Do you allow your kids to watch TV? If so, do you restrict how much they are allowed to watch? I just got finished reading an article in one of my parenting magazines. Apparently, the AAP recommends no TV for kids under the age of 2 and to limit TV times to 2 hours for older kids. They say it can cause speech/language delays. I have to admit, since the twins were about 5 or 6 months old they have been watching TV. We use to put on Baby Einstein videos for them to watch so we could sit down and eat dinner together(DH and I). It was only 30 minutes and it kept them entertained through dinnertime. Gradually, it became a part of their bedtime routine. We would bath them, let them watch one video in the evening while drinking their milk, brush teeth, read book and then lights out. Now, I use the TV for when I am home with them alone and trying to prepare meals or when they both seem to get fussy in the mornings since we dropped the morning nap (not always sometimes we leave for an outing) and we also still let them watch TV in the evening. So, all together I would say we have it on for 1-1 1/2 hours a day. Did you let your kids watch TV before the age of 2? Do you really think it is that big of a deal? Just curious.....
I was going to read that article, but thought it would make me feel guilty! When they were younger, I was adiment about not letting them watch tv. Now I only let them watch a few PBS shows (Clifford, Word World, Sid the Science Kid, Curious George and just this month Sesame Street). I DVR them so I can use them when I need them. I also use them so I can cook dinner. I think it's better than them getting burned on the oven or stepped on in the kitchen. I think a few non violent shows are okay. Keep in mind, my two have been evaluated twice for speech delay, but they always hit the milestone they missed on the test two weeks later. I'm chalking it up to their prematurity, not PBS.
My girls are 15mo old, I do let them watch tv, maybe an hour or so a day, shows like sesame street, yo gabba gabba, backyardigans, blues clues and spongebob. It is also part of our bedtime routine, they sit in my lap, drinking their milk, watching tv (for all of 5mins) and snugging before getting their sleep sacks on and going to bed.
My kids watch a baby signing time every night before bed, they love it, its part of their routine and its actually helped their language skills b/c they are picking up all the signs. We will ocassionally watch a baby einstein or baby signing time or playhouse disney during the day if its a rough day. We also have portable dvd players that we use on long trips (they are a GODSEND).
My twins watch tv during the course of the say...I have never really timed how long. They are talking up a storm and have wonderful imaginations for their age. They never really sit for very long and actually watch it unless they are eating or tired or something catches their attention.
My older boys watch TV so the little one does kind of too. Hes not too into it, but I will put on a Baby Einstein movie while I cook. They all love to watch it. I also restrict now what the boys watch. They used to watch spongebob a lot. Now, its once a day and the rest of the time, it's noggin, or baby einstein. I dont know how many hours a day, but it prob averages out to 3-4, esp in winter when your indoors so much.
Our TV is pretty much always set to Noggin .. my boys watch it in spurts .. but arent total couch potato's. Lately they've been into playing with their Leapsters or their Lego's . I guess I never really thought about it too much. Plus they are in daycare/preschool from 7am - 4 pm every week day.
I haven't and not planning on it. Besides the health/developmental consequences, think they don't have enough awake time at this age to justify 'wasting' even 30 minutes of it in front of the TV. They learn more from playing with toys and moving around IMO.
My kids have always watched tv and they have their language skills surpass the "norm." The tv is always on in our house because dh and I always have it on as background noise. We are definitely a tv family but I am very specific about the kinds of shows that I allow my girls to watch. They grew up on Baby Einstein then we did Brainy baby and they were basically allowed to watch anything on Playhouse Disney or Noggin and a few select shows on Nick Jr. To this day, my girls are not THAT into tv. They only like a very few shows at a time and they aren't too interested yet in Disney movies. But from the latest research (which I saw on GMA about a year ago) they say it's not the quantity of tv programming but the quality that can have an affect on your child. Shows like Sponge Bob are too fast paced for a child's developing brain and apparently they don't have to ability to process the information fast enough. However, they say that they found no ill effects on children when they watched programs like Blue's Clues, Dora, Diego and the such. You are going to get contrasting views on this issue. My view is tv is fine as long as it's quality programming (slower paced with educational content) and as long as (with anything in life) you have a balance. But of course with the cold winter months on us, we spend more time with tv because we are stuck in door all day for most days. I would go crazy and so would the girls if we didn't all have to break to just sit down and chill for a bit and watch a program (or 4 ) Do what you think is best. Use your instincts and just follow your heart and do whatever you need to do to keep yourself sane!! ETA: My girls have learned soooooooooooooo much from the tv programs they watch. They learn from their toys as well. There is a balance and my girls are very advanced in both language development and academic skills and information so TV has not hurt or hindered my girls in ANY way.
