TV Watching
parentingpinkmom posted 2 Aug 08
Do you let your children watch TV? I try to set limits like allow them to watch a couple of their favorite shows per day (maybe a total of 1 - 1.5 hours). I know moms who absolutely won't let their kids watch it and some who keep the TV on all day. Just wondering where other moms fall on the topic?
http://michellesamom.blogspot.com/
Personally I feel that it all depends on the TV programs the child is watching. My daughter (23 months) watches about 1/2 hour in the morning while having breakfast (that gives me time to have my coffee and wake up in peace), and 1 hour in the evening, from about 5-6 so that I can make dinner. I bought all the Sesame Street Old School DVDs and I have no problems with her watching those (I have blogged about it).
The rest of the day we go swimming or to the park or to the zoo or the science centre or visiting friends... the TV is not on at all during the day, that time is for her to play.
Since we started the Sesame Street DVDs, she has learned her numbers to twenty and all of her letters. I am a firm believer in the benefits of educational television for your toddler and for you!
In the morning my 3 year old has free play time. If he asks to watch TV, I put it on the Treehouse channel. He will watch some shows full out, but he mostly will play and tune the TV out until something interests him.....Treehouse is full of educational shows and I am not against letting him learn by watching TV.
I think letting your children watch TV is all right, as long as it isn't for long periods of time. It is such a passive activity and really doesn't do anything good for their brain cells! (In my opinion) My children are older now (14 and 11) and we have to be careful, because they can use the remote control all by themselves and sometimes the commercials are worse than the actual programs!
We are very conscious of what our children watch. There can be so many programs and commercials full of sexual, violent material, and it is just not accepted in our household. They only are allowed to watch maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day if that. We would rather they pick up a book to read or just go outside and get some exercise! Personally, I think TV is sometimes a waste of time.
This is just my opinion, but I hope you find a happy medium for your family!
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