Children and television

[Leanna]

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other smart folk say no TV for children under 2. I agree. That being said, I'll admit that approximately 2-3 times a week I will allow my David to watch one 30 min. video while in the playpen. He thinks the playpen is boring, and I use the video to entertain him on days that I don't get a shower before my husband leaves for work.... so I can take a shower and know he is in a safe place. David loves the video Baby Einstein on shapes and thinks dancing crayons is funny. Anyway I feel good about this decision I have made for my family/son because I don't feel it is damaging him.

In another couple threads there are a lot of kid's shows mentioned, so that means you all apparently let your kids watch TV too, I am wondering how much..... anonymous poll.... and if you want to share, how do you feel about your kids and tv watching?

 

[Leanna]

The TV is on pretty much as long as we are awake. I don't find that she watches it but I'm sure she will eventually
~

You are right about this one.... I remember my husband and I used to watch reruns of CSI on cable, until one day we noticed David looking at the TV. So we cut that show out because we didn't want him to being desensitized to blood and guts and crime and.... well you know how that show is I assume.

 

[Linnis]

I voted as much as he wants because I have no control over the amout of TV or gamecube before 2pm on the weekends. So easily before I get him, he's watched TV for several hours, but what happens before isn't up to me. While I have him if he's a TV zombie(as in staring off blankly at the TV, not listening) when I arrive to pick him up, he gets no TV for the rest of the day. We'll go to the park, go on a walk, bake, read anything but more TV, I mean even a grown adult doesn't need that much TV.

I find if he's watched upwards of four hours of tv in the morning he's impossible. Nothing is fun, he's alwayed "bored" and if don't let him watch more he'd rather lay around then go out and play. Not normal kid behaviour to me. I agree with TV making one lazy, kids and adults a like.

I think those Baby Einstein videos are great, I think educational cartoons are differant than the run of the mill cartoons that's on TV.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

There's another study that just came out showing that children who watch quite a bit of tv are more violent or bullies when they get older. What was interesting, that also included kids who watched educational programs. I'll have to dig out that study, I skimmed it briefly.

My daughter just turned two and she really watched very little tv before she was two (maybe one wiggles or barney show every so often). Now that she's two, she watches one of 'her' shows (barney, wiggles, veggie tales) a few times a week.

My son is seven and does not watch tv every day. He's into the Magic School Bus series right now and we'll watch them about four or five times a week. He's watching Scooby Doo right now but it's pretty rare that he watches tv.

If you're a family that keeps the tv on a lot, start listening to the radio. If you have a KLove in your area, those are good family stations or just leave the CD player going. We have Sirius on our Satellite TV so we have the TV on alot but we generally have it on the satellite music stations. The first five years of a child's life really shapes who they become and if you leave the tv on alot, you're likely to raise a couch potato.

A neat thing to do for children is to create a calendar and every day the tv stays off all day (meaning they watch no shows) you put a smiley on the calendar. When they get a certain number of days (you choose, I personally like 10 days), you go as a family and do something special. Some parents like to reward 'good' behavior with the television. We like to reward not watching tv with something good. We don't do that anymore but that's because the tv isn't that big a deal to the kids. But, this is a good method if your child is starting to watch a bit too much.

 

[Leanna]

Wow thanks for sharing all of that. The radio is a good idea, we do have that on rather than the TV during the day. Then I know its Christian content going into David's head.... we also have a piano music cd that we love.

 

[Redguard]

I voted 1... which is usually Dora.

I have no problems with her watching Dora the Explorer.

After Dora, she just plays around with whatever toy she's really into for that week.

Right now, it's Mr. Potato Head.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Wow thanks for sharing all of that. The radio is a good idea, we do have that on rather than the TV during the day. Then I know its Christian content going into David's head.... we also have a piano music cd that we love.

Can you tell I'm not a huge fan of the boob tube?

You mentioned piano music. Do you like Jim Brickman? I played his cd's all the time while pregnant with my daughter and if I play those cds when she is upset, she calms down. They soothe me as well

We don't get radio stations where we live so the only 'radio' stations we have are the Sirius stations. They aren't too bad and no commericals which is really nice.

 

[ImmortalAwakened]

Christian programming is really vital nowadays to counter all of the bad tv shows.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Perhaps I'm a bit too left-brained at times but here are some interesting children and tv studies.

viewing habits and age at smoking initation:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16085505&query_hl=1

preschoolers viewing habits, parental perceptions and risk for obesity:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16005808&query_hl=1

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Perhaps I'm a bit too left-brained at times but here are some interesting children and tv studies.

viewing habits and age at smoking initation:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16085505&query_hl=1

preschoolers viewing habits, parental perceptions and risk for obesity:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16005808&query_hl=1

television viewing and poor educational achievement:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15996992&query_hl=1

television in child's bedroom and test scores:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15996991&query_hl=1

3 to 6 year olds BMI - tv habits, physical activity and tv viewing:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15889113&query_hl=1

television watching as a predictor of bullying:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15809395&query_hl=1

I actually pulled up about 3000 studies related to tv viewing and children. The vast majority show that we need to take care when it comes to our children and the television.

