How much TV...

[Anonymous]

I watch Hardball in the evening and have seen DD (9 months) taking in glimpses.

[Anonymous]

My 27mos old MAYBE watches it 1hr/week. We're just so busy during the day, there's no time for TV. We also don't have a TV on the main level (kitchen/family room), so it is not even a possiblilty most of the day. He has seemed to figure out how to keep himself entertained. I know people who have it on all day. I wonder how they can stand spending a large part of the day inside the house. I don't make a concentrated effort not to watch TV, we just simply don't have much spare time.

My DH and I are not big TV watchers (except Weeds, we are ADDICTED, but get that on NetFlix) and we sometimes go weeks without turning it on. I think when you don't have a TV on the main level of the house it completely changes the dynamic of how the family interacts. We do however have music going constantly.

We to turn on the TV with DS and lay in bed if he's sick. It's the only way to cope. Since he does not watch much in the first place, the TV will only buy him 30min before he loses interest.

[Anonymous]

First of all I think it's funny if a WM says they don't allow any TV. Unless they have a nanny cam, have disabled the television while they are gone, or have their child under the care of a VERY good nanny the TV most likely gets turned on at some point. My neighbor works full time and has a fulltime nanny (a very kind and caring woman) I do know however that the TV is turned on a lot, sometimes kids programs, sometimes soaps,etc.( and no, I don't spy! It just so happens we have an excellent view into their house from our living room-I wish I didn't know when their TV was on, believe me!)
Anyway, that is my rant about people who have "strict" no TV policies but then have their child under the care of someone who obviously doesn't. Funny IMO.

As for us, we watch a DVD about animals with our 17 month old son about 3 times a week. The DVD is 20 mins lond. That's all the TV he watches for now. I use it as a last resort.

[Anonymous]

I work PT and my 23-month old son watches Sprout at different times throughout the day. Usually in 15-20 min. increments a few times (when first waking in the morning, while I prepare dinner, etc.), usually no more than 1 hour per day and it's more like 30-40 min. on the days I work. We've been doing this for a few months now. He also watches some at his in-home daycare, how much I don't exactly know. But there is no way to prevent it as our provider has almost 12 children of varying ages.

I'm not as anti-TV as many others on this board. My mom said she always plopped me in front of Sesame Street as a baby, and I turned out just fine. In fact I think some shows such as Sesame Street, my son is learning a lot from.

Also I should note that among my mommy friends in the "real world" (who have never heard of this website) every single one of their toddlers watches tv.

[Anonymous]

My goodness. I obviously fall into the bad mother category. SAHM to a 2 year old and she is presently watching 30 mins of Dora before nap time. Why? because we have already been to the park all morning, its hot and I am pregnant and tired. She sometimes gets 30 mins at this time and then sometimes another 30 min show before bath/bed routine.

Frankly, I grew up watching tv and don't think it did any harm. I have a friend whose parents forbid it while she was young and she still has sad memories of being teased in the playground because the other kids were talking about a tv show that she had no idea about.

Obviously keeping the tv on all day, every day is not a good idea. But in limited doses I really don't see it as a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all I think it's funny if a WM says they don't allow any TV. Unless they have a nanny cam, have disabled the television while they are gone, or have their child under the care of a VERY good nanny the TV most likely gets turned on at some point. My neighbor works full time and has a fulltime nanny (a very kind and caring woman) I do know however that the TV is turned on a lot, sometimes kids programs, sometimes soaps,etc.( and no, I don't spy! It just so happens we have an excellent view into their house from our living room-I wish I didn't know when their TV was on, believe me!)
Anyway, that is my rant about people who have "strict" no TV policies but then have their child under the care of someone who obviously doesn't. Funny IMO.

As for us, we watch a DVD about animals with our 17 month old son about 3 times a week. The DVD is 20 mins lond. That's all the TV he watches for now. I use it as a last resort.

Ugh. Really? Do we really have to go there?

[Anonymous]

First of all I think it's funny if a WM says they don't allow any TV.

How do you know their kids aren't in daycare? And why even make that comment in the first place??

My 7 y.o. and 3 y.o. watch about 30 minutes of TV in the a.m. and 30 minutes in the p.m. during the week (my 3 y.o. rarely watches the p.m. portion, though). Sometimes it is more or less, depending on activities, weather, etc. On the weekends, they watches a little in the morning and we often watch a movie as a family at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose parents forbid it while she was young and she still has sad memories of being teased in the playground because the other kids were talking about a tv show that she had no idea about.

I laughed so hard at this.

