OT- how much tv is too much?

[mom2princessj]

They may well go too far but more than one parent has posted on this thread that the TV is on virtually all of the time with no restrictions which would also seem to me to be going way too far. If they're not watching then turn it off so that you can interact with them without distraction.

When my DS24 was a toddler, he watched Sesame Street and that was it- one hour per day. DD12, as a toddler, watched Barney so 30 minutes to an hour per day.

It's only too far in your opinion. If my kids had no interaction with me/dh I highly doubt my dd would be top of her preschool class with my 4 yo ds knowing just as much right behind her. Some people prefer to let their kids watch tv others don't...it's not anyone else's right to judge or say how excessive not excessive it is to let your kids watch it or not. Plenty of parents interact with the tv on as well as off. My kids and I loved to watch the programs together, sing the songs together, dance, etc. That's interacting just as much as when I'm turning off the tv to teach my dd to read or helping ds with his writing. To each their own...when its not my kid it really doesn't phase me what others do with their kids nor do I ever feel it is my business to tell people what they do with their kids is wrong, excessive, etc. Making insinuations like that only make it look like one's parenting style is better than anothers and we all KNOW that everyone needs to parent how they see fit for their own families and worry about themselves!

OP do WHAT you are comfortable with. NO doctor, expert, or other parent can tell YOU what is best for your child. If tv is interferring in their development, causing them to become behind in school, or if they'd rather sit on the couch than be active and then become overweight well then IN MY OPINION it may be time to look at addressing the hours the tv is on. But again that's my opinion for my kids!

 

[BenA81]

my DD3 and I fight over the remote. She won't let me watch sportscenter anymore.

but seriously, i agree with most of the above. I only feel guilty if I start to feel like I'm using the TV as a babysitter. I'm a part SAHD with a 3 year old and a 7 month old and sometimes have the 3 year old watch MMCH while I change a diaper or feed the baby. i love starting my day with a cup of coffee with my DD3 on my lap and we watch some PH Disney.

 

[chrisw127]

We are really strict with television, but realistically, they're going to see some and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I really don't like it when mine see TV in the childcare at the gym (we go for a couple of hours several times a week, but they mostly play there, but it's on in one part of the room), but at home sometimes you need a break, sometimes they need quiet time.

When my now six-year old was a toddler we went over to a friend's house whose twins were the same age. These kids were talking circles around my son and I asked the mom, who had the TV on, how much television she allowed them to watch, as I assumed it was very little because they were such good talkers and being a first-time mom, I took everything I read to heart. She told me she left it on all day! I thought, well, I guess doctors don't know everything because my kid got almost none as was clearly not talking as well as hers.

Good luck. Don't feel guilty. You sound like a concerned mom who does the right thing for her child.

 

[sk!mom]

It's only too far in your opinion.

To each their own...when its not my kid it really doesn't phase me what others do with their kids nor do I ever feel it is my business to tell people what they do with their kids is wrong, excessive, etc. Making insinuations like that only make it look like one's parenting style is better than anothers and we all KNOW that everyone needs to parent how they see fit for their own families and worry about themselves!

Well my opinion and that of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

As far as me giving an opinion, the OP asked for opinions from other parents. I gave mine just as you gave yours. I quoted the AAP, to provide the OP with what we could surely all agree is an expert opinion. They've actually studied the issue as opposed to parents giving an opinion on how TV viewing has effected individual children..

Want to talk about whether kids should have TV's in their rooms now?

 

[Relish]

I don't care to prolong a debate, I will only add two (often little known) parts to why the AAP reccomendation exits.
First a correction, they reccomend no screen time for kids. That means television, computers, etc.

This is related to two different elements of development.

1. Background noise (as from television, radio, other people talking) make it difficult for young children to discern different sounds and learn language. Most kids the difference will never be noticeable. You may have a phenomenal and precocious talker. Your individual case does not change the general trend.

2. The moving images and bright flickering light of television/computer draw upon a different type of attention than other activities like reading, drawing, playing/interacting with people and adults. Our brains were not designed for sustained use of this type. Also, research shows that watching television changes how people's brains are working (brain waves and processing slows).

None of this is on par with dangers of drug exposure and the like. However, knowing what they do the AAP has set some reccomendations. So long as you understand the how and the why, then you should make a decision you are comfortable with.

Clearly, you should take responsibility for the choices in your house. However, your own personal experience does not negate the general scientific understanding that led to the reccomendation in the first place.

 

[surfgirl]

I guess I'm in the minority here, in that my kids watch very little tv. (I won't get into the good vs. bad debate, I'll just share my experiences).

I prefer that our children play with each other rather than sitting and watching tv. Honestly, they don't miss it. It isn't that I'm a 'no tv' person, it is that they prefer to play school, bat the balloon, trains, outside, hotel, store, Polly Pockets, Monopoly, Rush Hour, etc. than sit and watch tv. Occasionally, when they are having a tough day, I will encourage sitting and watching something on tivo.

I love the fact that they are constantly making new games up. When we checked into the hotel for a recent trip and they had few toys, they had already made up some game and entertained themselves.

(and they are all at the top of their class).

I hate the background noise fact of the tv on constantly. It drives me insane! I prefer being able to hear what is going on and what is said so that I can step in if necessary. If the tv was on, I wouldn't be able to hear the things I need to. (although I did just get xm radio for my house and I do like to listen to that).

