TV and a two-year-old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've babysat children in many homes and when TV is around the behavior described by OP seems to be the norm. The thing is parents just sometimes are clueless about how to keep their children entertained around the house. I noticed In homes where there are no television, the children used their imagination to come up with fun things to do, their attention span is a little longer and were more inquisitive. So definetely it has an effect. I was born and raised outside the US and only watched cartoon 1-3 times a week for one hour each because that's how many times cartoon is on TV lool and I didnt watch it religiously. Now that I am an adult, TV really isnt an interest to me. Sometimes I watch it and sometimes I dont. I plan to do the same with my children.

Same. I didn't have a television until I was 13, although I've always lived in the US. I've lived with families who had a television and families who didn't, and I much prefer the latter.

+2 Growing up, we had a big old tube TV and a VCR player. On Friday nights my mom would pick up a movie for us. I was schooled in classic films! I love movies, love going to movies and plays - but have never been one to have the TV on in the background or watch it in the evenings. My employers know that I do not approve of TV for my charges and never push it.

OP, I would talk to the parents and ask them to please stop setting your charge up to be miserable first thing in the morning. If they want to watch TV with her, they can do it in the evenings after you leave. Maybe the father would like to read books to his daughter when she first wakes up - this is my two year old charge's favorite thing in the world!