Kids, Husbands and TV

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[Post New]12/20/2009 20:41
Anonymous
We watched a lot of tv this weekend. DCs also played outside, although briefly. I don't think it's the end of the world.
[Post New]12/20/2009 20:41
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Seriously, why all the browbeating about the sight words? My DC loves to learn and, at four, enjoyed learning sight words as much as any other activity. And by four and a half she was reading (cue boo's and hisses here). Not to enter into the my-child-read-so-early song and dance because that certainly is not indicative of future academic success, but just to illustrate that perhaps OP used that example because her child might jump at the chance to do that activity.


Seems to me that if the child were truly engaged and having fun with sight words, he wouldn't have been itching to watch TV.
[Post New]12/20/2009 20:49
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Seriously, why all the browbeating about the sight words? My DC loves to learn and, at four, enjoyed learning sight words as much as any other activity. And by four and a half she was reading (cue boo's and hisses here). Not to enter into the my-child-read-so-early song and dance because that certainly is not indicative of future academic success, but just to illustrate that perhaps OP used that example because her child might jump at the chance to do that activity.


It doesn't sound like OP's child jumps at the chance to do sight words. It sounds like he'd rather watch monster trucks with Dad. If your child is into sight words, that's great If they are reading at 4, that's great, too. I think, perhaps wrongly (perhaps not), other posters perceived that OP is pushing too hard and anted to caution her that it could backfire. I, too, thought pushing as a good idea I learned otherwise. FWIW, they do NOT need to know sight words going into kindergarten If they do, that's great. If not, that's fine, too. I have an older child, so I feel I have perspective on this.
[Post New]12/20/2009 20:56
zumbamama
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Anonymous wrote:We watched a lot of tv this weekend. DCs also played outside, although briefly. I don't think it's the end of the world.


me too. We watched two Christmas movies after an hour in the snow. Popcorn, cocoa and cuddles...it was bliss. Then DS did his sorting words.
[Post New]12/20/2009 21:06
Anonymous
It's interesting how the majority of the PPs are hung up on sight words and the fact that watching extra TV on one day after 20 inches of snow 'isn't the end of the world.'

The OP didn't ask what we thought about reading, nor did she have doubts about the effects of one solitary day of TV watching.

I agree that you have a husband problem, and I disagree with PPs that there's nothing you can do about that. Quite apart from whether truck shows rot the brain, your DH is setting a terrible example, IMO. Really? Hours and hours slack-jawed in front of a screen, being passively stimulated? Move him into another room with a closed door, if he must. Prodding him to be a good role model would be even better.
[Post New]12/20/2009 21:10
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Children need to know site words once they hit kindergarten. It's an early reading milestone.


Is this something parents are adopting on their own, based on some popular book about how to make their kids do better? Or is this actually taught by the schools? Because it sounds like a dumbed down re-tread of the whole language approach to reading education, and that was a failed experiment in the 80's. Please tell me the schools aren't pushing it.
[Post New]12/20/2009 21:17
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Children need to know site words once they hit kindergarten. It's an early reading milestone.


Is this something parents are adopting on their own, based on some popular book about how to make their kids do better? Or is this actually taught by the schools? Because it sounds like a dumbed down re-tread of the whole language approach to reading education, and that was a failed experiment in the 80's. Please tell me the schools aren't pushing it.


