Here's an interesting article about kids and TV.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/12/spongebob-in-hot-water-from-study-4-year-olds-behavior/?test=latestnews
In our home, we are the proud owners of a TV... without the ability to watch TV. I actually love this because I know if I had TV, I would spend WAY too much time in front of it. I do enjoy an occasional movie in the evening, and once in a while we'll get excited about a TV show and watch it day after air on the internet. (Although that happens less often now that LOST has ended. Sob). I love the idea of not having TV as my kids get older. At the same time, I see value in certain educational programs that are available to us. We had a grand total of 3 channels growing up, so needless to say we didn't spend a lot of time face to face with the screen, but we LOVED watching Mr. Rogers and Seseme Street. While there is plenty of good to be found on television, there seems to be a lot more that I don't want my children exposed to. So the question is, at what point can television aid us in our quest to provide children with opportunities for quality entertainment, growth and development, and at what point does television slow their development, shorten their attention spans, and/or expose them to the very negative influences we are attempting to keep out of our homes? While I recognize that not every episode of Seseme street has to turn our children into baby geniuses, the dilemma is clearly cost vs benefit.
What research have you heard about letting kids watch TV? How much is acceptable at what age, and what kinds of programs are acceptable to allow/not allow etc?
What are your TV policies in your home, and why?
What are your thoughts on Baby Einstein/Baby Genius/Brainy Baby videos?
Yeah...I tried those videos. They didn't help JBallz speak or sign or anything.
ReplyDeleteI personally do pretty limited TV time. Sesame Street in the morning and Wiggles before afternoon nap. I like to use the Wiggles as a cue that it's naptime. It works for us.
However, my niece (who is CRAZY hyperactive) can't watch ANY tv or she goes nuts. My sister thinks that when she sits really still and watches tv for too long her energy builds up and she gets really destructive afterward trying to let off steam. So, TV for her is a very rare occasion. But my sister will let her little sister watch TV because it doesn't affect her that way.
I guess what I'm saying here is that every kid is different. :) Just do what you feel is right, who cares what anybody else says.
Great topic- highly individual decision, but here's my opinion for our family- I think it's important to square with ourselves and decide what the purpose of our children's television watching is. Sometimes in the name of "educational media" we are simply trying to get some things done around the house and the easiest way to do that is to put our kids in front of the tv. Now is there anything wrong with them watching a show every once in a while so we can finish something? no way! But I think it's important to sort out the purpose. If I am going to put my kid in front of the tv, I do prefer it's somewhat meaningful/educational/calming instead of mind-numbing and negative modeling. Personally, I think having no channels (literally- we don't even get one!) and putting our TV in our downstairs- out of our main living area- is one of the best decisions we've made. Since we don't have tv and regular showtimes, I don't use tv most days- it's largely for family movie nights on the weekends. However, I do use it sometimes when I am at the end of my rope and the boys are super crabby at the end of the day. I think if TV was more accessible, I'd be likely to use it as more of a crutch- instead of redirecting an activity, or turning on music, I'd turn on the TV.
ReplyDeleteI think the other important thing to mention is there is a lot of good to be had by the media in moderation, but it's so easy for it to get out of control. For me, I'm such an all-or-nothing- kind of person that I prefer just not to deal with it! :)
Great thoughts! Thanks you two! Keep them coming!
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