More opinions on tv-viewing tots

Here at The Baby Babble we've been trying to explore all angles of the tv-watching debate: Should your toddler watch television, DVDs, educational or not.  We always start this discussion by re-stating the fact: The American Academy of Pediatricians has stated that a child age 2 and younger should watch NO television (or screens of any sort) at all.  The theory is that television-watching produces problems in language development and attention span.  So, now that we've said that--AGAIN--here are some other opinions.  Over at a blog called "Baby Shrink" a woman, Katie, writes in to say, basically, she lets her toddler watch television "before day care" and "because she (the toddler) likes it."  This sent a little chill up The Baby Babble spine!  Is "because she likes it" a good reason to allow a toddler to do anything?  We don't think so.  And, the idea that the child is allowed to watch television "before day care" seems to be a not-great strategy for helping Mom get the child ready and out the door. We remember those days of whining, "I just gotta see this...." from the television room.

Well, Baby Shrink was maybe kinder than we would be on this topic. Baby Shrink asked "television expert" Frederick J. Zimmerman, PhD, what he thought and he suggested all parents consider these three things before allowing their child to watch television:

What is being watched? Content matters.

How much is being watched? Amount matters.

What is the context in which TV is watched? The rest of the child's life and environment matters.

Tell us what you think? Should toddlers be allowed to watch television "because they like it"? Click onto "comments" just below, then follow the prompts.

Comments

[HMK]

I don't think that young children should have regular access to television, but an occasional show at a friend's or family members, or watching a movie once a week with an older sibling is probably not going to do much harm...

I think setting a kid infront of TV before day-care sounds more like something to keep the kid out of mom's hair when she is getting ready than something that is in the best intrest of the child... Maybe a coloring book or blocks would have similar results?

[BabyShrink]

Thanks for linking to BabyShrink! I hope your readers come over to see what I REALLY said about TV; I never said that toddlers should be allowed to watch TV "because they like it".

I also hope you Google Dr. Zimmerman, because he is the real deal.

Aloha from The BabyShrink ;)

[Jen]

I let my 4 year old watch one half hour show in the morning when he wakes up and I don't have a problem with it. He's been doing it since he was 2 and it's the only TV he watches during the week. The show is always an educational show without commercials and it gives him time to wake up and prepare for his day. And yes, it does allow me to do what I need to do to get two kids and myself out the door and to work on time. In a perfect world, we'd have time to do everything the ideal way but since my son is up at 6 so we can leave by 7, something has to give. The key to everything in life is moderation.

[Katie Kat]

Since I'm the "Katie" quoted in your story, I feel inclined to comment!

I really think the readers here need to see the entire question and answer. Quoting small snippets rarely gets across the real content of anything someone says. What I asked about was whether letting my daughter watch TV at times when I needed to get things done was "bad," and whether letting that TV watching amount become too long would be detrimental to her development. We all hear stories about how letting your kids watch TV before they are 2, or letting them watch certain shows CAUSES ADD, etc. I think it's a little naive to think people will not EVER use TV to get a break, but overdoing it is obviously not good either.

The great thing about Baby Shrink is that we, as imperfect parents, can ask a question and get an answer without being judged. By listening to what Baby Shrink said, I made a change in my life to limit TV time more than I was, and I feel good about that.

We're all just doing the best we can, and learning along the way!

[Josh]

I love that this conversation is happening during TV Turn Off Week!

I have a very love / hate relationship with the television and media in general. I refuse to allow corporations to spew advertisements at my not quite 2 year old. So, we don't have cable and the dial remains firmly on PBS. The dial also remains in the off position as much as possible.

I have such fond memories of Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers that I have a place in my heart for that sort of programming. But then, I use the word programming intentionally. TV is a medium for programming whomever watches it. Children do not need TV and will be much better off spending the time that they would be watching TV outside digging in the dirt or reading a book.

However, SAHM and SAHD and even working parents of Toddlers sometimes (which is all I can speak to at this point) need help in order to get that shower or dinner made. My soon loves to watch The Big comfy Couch. He get to see it a couple times a week. I am ok with it.

In short, I think that if I want my son to grow up without the influence of the TV then I need to rid my house of the contraptions.

[Awesome Mom]

I had really expected better from Stonyfield Farms, a brand which I use a lot and had trusted. Taking quotes out of context and bending them to your agenda is pretty low. I am glad that both the question asker and the Baby Shrink have been able to correct you.

[Shalosher]

Oops, Baby Babble. It look like you got caught. Let this be a lesson for all of us.

[mamabigdog]

Let's all just keep judging each other and being critical about people we don't even know, blog posts we haven't even read completely, and deciding that someone is a questionable parent who "allows a toddler to do anything", based solely on watching TV before daycare, shall we? Get over yourselves.

It's too bad Stonyfield chooses to support this kind of elitist judgment.

[Trisha]

My daughter watches a little PBS in the morning before school -- she is 2. It's not usually for very long and normally she plays with her Dolly or other toys as well. It's educational, so it does not bother me and I can tell she is learning things from it. She also loves musicals, like Wizard of Oz and Annie. Now she may watch those too much, but most of the time she is marching to Follow the Yellow Brick Road or doing a kickline during Annie. She stays active and makes us get up and dance with her during those movies and she never sits from beginning to end. Since she is very active during the movies, it does not concern me as much. When she does sit there, I encourage her to get up and dance like the characters. We do make an effort to keep the TV off in the evenings though. We try too color, build w blocks or play "house."

I think the "everything in moderation" applies and as long as parents are using TV as an opportunity to learn and not as a daily babysitter, their tots will turn out OK.

trisha
www.amomsblog.wordpress.com

[Alison]

I agree completely with Trisha. Everything in moderation. My 2 year old watches between 1/2 to 1 hour of tv in the morning while I take my shower and get ready. She has been doing this for a while now. She has better verbal skills than most of her peers. PLUS, watching shows that go over letters and letter sounds has helped her learn these, and now she knows all her letter sounds and can sight read over 30 words. In moderation, television is a good teaching tool.

[Jenn]

I have a hard time believing tv is good for kids. I understand some moms need the break to shower or whatever though. I know that when we moved into our new house a few years back I didn't want a tv at all but my husband "needed" to watch March Madness. I said fine, as long as it was not in our family area. So now it's in the basement where it's not too convenient and we have noticed such an improvement on our communication and the way things get done around the house. We also spend so much more time with our daughter.

I do have a love/hate relationship with the tv, because I personally cannot take my focus off of it when it's on. It's my addiction if it's on, like recovering alcoholics stay away from alcohol. With my daughter I just have to catch showers during naptimes and make sure she has plenty of toys or whatever to keep her busy when I want to cook dinner. If I take her to a play date and they put the tv on she has no interest and just keeps playing by herself. I just don't think at 15 months she needs to be in front of the tv.