sesame street videos spark controversy

568 Views 20 Replies 16 Participants Last post by ani'smommy, Apr 13, 2006

mamaGjr

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2006

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060404/...aby_video_flap

Mostly I was surprised by the quote regarding the AAP standards. I don't pay much attention to that organization but I was surprised they discourage tv until 2 ( I am surprised they make those recommendations

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BusyMommy

· #2 · Apr 5, 2006

How funny, I JUST read that before sitting down here. Yes, I'm grateful the message appears to be spreading that TV isn't mandatory for infants and toddlers. Honestly, I think Sesame Street is just trying to cash in on the others' success. But, if new Moms see SStreet vids out, then of course, they'll be reassured that it's approp. and a must have.

chersolly

· #3 · Apr 5, 2006

Some parents stick to the no TV rule... but then there are others who just don't give a rat's ass and stick their child in front of the TV (all day). If these videos are designed for the little ones who would normally be watching something non-age appropriate, then more power to Seasame St.

Marsupialmom

· #4 · Apr 5, 2006

I have to agree with chersolly.

TiredX2

· #5 · Apr 5, 2006

Quote:

More than two-thirds of parents with kids under 2 already let them watch an average of two hours of TV a day, Melmed said. "What we're trying to do is meet parents in their daily reality, to help them do a better job in what is really the hardest job any person has," he said.

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vamp127

· #6 · Apr 5, 2006

Wow, I can believe those stats, though. I know a lot of mamas around me use the TV all the time. My DC are allowed to watch 4 hours/week. They get coupons that they need to turn in to me for that purpose. Makes them think 2x about just watching all the time. They actually pick good shows on discovery, tlc, or animal planet. DD#1 and DS will pool their coupons so they can watch a movie on the weekend, too.

With DD#2 (2yo), she doesn't understand the whole coupon thing yet, and she is allowed to watch with her sibs. Not all that interested, though--she really just wants to be with them.

Mamid

· #7 · Apr 5, 2006

if I stuck to the no-tv rule, I wouldn't be able to use the bathroom let alone do anything else with my kids. My son loves his treehouse tv and since I have sat through and monitored what my son watches on that channel, I'm confident in letting him watch it. My daughter loves Pocoyo and also loves the Wiggles. She goes ape whenever Pocoyo comes on.

When kids get to be school aged, we'll probably pull back on the tv, but right now it isn't in the plan.

darsmama

· #8 · Apr 5, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamid
if I stuck to the no-tv rule, I wouldn't be able to use the bathroom let alone do anything else with my kids. My son loves his treehouse tv and since I have sat through and monitored what my son watches on that channel, I'm confident in letting him watch it. My daughter loves Pocoyo and also loves the Wiggles. She goes ape whenever Pocoyo comes on.

When kids get to be school aged, we'll probably pull back on the tv, but right now it isn't in the plan.

ITA Mamid. I'm not saying that TV is the best thing since sliced bread, but I am saying that without our video tapes I wouldn't be able to use the bathroom at all, or take a shower. It gives me down time (such as now) and gives me the energy to do other fun things with my babies. I DO think tv has helped with numbers, and abc's. I work with Darlene after we view tapes, and we read books, work on flash cards. Just two weeks ago she said "SEVEN" plain as day when counting down from ten with Sesame street. She did it with me after the show. I was really impressed! I don't have regular TV just videos. So I like to think perhaps it isn't as detrimental b/c its the same shows over & over and (besides the Wiggles) its all educational based. But who knows, its not nfl, and some would say its not ap so....Probably not the place to tell about how TV is assisting my family.

I saw this article and I immediately thought of Baby E. I wonder how much of the controversy is sparked by Disney b/c Sesame Street would be a pretty huge competetor to their product. I know I would buy Baby Sesame over Baby E any day.

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Mamid

· #9 · Apr 6, 2006

DS has ruined most of his wiggles dvds. One has so badly scratched at my favorite song on it, I'm planning on replacing it. (6 mo in a leaky boat)

But yah, if I didn't let them watch, how would I use the bathroom? Or dress? or the dishes? or cook?

Ruthla

· #10 · Apr 6, 2006

For those parents who don't show any TV at all to their infants, this isn't going to change anything. Those parents who do show TV to their babies now have something else to choose from. I don't see why this is so controversial- though it wouldn't surprise me if Disney was behind it! Or maybe the Sesame Street corporation itself is behind the "controversy' just for the free publicity.

Mamid

· #11 · Apr 12, 2006

Ruthla: agreed.

sohj

· #12 · Apr 12, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamid
But yah, if I didn't let them watch, how would I use the bathroom? Or dress? or the dishes? or cook?

You know, television has only been in existence for 65 years (more or less) and has only been relatively common since the 1950's. An awful lot of parents got an awful lot of stuff done before television was invented.

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Mamid

· #13 · Apr 12, 2006

70 years ago is not today. There are too many burdens foisted on modern moms that any break they can get is a good one.

zinemama

· #14 · Apr 12, 2006

I shower, dress, do the dishes and cook - and have since my kids were born 6 years ago - without tv or videos. Kids who need to learn to entertain themselves will do just that.

That said, Mamas need to stay sane. Whatever works for you, works for you.

Mamid

· #15 · Apr 12, 2006

The last time I let my kids entertain themselves for five minutes - last night - all the pictures on the wall in my living room were knocked off their hooks by one of the two and a broom, all the stuff that I was sorting to get rid of clothes was thrown off the table it was on, DP's chair was knocked over and I had to rescue the cat.

Give me the Wiggles and Pocoyo any day!

Kathryn

· #16 · Apr 12, 2006

to Mamid.

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Katiemare

· #17 · Apr 12, 2006

Hi vamp, I like your idea--How old were your DC when you started with the coupons for TV time? If it's a show they both like, do they both pay for it?

Elastagirl

· #18 · Apr 12, 2006

Hope this isn't too OT, but did anyone see Bill Maher's "New Rule" regarding the Sesame Street Videos? He basically said something to the effect that they had to work really hard to come up with something that could catch babies' attention because they were competing with "this" ....and he flashed up a picture of a smiley baby breastfeeding! (It really was a beautiful photo!)

Now, I know it was on the one hand, just another example of "boobs" for guys to snicker at, but on the other hand, it seemed to show breastfeeding as pretty normal, and I laughed and "awww"-ed at the same time. What baby would want to watch TV when he could be nursing and snuggling with Mama?

ani'smommy

· #19 · Apr 12, 2006

I heard one of the creators of the program saying that, get this, watching this program with your kids is as good as reading a book to them. That is totally ridiculous. I realize that the program is supposed to be "interactive" but come on, don't people their kids watch TV because they can't/don't want to interact with them? I mean, if you're going to interact with your kids, why not just skip the TV?

sistermama

· #20 · Apr 13, 2006

I did just get one of the new videos and it is fun for dd (1.5) because it is full of activities for caregiver and baby to do together while watching. Everything shown is a baby sesame character interacting with their special adult. She loves Elmo and I think she enjoys watching Elmo do the same things she is doing with me. Its something I see us doing maybe once a week?

If parents are going to plunk their kids down alone in front of these videos, they'd probably just be plunking them down in front of something else instead.

And ya know, 70 years ago mothers used to do (and could more safely do things) like tie their toddlers to a long leash line in the front yard so they could do something in peace. Sounds crazy, but my mom and my mil both had it done. lol. Also even just 70 years ago, there were usually more people around to help watch a child for a while. Okay, so this sounds like I'm totally trying to justify tv as babysitter, which I'm not, but once in a while you have to do what is easy.

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