path should we choose?" and counting and saying their ABCs.

 

About a year ago we got tired of having any control issues around the TV so we got rid of it. We talked about it for about 2 months before we did it and just got it out of the house (it was the only one we had.) They really only watched good stuff, but it had gotten to the point where they would come down in the morning and just want to turn it on and would start crying if we wouldn't let them turn it on.

We missed it more than the boys did. They never thought anything of it after that.

About 2 weeks ago though we started watching clips of Little Bear and this and that on the computer (internet). Already we feel like it has spun out of control though. About three times a day, they insist on coming upstairs and watching the "carrot one" or the "snake one." Then of course since they aren't computer literate yet, we need to be around for them to start it and replay it, or go on to another one for them. We aren't sure what to do about that, but it sure is getting tiring and seems to be a battle for control of some sort between the babies and the parents.