[Anonymous]

I fall in the bad parent category as well. Some days my son will watch tv for longer than is ideal (1+ hours) others days it never goes on. As the partent above mentioned, sometimes when they are tired and just need to relax, lying on the couch and watching tv is just what they need. I don't advocate this instead of getting outside or playing but there is a time and a place. Like anything else, I think it's all about moderation and not getting overly excited about it.

[Anonymous]

tv doesn't make you stupid; it makes you normal!! (quote from "malcolm in the middle"). that being said, babies under the age of 2 should NOT be watching tv. they are not learning a thing and just getting stimulated by the lights. over age 2, who cares, as long as the kid isn't a lazy couch potato?

and to the previous poster who brought working moms into this: i'm WM. my son is in daycare without a tv. so boo to you!

[Anonymous]

My 2.5 year old watches about one hour in the morning (before breakfast) and about 1/2 to one hour at night (after dinner, before we head up for bath/story/bed). Only sees shows on Noggin or sometimes PBS Sprout (but I hate all their commercials). He LOVES his toons and does learn things from them. He is a super active kid who spends most of his time out of the house doing activities, is a good napper (avg 2 hrs perday) and a good sleeper (avg 9-10 hrs per night). I know some others will think that is too much, but it works great for our household.

[Anonymous]

I let my kids watch TV and I don't feel guilty about it. I've never kept it away from them. When I was on maternity leave, I watched whatever I wanted; neither child ever paid much attention. Starting around 8 months, I would let DS watch Sesame Street DVDs. He'd only watch about 10 minutes or so, but I didn't purposely take it away from him. As he got older, he was watched more. DD came later, and she just watched whatever her brother watched--but she didn't pay much attention until closer to a year. I would generally only put on one Sesame Street type video a day. Once DS got old enough to ASK for TV, I changed our habits. I don't buy into the "TV is bad for your kids" stuff but I do firmly believe that sitting around too much is bad for anyone. So now we (DS is 3, DD 20 months) watch TV first thing in the morning before breakfast. Mommy gets her coffee, kids get to wake up slowly, and then it's off for the day unless it's a rainy day or someone is sick. Even then, at most, we put it on a little while I make dinner. I also work part time, so on those days, they just get to watch TV for the 20 minutes or so while I brush my hair, get dressed, etc.

I just got an email from my mom that is probably circulating the internet right now, about kids born from the 1930s through 1979. It marvels how we all survived--no bike helmets, watching TV, eating sugar, choosing and playing with our own friends, etc. We not only survived, but we thrived. I'm all for extra safety measures (bike helmets and seat belts) that we didn't have as kids. But I just refuse to believe that watching a little TV is going to make my children defective. And I don't see what is so magic about age 2. As long as my kids get plenty of exercise, and enjoy plenty of different activities during the day, I am in no way going to feel guilty about letting them watch an hour (or even occasionally a whole movie!!) or so of TV each day. And I don't say this to be defensive; I hope my tone doesn't read that way. OP asked for honesty; that's my honest answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My goodness. I obviously fall into the bad mother category. SAHM to a 2 year old and she is presently watching 30 mins of Dora before nap time. Why? because we have already been to the park all morning, its hot and I am pregnant and tired. She sometimes gets 30 mins at this time and then sometimes another 30 min show before bath/bed routine.

Frankly, I grew up watching tv and don't think it did any harm. I have a friend whose parents forbid it while she was young and she still has sad memories of being teased in the playground because the other kids were talking about a tv show that she had no idea about.

Obviously keeping the tv on all day, every day is not a good idea. But in limited doses I really don't see it as a problem.

I agree with this 100%, right down to we were already at the park for 2.5 hours, I'm 30 weeks pregnant and tired, and I'm resting for a few minutes before his naptime. I watched HOOOOURS of TV and I have a PhD and am totally fine...

[Anonymous]

Some addressed this but I'm curious how many folks say they don't let their kids watch TV but do watch TV themselves with their kid in the room - particularly infants. Like while nursing. Its really hard to read and nurse at the same time - what's the harm in watch Mad Men on OnDemand?

Also what about sports? Am I going to have to miss football this year?

I always thought I'd fall in the no TV until 2yo category but I was thinking in terms of kids programing/using the TV as a babysitter not missing Redskins Games and sitting on the coach nursing and bored.

Really, does no one do these things?

[Anonymous]

To 13:33, I turned it off while nursing once both my daughters turned about 3 months and started looking at the TV. Same goes for sports, my husband and I take turns watching football, golf, etc. on the weekends. It sucks, but it's worth it (and thankfully very temporary!).