Does anyone let their kids watch as much TV as they want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I'm just not that convinced by the "I turned out okay" argument.

I also agree that it's not necessarily valid to compare TV viewing habits of our generation to TV viewing habits of today. There's quite a bit of difference in the way that advertisers market directly to children than they did in the past, and in a lot of ways, it's those ads that are most harmful to the kids' development.

[Anonymous]

I am very interested in this too. (Baby is not old enough yet for this to be an issue).

I, however, have no self control when it comes to TV. Once that thing goes on, I lose hours upon hours watching God-knows-what. Although I can point to all the things the rest of you did about being a productive member of society, in relatively good health, etc., I feel like I lose my life, creativity, and better health to TV. I would like my daughter to know moderation, but how do I do that, when I don't know what it is?

[Anonymous]

I feel the primary reason why I try to limit the amount of tv is because I feel that they are able to more creative. I think it has made a difference since my children are almost 5 and 7. I think it makes a difference in terms of patience too and attention span. Now, that they are older I'm having a harder time trying to find shows that are appealing for them since they are outgrowing noggin and preschool shows. I let them watch Boomerang it has some old cartoons on there and maybe some PBS educational shows. There is still some violence on Boomerang but I rather have that than inappropriate language or attitude. But it seems when I go to other people's house Cartoon Network is on. I think children pick up a lot of things from tv but you can't protect them forever. I would only hope I teach them their values early on.

[Anonymous]

I am in the placing limits camp not only in terms of how much but also what. She is limited to Noggin and sports (a compromise with my husband). I never offer the TV and if she asks during the week (before or after pre-school) I usually say no and when I say yes, I tend to use the TV to barter (e.g., you can watch TV while I comb your hair). On weekends, I tend to let her have an hour a day or so, usually in the evening and only if she asks.

My worry with TV is not that I think it is so bad, but that my child (3 yo) seems to really absorb everything. She know the theme songs to Dora, Diego and Wonder Pets) and this morning in the car she sang the "days are the sunniest" song that Moose sings on Noggin. God only know what she would pick up if I let her watch channels with commercials. I am still dreading the day when she tackles (football) or gives an elbow (basketball) to one of her classmates.

[Anonymous]

Is it the shows or is it the advertising? I only let my soon to be 3yo son watch about three shows on Noggin (Max and Ruby, Dora, and Diego). No commercials. I agree they are like little sponges. I do find it entertaining when he answers the questions Diego/Dora pose and I love when I hear him yell something out in Spanish. I'm pretty easygoing about how much I let him watch...but really try and have it be no more than three hours spattered throughout the day. As for limiting the good stuff, my folks NEVER let us have soda as a kid.....and what's fully stocked in my fridge now....SODA (albeit diet soda). Funnily, I won't let my kids have any soda until much older...like 72.

[Anonymous]

I'm 13:02. I don't compare TV watching to carseats. One is an obvious physical threat, the other is debatable. I can compare my TV watching because it's the actual watching of the television that is supposed to cause problems.....watch TV, develop bad habits supposedly. I did watch a lot of TV and I don't think I've developed all of those bad habits.....although I have my share of habits I don't really blame them on the television! I also learned a lot from TV and it depends on what you watch and who you are. Honestly I don't do everything the AAP recommends either and I don't think anyone does. We all pick the things we're stringent about. I don't give my daughter juice except once in a while and some people's children suck it down. Do I think they're bad Parents? NO! It's just the thing I'm weird about.

I appreciated 13:36's constructive comment. I agree that children need to be stimulated and TV is not a substitute for interaction. I tried to get that across on my post, but I don't think I did a good job. That's why I wrote that you know your child. You know what they will and will not tolerate well. I don't think all children should or shouldn't watch anything. I know that I really don't want to buy video games, but I know my husband will probably win that argument and we'll end up with some sort of limit set on it. I don't know a lot of kids that stay home to watch Dora, particuarly now with On Demand putting it up whenever you want, but I do know a lot of children who will stay home to play some game.....as well as grown men who will! Hehe.

[Anonymous]

Baby's best hope to be brainy turns out to be you, experts say
Hot-selling videos take a back seat to love, nurturing
By Jane Erikson


http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/140992



"The study found that 61 percent of children 1 year old or younger average an hour and 20 minutes a day in front of the TV. And nearly 20 percent of those babies have TVs in their bedrooms.
"I tell parents that if their child is less than 3, no TV is better," Rice said. "At this age, kids should be a problem. They should be into everything. They pull all your pots and pans out of the cupboards, but that's what they're supposed to do. That's how they explore their environments."
By the time the child is 3, Rice said, TV is OK — but less than an hour a day. "

[Anonymous]

There is no reason that tv can't be stimulating. As I did with my own daughter, I sit with my charge every morning and watch Sesame Street. We talk about the show, sing the songs together and I point out the letters and animals. He is almost 18 mos and I checked with his parents before starting this routine.

[Anonymous]

We only watch selected movies/DVDs on weekends, and pretty much nothing during the week, unless one of the parents has a meeting out of the house.

