Home » forums » General Discussion » Culture and Entertainment

TV for toddlers?

daddyfever
Posts: 45
 Joined: 2010-02-16
 Dad Points: 105

I know that many people are against TV for little kids, but I don't think TV is the issue as much as lack of parental involvement.  I would say that 90% of the time my son watches TV, I watch with him and we talk about characters, plot, colours, sounds, music, etc.  I see it more like a picture book that moves.  Obviously the TV is sometimes passive entertainment, but I don't see anything wrong with that as long as it is the exception rather than the rule.

How about you guys?  What are your feelings on this subject?  Do you/did you let your little one's watch TV/DVD's?  How much?  What kind of shows/movies?

*Just a little footnote: fortunately here in Norway, commercial stations aren't allowed to run ads for toys and such during children's programming so that is not an issue for us, but we usually watch DVD's or stations with no commercials anyway...


‹ New Parenting Podcast for Atheists Does Parenting Make You Stupid? ›

Submitted by daddyfever on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 8:53am.

ScottyG
ScottyG's picture
Posts: 13
 Joined: 2010-02-10
 Dad Points: 17
We don't really watch much

We don't really watch much TV with our little girl, just because she'd rather be running around most of the time... plus, we don't have cable or anything, so we don't really get any kids' programming.  But I agree with you: definitely best not to make TV a super-regular thing, but as a sometimes activity, I can't imagine it's so bad.

While we don't have much broadcast TV, we do have a few DVDs that she LOVES, though... we save them for desperate moments.  Those DVDs are an amazing help when she's really sick and can't be consoled.  Or when my wife's home alone with her and her pregnancy (3rd trimester) makes it so she needs to lie down and chill for a second.  Or when an important business call comes in and I know it'll take a while.  I don't use this strategy much (maybe once every 2 weeks or so) but it's definitely helpful.


Wed, 02/17/2010 - 9:47am

STLDADDY
Posts: 14
 Joined: 2010-01-19
 Dad Points: 14
Supervised TV time

i think the last thing i read about TV and  toddlers was it didnt boost any motor skills or language but i did see a funny story about a kid that called 911 when his mother got sick and talked to the operator in spanish and english and when asked where he learned spanish words he said from Dora and Diego LOL!!

so if supervised i think TV can be great we only watch PBS programs most of the time Curious George,Clifford,Martha Speaks,Seasme Street and The Electric Company and some Nic at night WE recently started Your Baby Can Read and it said to take away TV to get better results i'll have to let you know how that goes were still on the starter part of the program

i think alot of people get so use to letting the TV become the sitter at some point of the daily routine it becomes a really bad habbit


Wed, 02/17/2010 - 1:40pm

Ariel3618
Ariel3618's picture
Posts: 284
 Joined: 2008-10-13
 Dad Points: 505
Food Network

When my daughter was very small and ate earlier than my wife and me, she'd eat in the kitchen and watch me cook.  Now when she finishes her dinner before us and we want to finish our dinner in peace we'll turn on Food Network (like Iron Chef or Ace of Cakes) and she loves it.  She also loves playing in her kitchen and "reading" cookbooks.  Other than that I'll pop on a Blue Planet or Planet Earth DVD if I just need a few minutes rest.


Wed, 02/17/2010 - 8:24pm

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.