Why he insists on sitting 5 inches from the TV is beyond me. During his TV entrancements, I constantly pick him up and sit him on the couch, only to turn around a couple minutes later to find him right back here.So question for you guys...how much TV do your children watch? Be honest. Before I realized it, Beck's obsession with "minnie" (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and "co-co" (Chuggington) got a little out of control. He was bringing me the remote and asking for either one all. day. long. I tried to nip that pretty quick and yes, he threw a couple tantrums when I told him "co-co" was all gone, but there has been major progress happening.
I realized part of the problem was the example I was setting. I tend to have the TV on randomly during the day while I'm working just to have something in the background. Once I stopped having the TV on, he stopped asking to watch his shows. It's not completely non-existent. A mom's still gotta have the TV as a babysitter sometimes for dinner time and shower time, right?
I've been feeling pretty good about only having one episode each (of "minnie" and "co-co") daily. That may be too much- I hear everywhere that kids arent' supposed to watch TV at all under the age of 2. To me, that's not realistic though. He still wants to read books more than sit in front of the tube, so that makes me feel better :)
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This is one of the things that I'm kind of a freak about but Luke doesn't watch any tv and when the tv is on he isn't interested in it (it may help that we don't have cable or an antenna to watch tv). I have also read about no tv before age 2 and I read some studies on tv watching in my grad program and I just decided I wasn't going to let him. I know that I do way worse things though to make up for this like for instance he had Mac n cheese, a turkey hotdog, and canned green beans for dinner (I will never earn the mother of the year award)! I think though that some tv can be ok as long as you screen what he watches.
Some kids are a lot more attracted to tv than others, but if you feed the habit I think they'll all get super sucked in at some point.
I think a two show max is fine. That's only about 45 minutes if they watch w/o commercials.
TV can be a great supplemental educational tool if you're picky about what they watch. Tanner learned the alphabet and it's sounds from watching Leapfrog after I had tried so many other techniques. He learned beginning reading from SuperWhy and tons of great math concepts from Umizoomi. Kate learned her shapes in Spanish and how to do the mambo (an essential developmental milestone) from Dora. But better than anything was Baby Signing Time. She looooved that, learned about 50 signs before she was 18 months, and now speaks in full sentences. You can't say that didn't help her development.
I still give them another choice when they ask for a show, and sometimes they choose it and we go without watching anything for days, which is great. But I do really think that kids shows have gotten so effective in their educational value that, as long as it's kept to a minimum, it can be just fine.
And it can also be a safety issue to leave them wandering around the house when you shower. And if the tv keeps them in one spot, then I think that 20 minutes or so of tv is worth it to get you less stinky and keep them occupied :)
So there's my two cents/confession :)
Ya, Banks and Ivory watch more TV some days that I would like to admit. But to be honest, some days you are just surviving. For sure almost everyday at 5p.m. they watch Curious George, a favorite at our house! I use to be picky about how much and really strict, not that I have given up, but I just realized you do the best you can. Winter is definitely harder!
My little Gage does the exact same thing. Sits 5 in. from the tv, drives me crazy! But I guess we all did that. We watch 2 shows in the morning and then the tv goes off. I think tv in the winter when we're stuck inside a lot is easier to be a little more lax with. I will usually let them watch one more show while I make dinner if I really need a big distraction. Some days we might watch a movie.
I used to think I would be super vigilant about no tv before 2 but I have learned that that's not very realistic for me. Sometimes I need 20 minutes of distraction! I just have one firm rule that as my children get older, tv will be a privelage. I am in total agreement that as long as it's kept to a minimum and closely monitored, it's no biggie. Um is that a glimpse of a curtain in that picture? Whatever it is I LOVE it!
I don't think I have to tell you just how much the TV is on at our house. But in my defense... I truly believe Carter has learned SOOO much from the educational stuff and has retained that stuff more than some of the things I try to teach him. Is the TV on too much at our house? Yes. Am I going to beat myself up over it? No. I know my kids well enough to pull the plug when it's time. :) Oh, and remember when Carter would stand 1 foot from the TV and have to look side to side to see what was happening?
On a normal day my kids watch about 2 t.v. shows a day. But honestly there are days when they get to watch more....Usually because I am just too tired to keep up:). I checked out your Belly Mamas blog..Such a cute idea! BY the way I swear by "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child" I don't know what I would do with out that book. It has saved my life! Your little guy is so cute Karly!
My kids watch 8 hours of TV a day, and the only reason that isn't more is because we have to eat, go to the gym, and take a shower.
Obviously I'm kidding.
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