 

[Leanna]

In my ideal world, we would never watch TV. I would love for my husband and I to sit around and read books. My family NEVER watched TV. My husband's family has the TV on 24-7. It drives me crazy. We were at their house for Thanksgiving last year and their tiny house was filled to the brim with tons of adults and two babies. When it got loud, his dad would turn the TV louder. So when we got married, my husband wanted to watch TV and I was used to never watching it. We learned to compromise and now I am used to some TV.

Right now my son obviously doesn't ask to watch TV and when he gets bored, going on a simple walk can work that out. So how do you keep your kids from watching TV? What do they DO instead? Yes, please inspire me.

 

[ImmortalAwakened]

In my ideal world, we would never watch TV. I would love for my husband and I to sit around and read books. My family NEVER watched TV. My husband's family has the TV on 24-7. It drives me crazy. We were at their house for Thanksgiving last year and their tiny house was filled to the brim with tons of adults and two babies. When it got loud, his dad would turn the TV louder. So when we got married, my husband wanted to watch TV and I was used to never watching it. We learned to compromise and now I am used to some TV.

Right now my son obviously doesn't ask to watch TV and when he gets bored, going on a simple walk can work that out. So how do you keep your kids from watching TV? What do they DO instead? Yes, please inspire me.

people should spend more time with each other. The tv set is no substitution for relationships.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Right now my son obviously doesn't ask to watch TV and when he gets bored, going on a simple walk can work that out. So how do you keep your kids from watching TV? What do they DO instead? Yes, please inspire me.

Y'know, I get asked that alot

Well, up until the last century (really, the last half century), families did not have television sets. Children played outdoors. Children played with toys. Children interacted with friends and siblings. Now we hear children talking about how bored they are once the tv is off. I think the reason for this is they really don't know how to play or how to keep themselves amused.

My children play outside a lot. My seven year old son and two year old daughter this morning took some camp chairs, a rocking horse and 'went on a camping trip'. They 'rode' the horse to the campground (on our front porch) and spent about an hour playing nicely together (until sis bit him...but that's another story ). They both like to read books. My daughter makes up her stories and my son can spend so much time just reading his Calvin and Hobbes books. We play games. My son likes to take stickers, put them on paper and draw a picture around them and this can keep him busy for quite a while. My daughter will usually color her own pictures during this time. I let them build forts out of blankets in the house when it is rainy or else I get them in their rain gear and tell them to go 'puddle stomping'. Since music is usually playing, it's not uncommon to find us dancing. We homeschool so that takes a bit of time as well. I tend to incorporate 'school' throughout the day as well and they never even realize what we're doing is educational. We have some games in german and spanish. We'll collect rocks and break out my geology books to identify what we have. We'll play quiz games. That sort of thing.

We've been bitten by the tv bug in the past and I know it was hard to turn it off (usually happens after one of us has been sick). With the tv off, we wander around listlessly, but I've learned that really only lasts for a few days. Children are so imaginative and creative. If you turn off the tv, that creativity will spark within days and they'll find plenty to do. And, often that creativity will spark in us as well

I find it ironic, though, that while I'm typing this, my son is blankly staring at the tv screen watching Scooby

 

[Leanna]

Lol Yeah its funny I grew up watching no television, and so every time my peers talk about tv shows from "our youth" I have no idea what they are talking about..... and yet still I had to ask. I hope you are right about the creativity.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I watched very little as a child and, aside from Saturday morning cartoons, my memories are of coming home after school, doing homework and racing outside to play. I don't remember sitting in front of the tv.

Sounds like you are very involved and creativity won't even be an issue

 

[Linnis]

Both my husband and I read a lot & we're trying to make reading more interesting by getting books from the library with interesting topics, his favourite are supar heros & space. It's hard when all this other influences are very Pro tv, pro tv babysitting but everyday I notice his reading getting a little better.

The times the TV are off and he has to think of ways to not be bored, the creative child with an imagination comes through. He loves when I'll make him play dough or give him the bits of the biscuit or pie dough. He thinks it's so neat to make things--kept him busy for easily an hour yesterday. Or he comes up with ideas for stories to tell me.


Until about age 13-14 I had little or no TV, in the summer after breakfast my brother and I were shipped outside until lunch then back out again until about 2. We didn't really want to be inside anyway and if we did, that was tough luck. Even in the winter my mum would bundle us up and send us outside to "blow off steam" for 45 minutes or so. Then when I finally got TV I most kept it to an episode or 2 and that's it.