They are also not terribly into pc's or video games. I have a relative that I'm appalled at how wired he is (and always has been). He doesn't interact with people, he is on his pc or video game instead. I fully admit I went the other way. Ironically, I have given the kids my old laptop and they rarely chose to use it. Instead, they would rather play a game.

I figure there is plenty of time to get addicted to tv, laptop, Wii. But the value of free play is under-appreciated. It isn't that I've restricted these things, but they choose to play instead.

everyone has to figure out what works for them, but I thought I'd share my experience.

 

[mom2princessj]

Well my opinion and that of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

As far as me giving an opinion, the OP asked for opinions from other parents. I gave mine just as you gave yours. I quoted the AAP, to provide the OP with what we could surely all agree is an expert opinion. They've actually studied the issue as opposed to parents giving an opinion on how TV viewing has effected individual children..

Want to talk about whether kids should have TV's in their rooms now?

WOW...you certainly do have strong opinions on what other people do with THEIR children now don't you???
It's all good. My kids have tv's in their rooms and they are extremely well rounded, intelligent children. I had a tv in my room as well from a very young age and I turned out pretty well graduating from college with honors and all. But to each their own. However one chooses to raise their children and whether they choose to listen to 'all the experts' on how to feed the kids, clothe the kids, how to educate the children, how to vaccinate them, feed them bottles or breast...its all in the decision of the parents. I don't look down my nose at people for what they do and how they live their lives...apparently you do since you want to get your digs in on how my kids have tvs in their rooms. I suppose I should tell you they play educational games on the pc, have leapsters, and they have nintendo ds's although those are still in the boxes. We are considering getting the wii as well...but that's probably another year away. My dh and I are excited about playing it with the kids...another way we like to INTERACT with our children along with playing board games, doing workbooks, singing songs, taking vacations, and reading books. LOL but the evil tvs in my house may be my kids downfall

 

[Aliceacc]

I think it's all a matter of common sense.

Too much of anything is not good. But likewise, inanimate things like TV have no intrinsic value; TV is neither good nor bad, it's a matter of what's right for the child at that moment.

So in the winter, when much of the country is stuck indoors, I would imagine that most kids watch more TV. When I was a SAHM and my kids were little, that TV bought me time to do things like take a shower and make dinner. It also bought my son a nap every single day when he thought he was too old for one (but his newborn sister and I both needed one): I would pop in the Mary Poppins video each day so his sister could take a nap, and he and I would snuggle. I don't think he ever saw past the first 20 minutes of that movie

And my oldest saw more TV than his sisters, since he spent some time as an only child; it's hard to "play together" when you're the only one.


Now, as the weather is starting to get nicer, there are more activities open to you: a walk around the block, a bike ride, a trip to the park, or my all time favorite: puddle stomping after a good rain. So I bet you'll find that TV useage goes down simply because there are more appealing things to do.

Also, just for the record: I have the utmost respect for doctors, particularly in light of all the doctors I've seen in the past year. But I've got to wonder if the doctors making those particular recommendations have ever had to get dinner ready, or even take a shower, when alone in the house with a toddler.

 

[sk!mom]

WOW...you certainly do have strong opinions on what other people do with THEIR children now don't you???
It's all good. My kids have tv's in their rooms and they are extremely well rounded, intelligent children. I had a tv in my room as well from a very young age and I turned out pretty well graduating from college with honors and all. But to each their own. However one chooses to raise their children and whether they choose to listen to 'all the experts' on how to feed the kids, clothe the kids, how to educate the children, how to vaccinate them, feed them bottles or breast...its all in the decision of the parents. I don't look down my nose at people for what they do and how they live their lives...apparently you do since you want to get your digs in on how my kids have tvs in their rooms. I suppose I should tell you they play educational games on the pc, have leapsters, and they have nintendo ds's although those are still in the boxes. We are considering getting the wii as well...but that's probably another year away. My dh and I are excited about playing it with the kids...another way we like to INTERACT with our children along with playing board games, doing workbooks, singing songs, taking vacations, and reading books. LOL but the evil tvs in my house may be my kids downfall

Wow- you're certainly defensive for someone who feels secure in her parenting decisions.

I'm sorry if you felt judged. I honestly was just giving my opinion and that of experts. I thought that's what the OP asked for.

 

[Reese'smom]

Ok, can someone tell me how to close this thread? I'm sorry I posted it to begin with.

 

[saremca]

Want to talk about whether kids should have TV's in their rooms now?

I'm totally not a debater. What works for me might not work for you. You might disapprove of my methods, and that's fine. People are always going to disagree with different methods of parenting. So what? As long as your kids are happy and healthy it doesn't really matter.

 

[mom2princessj]

Wow- you're certainly defensive for someone who feels secure in her parenting decisions.

I'm sorry if you felt judged. I honestly was just giving my opinion and that of experts. I thought that's what the OP asked for.

really is that why you wanted to debate why its wrong for (my) kids to have tvs in their rooms :rotfl2 If you were just giving an opinion you'd have done like the rest of us and tell our stories on what works best for us but you decided to dig at people with your judgements of how much tv or not is good for kids. Like I said...its all good. What's wrong for one parent isn't for another...there are NO RULES to being a parent regardless of what the experts say...just provide love, encouragement, stability, and a good safe environment for your child to thrive in and it will all work out regardless of how much tv they watch

 

[mom2princessj]

I'm totally not a debater. What works for me might not work for you. You might disapprove of my methods, and that's fine. People are always going to disagree with different methods of parenting. So what? As long as your kids are happy and healthy it doesn't really matter.

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!