How much TV exposure for infants?
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Anonymous
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My 9 mo old watches tv when my DD2 and DS5 watch it -- probably 1 1/2 hours a day. He is loves it and laughs hysterically.
I am a big believer in moderation. I am not fooling myself that TV is "educational, though I do think my children lean some creative things from TV and have a better imagination because of it. Seriously, for me, it is just a FUN thing I let them do . . . i think people need to chill out and not overanalyze things. We do a lot of other things too -- pretend play, lots of reading, etc. Again, moderation. |
Anonymous
| 15 month old twins -- usually get one episode of Barney or Sesame Street (via on demand) a day. |
Anonymous
| Usually we'll let our 16 month old son watch an episode of Super Why or Sesame Street after dinner and just prior to bath, storytime, and bed. We call it the witching hour because its when he is at his most cranky and gives him a chance to start to unwind. Its our routine and if anything, this kid really likes his routine. During the day, we ensure he spends it playing with his toys, or outside and make a conscious effort to keep the TV off during the majority of the day. Now he will get alot more screen time on the Ipad that we use as a portable movie player on road trips. The boy hates road trips and a movie really is the only way we can soothe the savage beast. Some may call it a crutch, I call it a tool in the toolbox. So in those cases he may get a whole movie like toy story or something else animated. It works for us, but your mileage may vary. My position on TV is this. I see nothing inherently wrong with watching tv as long as it doesn't become the primary and only activity of the day. I don't think my son's brain will turn to mush and his eyes melt out of his head because the TV is on and I don't get too obsessive about it. |
Anonymous
| None for ours. |
Anonymous
I would worry about it. Many people have their kids watch no TV and thats fine too. I don't look as TV as the evil bad-bad thing, but I also don't think it is a license to propping little ones there and using it as a babysitter. Do I let me kids watch? Yep, a little bit, and I have not one iota of guilt about it and I don't judge those that do or don't. |
Anonymous
Sorry, I meant to say I wouldn't worry about it. |
Anonymous
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Yes we watch tv and movies. We let our 2.5 yo watch tv- but it's all controlled on-demand, without commercials, only PBS. SuperWhy is a favorite in my house. If he wants to watch two episodes of SuperWhy, I see no harm. I love that my child is interested in reading and spelling and numbers and it shows when we read books, when they read them at preschool, and on tv, too.
I see the educational value in the PBS shows, and some Disney shows, but some other shows concern me (their graphics are so rapid they are nauseating and not a lot of educational interest for preschoolers). I think many people take extremes, whereas another PP mentioned it's all about moderation. |
Anonymous
| We NEVER have the T.V. on when my 2 year old is awake. When we watch Meet the Press on Sundays, we shut the cabinet where the T.V. is so we can listen only. Otherwise, I sometimes watch T.V. at night when he's asleep. We're not a big T.V. watching family anyway -- no cable or anything. |
Anonymous
| I'm curious to hear everyone's no-tv reasons. |
Anonymous
| PP here - other than "a book or expert said it". |
Anonymous
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With my first I was really strict with the no TV before age 2 rule.
Now that I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old, the infant gets exposed to a bit more TV. We work, so during the week there is no TV (for pretty much anyone in the house, but definitely the kids). It's an easy rule to stick to since we are out of the house from 8:15 to 6. But during the weekends, my 4 year old is allowed some TV in the mornings and before dinner. We try to get out and about a fair amount on weekends, and she either gets a nap or a long stretch of quiet time, but she is allowed some TV. The infant gets exposed to some of this, but doesn't sit there and watch. It's more that she is set up playing something or crawling around when the TV is on. |
Anonymous
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16m old. We don't have the tv on as a rule, but that's my hang up, not for the kid. The tv was always on at my parents house and it drove me insane. (still is)
He's definitely been exposed but at home, we really only turn it on when he's in bed. Also: at m parents house, we've always felt uncomfortable because no matter What else is going on, he's distracted by the changing lights and colors of the tv. I now turn it off when I get there, and try to keep it off. However, it is partially for me, too  .
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Anonymous
The constant light and sound an distraction for everyone in the house. |
Anonymous
| This thread is from 2010. |
Anonymous
That's funny- that's the same reason I like having the TV on. I have started turning it off in my bedroom at night though because it felt unhealthy for my newborn DD. She was bathed in its artificial light while she was sleeping and that just didn't feel right. 
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