 

[andiesmama]

Andie watches "her" shows in the morning until we go out & about to run errands. If we end up staying home that day, the tv is usually on while I go about my business in the house, but Andie usually ends up going off to play in her room or play with her toys in the living room, ignoring the tv...then I turn it off! She watches a couple of her shows too when she wakes up from her nap....she wakes up grumpy usually (takes after mommy! ) so I let her chill out for a little bit while she watches Dora or Little Bear or something like that....

I find nothing wrong with letting kids watch tv as long as it's educational for them...I think it depends more on the quality of the shows rather than the quantity.

 

[rocklife]

we balance tv with outside times, (parks, walking dog, backyard, gardening, etc) and with christian activities, helping others as God leads. For tv times, my family has christian satellite tv, sky angel, my family also spends quite a bit (prayerfully, blessings from God) on christian dvds, bible movies, missionary shows, to help us in our christian growth. Vision video has some great bible movies, missionary shows, you can get a free catalog on their web site. Cherub Wings and Beginner's bible are great bible cartoons for kids (my son watches Cherub wings dvd in spanish too, he's learning new languages already from christian tv). When we are done with the dvds and movies, we prayerfully give them away to nonchristians, to evangelize

 

[Princessperky]

I see that question alot too "What to do besides the TV?" obviously outside is a great option, but at 8 months pregnant it isn't alwasy that easy! Not to mention in NC it is a bit hot to be out ALL day long so some recent fillers here:

1. Puzzles, DSs current pick, I am proud to say he just did a 100 pc puzzle ALL BY HIMSELF . Ok so he had done it several times before, but.. he is also 3. DD did a 6 piece jigsaw yesterday. I was rather impressed with that one too - first time with no help from mommy.

2. Duplos, (for older kids you need legos .) DS goes on a kick of bulding houses or trains or something. DD is younger and does the EXACT thing that DS used to do, building straight tall towers, that of course fall apart caue there is no support. But she will learn like he did.

3. Books, DD will look at them for hours, DS will read some of her books and pester me to read some of his. I will become engrossed in a book for eons .

4. Art/creativity, like painting, playdough, crayons ect. I do have to have a little more attention on them to keep the mess contained and stuff, but like it is a bad thing to pay attention to them?

5. Help cook, I hear lots about how TV is the babysitter for dinner prep. I let one or both help, DS helps pick the spices for experamenting, DD usually just plays with a few clean empty yogurt containers that I didn't get around to putting in the recycle bin once. Nice simple quiet toys. For the other meals I can usually heat up whatever in the time it takes them to pee and wash up (though DD needs help with the washing up still)

6. Help with chores, another time I see lots of people saying the 'need' the TV. DD and DS 'help' do laundry and dishes and stuff. I wouldn't say they make my life easy or anything, but they keep their hands busy with silverware or washclothes while I get the bulk of it done, when I am line drying they bring me the hangers (no line, I clip to hangers then hang on a bar)

Great for learning colors "please bring me a white hanger", "you did a great job folding that blue towel" and halves/thirds, "fold the washcloth in half, then half again", or shapes, "look when you fold the washcloth it turns intoa rectangle instead of a square!"

Unfortunatly (or fortunatly) we also have practice on not giving up whena task is hard, and or asking for help, cause of course DS wants to fold the hand towels and or the big giant towels now, but gotta learn sometime.

Also helps with sorting, "put all the forks on the left, and spoons on the right" (oh and right vs left)

Now having said all that, guess what we did last night while eating snack? Watched a video . I personally cannot afford to go to the zoo all the time, or Africa or any other place that can be brought home on video, so I don't have a problem with the occasional use of video, just with the constant need for one. I also cannot afford a babysitter, so when we have company for Games night we use the video for an hour or two while we play grownup games. - and we have the 'TV bug' for a day while the kids wonder around listlessly wondeing what to do, but it is a short lived bug, no TV to feed it and it dies .

 

[Beth1231]

That being said, I'll admit that approximately 2-3 times a week I will allow my David to watch one 30 min. video while in the playpen. He thinks the playpen is boring, and I use the video to entertain him on days that I don't get a shower before my husband leaves for work.... so I can take a shower and know he is in a safe place. QUOTE]

Since I know your bright little guy is climbing, I figured I should advise you to check the mesh of the playpen. If he can get his fingers and toes into the mesh, you may be in trouble (I know for the most part, they don't make them like this anymore, but I also know baby stuff gets handed down). My hubby climbed up his playpen, fell out and crawled away. He did this every time he was put in there after succeeding that first time. Just a fun story, though, if you're playpen isn't the old style