I used Baby Einstein when they were young to get a break. After a year or 18 months, I added Seasame Street for variety when DH was getting ready for work, and I needed to work and the nanny hadn't arrived yet. Now that they are in school, they get one cartoon when they get home, Wonder Pets, Dora or Diego (tho they like Backyardigans, I just haven't DVRd any lately). They also like Clifford, Tinkerbell, Mariposa, Bearenstein Bears, and other age appropriate cartoons. They get 30 mins a day during the week most days, and maybe an hour on weekend days, half in the AM, half in the afternoon. Once the toon is over, the TV goes off, no arguments, and they must play. If I can play with them I will, but sometimes I have to fix food, or do chores. I try to involve them in what I'm doing, sometimes they will help, but usually choose to play. When they are sick, or I am, they get more TV. I do think leaving the TV on all day is not for us, but that's also because I can't stand the constant noise. We will have football or golf on during the weekends, but they tend to tune out after a while and go play. I don't think TV in moderation will hurt any child. I do think play and activity, and learning to play on their own is important and shouldn't be overlooked. They were 3 before they really learned to play independently tho, and it was tiring to try to keep them occupied while doing what needed to get done. When I can sit down with them and play, things go a lot more smoothly. ETA: No language or speech delays noticed with our kids. They are, and have always been, incredibly verbal and have a large vocabulary for their age.
My kids have always watched TV and have far above average language skills, DS was evaluated by EI when he was 18 mos. he came out 'normal'. But the Speech therapist told me that he seemed delayed to me b/c my DD's skills were off the chart. I think amost anything is ok in moderation and that banning things can be detrimental too. We really only like "Tiny Planets, Signing Time, Sid the Science Kid, and The Magic School Bus". Wait can you tell I am a science teacher???
Mine only watch two almost ten minute shows on Sprout as part of our bedtime ritual. They eat dinner, take a bath, and then watch Thomas and Noddy (about 8 minutes each actually). We all watch together and have a little cuddle on the couch as they drink their milk sippy and have a little bedtime snack. They really do not even always pay attention to these shows and they are really really short programs.
My TV was always on especially Noggin since they were little. We never conscientiously limited or keep track of how much time they watched or did no watch TV. There were no speech delays whatsoever, by 2 they talked very well and were always complimented on the fact they were so verbal. Even now, they amaze me with some of the words they use and they use them correctly in a sentence. Words like impossible, extrodinary, opinion, extremely...those are just some off the top of my head they have recently said. I am a SAHM and we are out maybe twice a week in the winter months so my TV is either on the news channels or PBS, Noggin, Nick and I swear shows like Dora, Diego, Blues Clues helped them with their colors, letters and numbers which they recognized very early on. Don't stress, I'm sure they will be smart kiddos whether they watch TV or not.
mine watch about the same as yours. in the morning we will catch mickey mouse clubhouse before breakfast, and they'll watch maybe 20 min mid-afternoon of babyfirst tv while dh and i take a break and catch up. then at night it's part of bedtime routine, they watch a baby einstein or the like while i give the other a bath, and switch. they'll drink their milk in front of the tv snuggling with either me or dh as well, but that takes a bout 5 min. i think it's a sanity saver. they're doing great in their language skills, so i'm not stressing. you do what works for you and your situation IMHO
I started letting my kids watch videos around 9 months or so. I did hear that you are suppose to wait until they are 2 years old, but I didn't follow this advice. At first I would show them a 15-20 min. show, like Baby Einstein, or Baby Signing Times. My kids enjoyed it and I liked the break it gave me. My kids are now 3 years old and they typically watch 30 min. of video a day. I personally don't think it's a big deal. Just think, the rest of the day you're talking with them, reading them stories, etc. 30 min. or so in front of the TV isn't that big a deal (in my opinion). thea
In general, as much as I love TV, when Becca was 2 months old, turned at stared at the TV, its' been off when they are around. Basically we were TV free until 23 months (we had a plane trip). We introduced 30 minutes a day of Elmo or Sesame Street. We have also done Mr. Rogers. So far we only have 2 videos, so they are watching the same thing over and over again. I also occassionally will leave the tv on in the morning for a few minutes for the weather and if someone is watching sports. Basically it's a treat and they know it. Jake sometimes watches his daddy edit footage from his truck events....it's not ideal, but it's cute I'm mixed on the good and bad. Personally in watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers I see a lot of good mixed in the shows (the depth is amazing). Also, SS has a lot of singing stuff (other shows may have it as well, i haven't road tested). I also am seeing them picking up new words..but it could be conicdential ..who knows. We also let watch "baby music videos" on youtube. You know the music montages with baby pictures...i don't know if I consider this TV.
