Moms of Younger Ones -- is there going to come an age where a little TV is okay?

[hopefulfaith]

This one is for moms who are TV-free for now but haven't quite decided how to handle the upcoming years...

I have a 2.5 year old and a 1 year old, and both are TV-free. No youtube, no movies, no nothing. Have been since birth, except for the occasional bit while visiting grandparents.

I decided to begin my children as TV-free kids for the primary reason that I believe that growing brains do better without watching video -- you all know the research, so I won't repeat it -- i.e., developing attention span/ability to concentrate and pay attention, etc.

Commercialism came second to that, although I quickly realized that that was a pretty nice aspect to being TV-free ... no meltdowns in the stores when I didn't buy Dora fruit snacks, etc., and no annoying characters on everything they own.

However, I don't think I am completely against the occasional short video in the coming years - say, a Mister Rogers DVD or something. No commercials, no annoying cartoon characters, etc.

I haven't decided yet. What do you all think?

[zinemama]

My kids are 5 and 8. I don't think we will ever have a TV. However, lately we've been talking about instituting movie night on Saturdays. There are so many terrific movies (old ones, especially) that I'd love to show my kids. I really love movies, and so does my 8yo, although he's only seen a few.

I do want to keep it to one specific night though. Because of the slippery slope thing...

[NYCVeg]

We don't get any television service, so dd will stay TV-free.

We do, however, have a small set that we keep in closet to watch occasional movies (once or twice a month). When dd is older, I have no problem with her watching occasional movies as well.

ETA: I also wouldn't restrict dd's choices at other people's houses when she's older and I'm not there. If she's, say, 9 years old and at a friend's house, I expect that some TV watching may go on.

[earthgirl]

Originally Posted by zinemama

My kids are 5 and 8. I don't think we will ever have a TV. However, lately we've been talking about instituting movie night on Saturdays. There are so many terrific movies (old ones, especially) that I'd love to show my kids. I really love movies, and so does my 8yo, although he's only seen a few.

I do want to keep it to one specific night though. Because of the slippery slope thing...

This describes us. I can't imagine not showing "Annie" to my DD someday. Of course, she'll probably tell me how lame it is and my dreams of re-enacting Annie scenes will be completely crushed.

[Reha]

My son just turned 4 a few months ago, and this was something that I struggled with. Soon after turning 4, he began is make comments about movies and it became apparent to me that 'watching movies' was this big, forbidden thing that was gaining his interest with each week that passed. He knew that his dad and I watch movies at night when he is bed, so that no doubt added to it.

So, I went and bought him his first movie: Mary Poppins

We don't own a TV, but he watches that and a handful of other select movies on the computer. Many days pass without him even asking about watching them, and then he'll spend a few days only wanting to watch movies.

I can't really envision us ever having a TV, but I feel comfortable with occasional movies at this age.

[boatbaby]

DS is almost 4 and we do movie nights every now and again too (on the computer).
I set parameters as much as I can -- needs to be night time, we do it as a family, make it fun with pillows on the floor and popcorn. And needless to say we screen things very carefully ahead of time. At his age the ones that seem to do well are IMAX documentaries (Coral Reef Adventure, Dolphins, Mysteries of the Nile, Animals are Beautiful People) He's seen a few others. I try to avoid current day "kids" movies because for our family, they are just too fast and rude. Documentaries are nice because they can be fun yet there doesn't have to be a "bad guy" or a dead mother (thanks Disney) all the time.

As for TV, well we don't even have one at home... but I can not envision when we would say we want it back in really? Perhaps when he is MUCH older? Teen years? Or maybe not? Definitely not anytime soon.

[alexsam]

We're pretty much on the same track... Elementary aged kids with an occasional family movie night (maybe once or twice a month?) would be OK. Maybe a DVD for a sleepover party, things like that. (All on the computer... we don't have a tv). I could also see a video on a day home sick from school. Something where it is a treat (not a part of everyday life).