Tv?

[backgroundnoise]

I've read millions of threads asking when should LOs start watching tv and how much tv do you let your kids watch... but what's so bad about tv? I get some kids aren't interested or lose interest really quickly or only care about the music... but is tv bad for them? :/ I feel so dumb :laughing:.

[Janesmum123]

Who knows there are reason for both sides. My 1 yr old isn't interested in t.v would make life easier if he was.. Lol

[duckduckgoose]

I believe there was recently a study fond which showed tv is linked to ADD if kids watch it before they are 2.

Also there is the issue that they are sitting on their bots and not exercising/doing stimulating play etc.

[Myztiks#1Fan]

i dont have anythign against children watching tv. the only problem i have with coop watching it is he watches too much but in also saying that, i have been told by so many people his imagination is amazing as he has picked up alot of it from tv which helps aid him in it.

[backgroundnoise]

Hmmm ahk, when was the study done? I always use tv for quiet time with my nephews...

[Merla]

My personal experiences is if DD watches too much TV she becomes dependent on stimulation (either TV or an adult playing with her) to be content and loses the ability to play independently. If she is sick for a few days so watches lots of TV the following few days are really rough because she won't play without me and demands more TV.

[backgroundnoise]

Oh okay, yeah that's a horrible consequence lol. :/

[Merla]

It is very draining to have a 2 year old who demands you attention constantly or whinges to watch TV. Normally we have a nice balance of her playing independently and us playing together, but when its a constant need to entertain her I feel like pulling my hair out.

We have gone primarily TV free in this house, she will watch a movie about once a week or a show if I have an appointment, but most of the time it stays away. She is a much happier child without it.

[mum2bubba]

I guess maybe the bad thing is too much tv and not getting outside playing or whatever. My kids watch maybe an hour or less a day and are outside playing or playing board games or reading etc.

[august]

This is MY opinion -

- One negative to the TV being on constantly is how it affects the speech of some children.
When they are babies trying to pick up on sounds etc having teh T.V on in the background could hinder what they are hearing when spoken to by family.

- Too much violence in cartoons and kids programs

- and What Merla said earlier , Kids will get dependent on the T.V as a form of entertainment.

My DS watches about 40 mins a day not at once, but I record particular shows for him such as banana's in pajamas, Buzz Bee, Postman pat and Fireman sam.
And he'll usually sit down and watch some after lunch and some more when I am preparing dinner.

Each to their own though, parents have to do what they think is best for their child.

[UmmInayah]

If only my children sat and watched tv! I know loads of children who don't even like it, or don't sit long enough on front of it to make any difference. I put the tv on in the afternoons from 4-5 and my children struggle to keep still to watch it :(

[bubblegut]

I use the TV if I am rushing trying to get out the door in the morning - so maybe half an hour on some days. And then TV is allowed for half an hour after 5pm while I get dinner ready. Too much makes him crazy but no TV makes me crazy with a whinging child. It's a fine line - find a balance and choose appropriate shows. Things like Pingu, Pegga Pig, Night Garden are all pretty harmless in moderation in my lay opinion.

[Lucy in the Sky]

I think you have to take all these studies with a grain of salt. I usually allow my DS to watch Sesame St in the morning, and Play School in the afternoon and sometimes Thomas or Postman Pat if it's raining or he is sick, or I'm sick - he has an amazing vocabulary for a 2 year old, talks clearly in full sentences, has a vivid imagination, plays well independently and has no signs of attention deficit at all.

BUT, I imagine if parents allowed their children to watch excessive amounts of tv, replaced reading time with television, replaced exercise with television or chose shows inappropriate for the age group of their child, then, under those circumstances television could have detrimental effects on the child.

Personally, I feel that people who make strong rules about no television in the house when they are otherwise loving and attentive parents who give their kids a well-rounded up bringing, are doing themselves an unnecessary disservice. It can be a very useful tool for parents' sanity and children's entertainment!!

[scarlett41]

The TV is always on at my house...I need to noise more than using it for entertainment. Like it is on right now but no-one is watching it...I think it just makes me feels not so alone!

DS (13 months) isn't interested in it just yet but in the mornings I have ABC 2 on and I sit and watch it with him (well I watch-he plays). Sometimes something will catch his eye (or ear, usually a musical number) and he'll watch for a minute or 2 but otherwise not interested.

My "plan" (:laughing: because they always work out!!) is when he does understand it he will be allowed to watch a couple of shows (his favs) a day-so maybe 40 minutes?

I think the key is to watch TV with your kids not always use it as a babysitter (of course there are those times.....:freakingout:.......when you just need to plonk them in front of the TV!!) and discuss what you are watching.

I remember my aunty was never going to have a TV but when her eldest turned 1 a TV miraculously turned up in their loungeroom:laughing: They had gone 6 years of marriage without one but when that baby got older the lure was too great!!

[duckduckgoose]

That's not true. ADD is proven to be genetic like Autism. It may cause something *similar* to ADD that shows symptoms of that but I don't think it causes ADD. People may think that because children with ADD are likely to be more into watching television because of the colours/music which they can't tune out.

NutsyK

Good to hear!! DS will be watching tv for sure when he is a bit older then!! (only 4 months old at the moment)

[backgroundnoise]

BUT, I imagine if parents allowed their children to watch excessive amounts of tv, replaced reading time with television, replaced exercise with television or chose shows inappropriate for the age group of their child, then, under those circumstances television could have detrimental effects on the child.


It's stupid to replace reading and exercising with tv.... lol. I thought it was common sense to not to lol.

But I get where you're all coming from, thank you :D

[meme]

Some tv can be good but there are some considered risks with tv viewing for children.

One concern is that background television can disrupt children's ability to focus while playing.
there's the concern about aggressive behaviour and television, and from what i've read relational aggression such as name calling is high in children's television shows.

research seems to indicate for under 2's there is not much benefit to tv viewing.

But I think that used well there can be benefits to tv watching, it's a way to start interesting conversations when we watch it with our kids, and we can teach critical viewing skills that will enable our kids to really think about and consider the world.

Plus it's a great babysitter....:p:laughing: