Do you let your toddler watch TV?
21 - 40 of 48 Posts
Joined
·
1,729 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Sahra Courtney</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17415642"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>Don't let others actions dictate yours. Pediatric society recommends no TV or screen time for kids under age 2 and limited time after that. Screen time has been linked to increases in attention deficit disorder, obesity, aggressive behavior, various mood disorders etc, etc. This link is a great read, makes good sense and isn't preachy. <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html" target="_blank">http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html</a><br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>No time limits here. DD is 20mos and watches Disney Jr in the am, and when she wakes up from her nap my FIL usually has it on Bonanza or Gunsmoke re-runs. I grew up on Disney and when at my grandparents we watched Matlock and Zorro. I'm far from obese, incredibly athletic, love the outdoors, never have had an issue with attention, and definitely not aggressive. DD has shown zero behavioral issue because of screen time. She absolutely loves being outside and reading books, is highly intelligent and emotionally in tune to others and has never "zoned out" while watching. So not all kids are going to react the same. I interact with DD while we watch and will explain things, count what we see, or call out colors. I see it as an opportunity to expand her knowledge base and practice her skills. Even if I sit her down to Watch some Mickey while I clean or cook, I always pop in to chat with her.</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Sahra Courtney</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17415642"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>Don't let others actions dictate yours. Pediatric society recommends no TV or screen time for kids under age 2 and limited time after that. Screen time has been linked to increases in attention deficit disorder, obesity, aggressive behavior, various mood disorders etc, etc. This link is a great read, makes good sense and isn't preachy. <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html" target="_blank">http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html</a><br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>No time limits here. DD is 20mos and watches Disney Jr in the am, and when she wakes up from her nap my FIL usually has it on Bonanza or Gunsmoke re-runs. I grew up on Disney and when at my grandparents we watched Matlock and Zorro. I'm far from obese, incredibly athletic, love the outdoors, never have had an issue with attention, and definitely not aggressive. DD has shown zero behavioral issue because of screen time. She absolutely loves being outside and reading books, is highly intelligent and emotionally in tune to others and has never "zoned out" while watching. So not all kids are going to react the same. I interact with DD while we watch and will explain things, count what we see, or call out colors. I see it as an opportunity to expand her knowledge base and practice her skills. Even if I sit her down to Watch some Mickey while I clean or cook, I always pop in to chat with her.</p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Sahra Courtney</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17413674"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>I'm with you. We had a TV in our basement from pre-kids days for movies etc but we gave it away when we had our first kid. I didn't have a TV to watch growing up and I didn't want my kids to have one either. I cannot see any benefit to it that out weighs the multitude of negatives. There was a brief time we let her watch about 1/2 our a day on the computer but saw a change in her behavior we didn't like which reinforced our belief in no TV and no screen time. No video games, no smart phones, no kids computer games....Occasionally for a treat we let our almost 4year old pick out a movie at the library. I challenge anyone to prove tv/screen time is better for a person compared to a book, art, going outdoors, spending time together etc.<br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't accept your challenge <img alt="orngtongue.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1375212532476_1298" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="line-height:1.231;"><span style="line-height:1.231;">. It's not a contest between TV and all else that is good in the world. At least not at my house. </span></p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Sahra Courtney</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17413674"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>I'm with you. We had a TV in our basement from pre-kids days for movies etc but we gave it away when we had our first kid. I didn't have a TV to watch growing up and I didn't want my kids to have one either. I cannot see any benefit to it that out weighs the multitude of negatives. There was a brief time we let her watch about 1/2 our a day on the computer but saw a change in her behavior we didn't like which reinforced our belief in no TV and no screen time. No video games, no smart phones, no kids computer games....Occasionally for a treat we let our almost 4year old pick out a movie at the library. I challenge anyone to prove tv/screen time is better for a person compared to a book, art, going outdoors, spending time together etc.<br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't accept your challenge <img alt="orngtongue.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1375212532476_1298" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="line-height:1.231;"><span style="line-height:1.231;">. It's not a contest between TV and all else that is good in the world. At least not at my house. </span></p>
Joined
·
1,062 Posts
<p>Exactly! You don't have to prove something is better than something else to justify doing it. That doesn't make sense. I'm making tortellini for dinner tonight; wouldn't it be ridiculous if I had to prove that it was better for you than chicken stew? Well, I don't.</p>
Joined
·
13 Posts
When we got pregnant my wife said we would not expose our children to tv till at least age 2 because of the AAP. Well, I disn't like the idea. But here we are 2 kid later, ages 2 3/4 and 4 1/2 and I can proudly say they have not watched much in their short lives. In our house, netflix doesn't come on until after the kids are in bed and asleep, and if they wake it, then it just means an early bed time for us too and we are ok with that. We don't share out iphones with the kids and if I do need a break, then we pop on home movies so they can relive some fun memories instead of being brainwashed, in my opinion, by cartrons/movies. When things get rough I sit back and just hug my kids, or turn on music or get them to go outside, but lucky for me my partner comes home early most days and we help each other with the kids. When one of us can't take it anymore the other steps in. That way we don't need the tv crutch. There is a time and a place, my son loves surfig, wants to be a pro surfer, do we let him watch surf videos on youtube, yes, but not everyday. I'd rather watch him surf on the couch or use his fingers and a stick to surf on the rug.<br>
We all do what we feel is right for us. But studies don't lie and there is a reason why the AAP says no tv until age 2 and strongly recomments no tv till at least age 5.
We all do what we feel is right for us. But studies don't lie and there is a reason why the AAP says no tv until age 2 and strongly recomments no tv till at least age 5.
Joined
·
32 Posts
As the child of extreme parents myself (in the crunchy direction), I feel like the balance I've struck comes from hard-won insight. I believe in avoiding extremes and knowing the time and place for everything. We don't own a TV, but I have played movies I've picked and downloaded for my five year old specifically for airplanes, long road trips, the long line at the post office, and very sick days since she was 18 months old. It is rare, therefore, but it is not never. It helps her stay fluent in the current cultural norm; one episode of Dora connects her in a sense of familiarity with her peers for a year! The movies are also in her second language, so at least she's getting that. I bought an 'apptivity case' for my phone this month in hopes of drawing in my 17 month old post-nap in a four hour drive. So in my world, it's neither evil nor daily.
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>LittleCapucine</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/20#post_17421103"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
As the child of extreme parents myself (in the crunchy direction), I feel like the balance I've struck comes from hard-won insight. I believe in avoiding extremes and knowing the time and place for everything. We don't own a TV, but I have played movies I've picked and downloaded for my five year old specifically for airplanes, long road trips, the long line at the post office, and very sick days since she was 18 months old. It is rare, therefore, but it is not never. It helps her stay fluent in the current cultural norm; one episode of Dora connects her in a sense of familiarity with her peers for a year! The movies are also in her second language, so at least she's getting that. I bought an 'apptivity case' for my phone this month in hopes of drawing in my 17 month old post-nap in a four hour drive. So in my world, it's neither evil nor daily.</div>
</div>
<p>I like this. I didn't have a TV growing up (of course, downloading movies to a computer wasn't an option then) and while on the whole I am extremely grateful to my parents for this (I don't think I'd be the reader/writer I am today otherewise), there is a HUGE swath of 80s/90s pop culture missing, and I always felt a little left out from my peers because of that. Also, I have to admit I'm kind of a t.v. fiend now--not sure if it comes from that or not.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've recently started letting my 2-year-old watch occasional short YouTube videos if I really need to get something done. I'll say "What kind of cartoon do you want to watch," she'll say "bears" and I show her some random Russian bear cartoon I find. She can't understand the language but is interested in the pictures--loses interest after 10-15 minutes.</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>LittleCapucine</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/20#post_17421103"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
As the child of extreme parents myself (in the crunchy direction), I feel like the balance I've struck comes from hard-won insight. I believe in avoiding extremes and knowing the time and place for everything. We don't own a TV, but I have played movies I've picked and downloaded for my five year old specifically for airplanes, long road trips, the long line at the post office, and very sick days since she was 18 months old. It is rare, therefore, but it is not never. It helps her stay fluent in the current cultural norm; one episode of Dora connects her in a sense of familiarity with her peers for a year! The movies are also in her second language, so at least she's getting that. I bought an 'apptivity case' for my phone this month in hopes of drawing in my 17 month old post-nap in a four hour drive. So in my world, it's neither evil nor daily.</div>
</div>
<p>I like this. I didn't have a TV growing up (of course, downloading movies to a computer wasn't an option then) and while on the whole I am extremely grateful to my parents for this (I don't think I'd be the reader/writer I am today otherewise), there is a HUGE swath of 80s/90s pop culture missing, and I always felt a little left out from my peers because of that. Also, I have to admit I'm kind of a t.v. fiend now--not sure if it comes from that or not.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've recently started letting my 2-year-old watch occasional short YouTube videos if I really need to get something done. I'll say "What kind of cartoon do you want to watch," she'll say "bears" and I show her some random Russian bear cartoon I find. She can't understand the language but is interested in the pictures--loses interest after 10-15 minutes.</p>
Joined
·
2,618 Posts
<p>I can actually see my kids brains rotting while they are watching Busytown right now. Such a shame. <img alt="disappointed.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1375463544644_1755" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/disappointed.gif"></p>
Joined
·
1,970 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>CrunchyChristianMama</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17421750"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
I can actually see my kids brains rotting while they are watching Busytown right now. Such a shame. <img alt="disappointed.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/disappointed.gif"></div>
</div>
<br>
"Let's get Busytown!!"<br><br>
If I hear that one more time I'm going to let Mr. Fixit perform brain surgery on me.
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>CrunchyChristianMama</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17421750"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
I can actually see my kids brains rotting while they are watching Busytown right now. Such a shame. <img alt="disappointed.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/disappointed.gif"></div>
</div>
<br>
"Let's get Busytown!!"<br><br>
If I hear that one more time I'm going to let Mr. Fixit perform brain surgery on me.
Joined
·
2,618 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>dalia</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/20#post_17421755"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
"Let's get Busytown!!"<br><br>
If I hear that one more time I'm going to let Mr. Fixit perform brain surgery on me.</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>All together! Solve the mystery!</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>dalia</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/20#post_17421755"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
"Let's get Busytown!!"<br><br>
If I hear that one more time I'm going to let Mr. Fixit perform brain surgery on me.</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>All together! Solve the mystery!</p>
Joined
·
561 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MichelleZB</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17414693"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>We have Netflix on our laptops, and my toddler watches Dora or Caillou when I need to make dinner. So yes, every day.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>On my worst day with my 2 and 4 year old, I'm still glad I'm not Caillou's mom. I know he's just a cartoon character, but what a super-annoying, whiny child!!</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MichelleZB</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv#post_17414693"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>We have Netflix on our laptops, and my toddler watches Dora or Caillou when I need to make dinner. So yes, every day.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>On my worst day with my 2 and 4 year old, I'm still glad I'm not Caillou's mom. I know he's just a cartoon character, but what a super-annoying, whiny child!!</p>
Joined
·
386 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>crayfishgirl</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17421818"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
On my worst day with my 2 and 4 year old, I'm still glad I'm not Caillou's mom. I know he's just a cartoon character, but what a super-annoying, whiny child!!</div>
</div>
<br>
LOL! My husband says Caillou's DAD is the annoying one, haha. He says he wants to kick his ass!! *eyeroll*
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>crayfishgirl</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17421818"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
On my worst day with my 2 and 4 year old, I'm still glad I'm not Caillou's mom. I know he's just a cartoon character, but what a super-annoying, whiny child!!</div>
</div>
<br>
LOL! My husband says Caillou's DAD is the annoying one, haha. He says he wants to kick his ass!! *eyeroll*
Joined
·
1,970 Posts
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>FloridaBorn</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17423136"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
LOL! My husband says Caillou's DAD is the annoying one, haha. He says he wants to kick his ass!! *eyeroll*</div>
</div>
<br>
I'm sorta crushin' on Caillou's dad. He's such a gentle parent. HOTTT!! ;-P
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>FloridaBorn</strong> <a href="/community/t/1387161/do-you-let-your-toddler-watch-tv/30#post_17423136"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
LOL! My husband says Caillou's DAD is the annoying one, haha. He says he wants to kick his ass!! *eyeroll*</div>
</div>
<br>
I'm sorta crushin' on Caillou's dad. He's such a gentle parent. HOTTT!! ;-P
Joined
·
856 Posts
I think this decision hat so much to do with your kids. My kids are like zombies in front of a tv. Creepy. Totally zoned out. And when the show is off, they are hyperactive and aggressive (at least DS). And whiny. So, if I let them watch a show to get something done, I pay for it. Or they pay for it. They obviously don't feel good in their skin either. So - no screen time on most days. On Sundays we watch a kids movie together, so it must be good enough that I enjoy it, too 
That works. After movie comes dinner and than bed. We don't own a tv. It broke and we never replaced it... My 20 month old does not watch, but she does have zero interest, she never tries to watch with her siblings (only to steal their popcorn )
That works. After movie comes dinner and than bed. We don't own a tv. It broke and we never replaced it... My 20 month old does not watch, but she does have zero interest, she never tries to watch with her siblings (only to steal their popcorn )
Joined
·
81 Posts
Yes... Moms have to cook and clean sometimes! For you moms who feel bad because of AAP standards, I can tell you about my teen who watched a lot of pbs...Genius, all AP classes, tested at 10th grade reading level in 4th grade, the list goes on and on...<br><br>
I believe he turned out so smart because of attachment parenting and reading about 30 books a day to him when he was a toddler.<br>
I really do not believe his brain was ever hurt by tv.
I believe he turned out so smart because of attachment parenting and reading about 30 books a day to him when he was a toddler.<br>
I really do not believe his brain was ever hurt by tv.
21 - 40 of 48 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!