Of course, the kids are the type to be transfixed by the screen when it is on, with little or no additional activity or distraction. If they were like some of the other kids described who would absorb for a few minutes and take on other activities in the background, I could see handling it very differently.

On the other hand, we don't have to deal with the Nick Jr and other "tweener" shows that some of their peers parents are dealing with, so at least there is that.

Finally, I am cognizant that we don't want to be the weird family who doesn't have any touchstone in pop culture, so there is certainly a balance to be struck.

Bottom line, there is no right or wrong answer...depends on the kid and the broader circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about it as long as you spend a lot of quality time with your child and make sure he/she is very active.

People are nuts about this sort of thing. It's like breastfeeding! Makes them feel better to compare.

[Anonymous]

I am with the AAP on this.
http://www.aap.org/sections/media/ToddlersTV.htm

Also I think it depends on the child. For some watching too much TV could definitely have more cons than pros. For my son the amount of TV is directly related to his behavior (not good), so I can't let him watch tv to his desire. I did do that when he was younger and I feel that I suffered the consequences. He has improved a lot now,but it was a lot of hard work. With him he is more interested in TV because he used to watch a lot, and not because the other way round. I think each parent would have to individualize this for their children. Forget children I think even for Adults, with less TV so much more is accoplished. And yes like a PP, no SPONGEBOB!

[Anonymous]

My son is one of those kids who will, and has when he was sick, watch TV for literally hours if he is allowed to. I hate the catatonic demeanor he gets when engrossed in TV. He is impossible to distract, he doesn't even hear you when you ask direct questions. It's like he goes into a trance.

So to answer OP's question, we do not let him watch as much as he wants, because he has demonstrated that he cannot moderate his watching. If I had a different type of child, I might feel differently. But of course you deal with the kids you've got.

Because I know he's like this, there is not a chance in hell that we will be getting him any sort of Xbox-type device, ever, as a present. And the computer is off-limits, too, until a teacher tells me he MUST use it for school down the road.

Frankly, I wish I had a child who would watch a 1/2 hour show, then get up and go ride his bike. Life after school would certainly be easier around here.

[Anonymous]

I think some of the posters are forgetting the point of OP question. Not "is TV bad" (okay, that's slightly debatable but let's all agree that of course it's better for a child to interact with a human than a TV) but what's the best way to keep TV watching lowest over a lifetime? I think she is (as well as I am) curious as to whether it seems that limiting it makes it MORE alluring, thus resulting in GREATER TV watching in the long-run. Yes, we can control it now when they are toddlers, but as they get older and go to friends houses, are left home alone at times, etc. they are eventually going to be making their own choices. So the stats are unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it the shows or is it the advertising? I only let my soon to be 3yo son watch about three shows on Noggin (Max and Ruby, Dora, and Diego). No commercials. I agree they are like little sponges. I do find it entertaining when he answers the questions Diego/Dora pose and I love when I hear him yell something out in Spanish. I'm pretty easygoing about how much I let him watch...but really try and have it be no more than three hours spattered throughout the day. As for limiting the good stuff, my folks NEVER let us have soda as a kid.....and what's fully stocked in my fridge now....SODA (albeit diet soda). Funnily, I won't let my kids have any soda until much older...like 72.

My almost 3 year old is on a Max and Ruby kick and we currently have 23 episodes stored on our DVR! I find the show very aggravating and find Max very rude. My son, who is very verbal, has also started speaking in one word answers a la Max. We keep trying to steer him to something else, but it has been all Max and Ruby for a couple of months now. I think my DH and I thought it was just a cute show about bunnies and then when we actually watched an episode or two we realized how annoying it is. We, too, are pretty easygoing about TV - he probably watches 2-3 hours throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it the shows or is it the advertising? I only let my soon to be 3yo son watch about three shows on Noggin (Max and Ruby, Dora, and Diego). No commercials. I agree they are like little sponges. I do find it entertaining when he answers the questions Diego/Dora pose and I love when I hear him yell something out in Spanish. I'm pretty easygoing about how much I let him watch...but really try and have it be no more than three hours spattered throughout the day. As for limiting the good stuff, my folks NEVER let us have soda as a kid.....and what's fully stocked in my fridge now....SODA (albeit diet soda). Funnily, I won't let my kids have any soda until much older...like 72.

My almost 3 year old is on a Max and Ruby kick and we currently have 23 episodes stored on our DVR! I find the show very aggravating and find Max very rude. My son, who is very verbal, has also started speaking in one word answers a la Max. We keep trying to steer him to something else, but it has been all Max and Ruby for a couple of months now. I think my DH and I thought it was just a cute show about bunnies and then when we actually watched an episode or two we realized how annoying it is. We, too, are pretty easygoing about TV - he probably watches 2-3 hours throughout the day.

If you don't like Max and Ruby then don't let them watch it. You are the parent. Saying no is OK. If little things like TV you cant steer them away from, when it comes to bigger things you won't have any control. If a show makes you uncomfortable, turn it off.