The school are not. Most that I've seen seem to use a combination of phonics and sight words. There are 200 or so sight words that they want kids to know because they occur most often in books. They most certainly don't need to know them before kindergarten. Some kids are ready at that age, but many are not. Pushing doesn't really make them learn to read any faster.
[Post New]12/20/2009 21:18
Anonymous
I have the same problem. My kids are a bit younger so they would rather play than watch what my husband is watching.....but when things start to explode and crash it catches my sons attention and I make my husband change the channel immediately.
I never watch "my" tv around the kids unless it is the news.
They watch 2 shows a day, one when I am in the shower and one in the evening to unwind before books and bed - and it is always something on the Noggin channel.
When my husband gets on my nerves I make him go to the guest room or remove the kids by taking them out for the day or to another floor of the house.
I hate this situation - it really depresses me that my husband is such a tv whore. ugh.
[Post New]12/20/2009 23:11
Anonymous
My husband is also obsessed with TV. It gets on my nerves, the constant droning of television in the background. It's an addiction. It also means that I am required to watch the kids 24/7 since he must feed his television habit rather than spend time with the kids. He will cut back occasionally when I ask and he has to turn it off for me to get the kids out of the house or to bed, since they'll return to stare at it as long as it's on, like moths to a flame.
[Post New]12/20/2009 23:19
Anonymous
Oy, forget about the "site" words for a moment. The thing is, TV is like MacDonalds. It's not good for you but it sucks you in and pushes out your desire for nutritious food. That's how TV works and is how our brains are wired.

So.

An occasional TV binge won't kill your kid. But honestly, is that the way your hubs wants to build memories with his child? Maybe he needs some guidance on what non-TV activities are fun to do. Some folks are well-intentioned but clueless. Heck, today I had to tell my very, very good hubs and dad to paint with his daughter. I knew she wanted to paing because she said so 100 times in two minutes (she's not so subtle) and yet somehow Papa failed to get off the TV couch to do it.

I dunno why. Maybe he was on a TV high and couldn't snap out of it. Needed a wee "AHEM" from his wife to spark a fire under his butt.
[Post New]12/20/2009 23:58
Anonymous
My husband and I love tv too but when the kids (5 and 2) are awake and in the house the tv is off unless a) they are watching a kids program or b) we're watching a sporting event and the commercials get muted. It's a hard habit to break but he has to do it. TV is just way too distracting and noisy/annoying.
[Post New]12/21/2009 02:31
Anonymous
I didn't know what a site word was until I read this post, but now I realise my DD (2 YO) said her first one two days ago. Kind ironically, it was "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse."
[Post New]12/21/2009 09:54
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seriously, why all the browbeating about the sight words? My DC loves to learn and, at four, enjoyed learning sight words as much as any other activity. And by four and a half she was reading (cue boo's and hisses here). Not to enter into the my-child-read-so-early song and dance because that certainly is not indicative of future academic success, but just to illustrate that perhaps OP used that example because her child might jump at the chance to do that activity.


Seems to me that if the child were truly engaged and having fun with sight words, he wouldn't have been itching to watch TV.


I agree, sight words are not a good time, and not necessary for a 4yo.

That said, you have a husband problem - your husband needs to *parent*, which means foregoing his own desires for the well-being of his child. In this instance this means turning off the TV and engaging with his son.

[Post New]12/21/2009 09:56
Anonymous
OP, you might like the book, Endangered Minds, by Jane Healy - it's about how TV (and screens generally) negatively impact children:

http://www.amazon.com/Endangered-Minds-Children-Think-About/dp/0684856204
[Post New]12/21/2009 10:11
Anonymous
I have the same problem with DH and his computer. I'd be more PO-ed that DH wasn't helping with the kid. Granted at 4 they can entertain themselves, but DH needs to give them some attention too. I'd walk right over and turn the set off, or turn down the volume so he'll hear you. You can't be too subtle. 'Our kid needs your attention, can you please play with them for an hour?'? Unless your DH is a SAHD and needs a break, he needs to get off his butt and interact with his kid. Have some ideas in mind (playing outside, building with legos, running errands together, etc.) since they'll both get bored if you don't think of something for them to do. I emphasize the fact that the more physical activity we engage our son in during the day, the easier bedtime will be. Since DH and I take turns, that means that 50% of the time, it will benefit him in the long run (and sometimes I remind him that we'll have more time for 'grown-up activities' during nap/after bed time if he wears the kid out during the day).
So agreed - husband problem, not kid problem.
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