I had the tv on around my babies (mostly background noise) up until they were about 6-7months old, but when I did read some of those articles, it got me thinking that it might not be good for them, so I decided to leave the tv off, now they watch maybe 30min/wk at the most. Although over this next year I can see myself relaxing a bit more and considering 1 short show/day (if we have time), I like what the pp said about watching shows that are slower paced. Everything in moderation I think is fine!
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/qu...elines-for-kids I found this article for you. Read the WHOLE article when you have time. It has arguments for both sides. Then you can decide what you feel comfortable with. Whatever you decide will be the right decision for you and your kids.
We allow my older DS to watch about an hour of TV every evening, but the TV is otherwise off when I'm with the kids (when my DH is home, it's a whole different story - he's a major TV watcher, but it's on news or tennis, not children's programming). The twins frankly just aren't even interested in it at all, so I haven't had to worry about any negative effects at this point. When they start to show interest, it will be the same deal, though: no TV during daylight hours, and then only an hour or so. (We TOTALLY cheat, though, when I'm sick or the kids are sick...then we lounge on the couch and watch ALL DAY.)
Thanks Double or Nothin....interesting article. Thanks for the info.! Definately makes me less guilty about letting them watch it on occassion.
For a while it was no TV. Then starting around 9 months, we did 30 min in the morning OR in the evening. Now it's no more than 1 hr per day whenever... I like to keep them active, helping me or watching me. Mine are not behind in any way, never have been. I always seek to use educational TV first, but we've wandered away from that towards Disney movies... We don't use TV only videos. DH and I don't watch TV either, we watch movies once/twice a week. I think the thing to caution as they get older is letting them watch it because they want to, and it's an easy thing so you get stuff done. I really have to calculate the payoff -- Will I really get 30-60 minutes worth of work done if I let them watch TV now, or do i need to wait till later and use the TV later? I find if i let them watch more than 1hr /day then they don't want to go to bed for me. For us, It's better to keep them moving and active - both physically and mentally. We use books and coloring for downtime. That's my 2 cents.
We do alot of storytime, too. Coloring doesn't work for us yet as they still like to eat the crayons and they stay interested in it for all of 30 seconds.
My husband and I are big TV people so we never discussed how much we wouldn't want them to watch. We always had it on as background noise and I would watch a few minutes of a show here and there. The kids watch the shows but only for the songs. The only show they will sit and watch is Wheel of Fortune but I play it as a game to them saying to look the letter R or A or whatever. Now DS is sitting down saying "O" or "B". To me as long as you are balancing out their day with other activities it is fine. My kids are not behind on language skills at all from watching TV. They get one show (30 min) in the morning, then afternoon then evening then Wheel. Again they mostly watch the songs and that is about their attention span. At least I know if they are watching it is has to educational. We are disney channel kids and I hate to admit but Barney is a BIG hit in our house.
Everything in moderation, I say. And, it depends on the personality of the kid. My older one LOVES TV, so we use it as a treat -- she's allowed to watch a little bit (and only Noggin or PBS or Playhouse Disney) -- and it's the first thing we take away when she's misbehaving. She's a bright kid, and she plays creatively, reads, and is very articulate, so I'm fairly confident that watching TV hasn't damaged her in any way. Oh, and yes, we did do Baby Einstein when she was an infant -- mostly as a sanity break for me. My younger two aren't that interested in TV, so they mostly watch Signing Time videos and Baby Einstein, and the occasional Blues Clues. I don't worry about it too much....
