How much TV do you let your toddlers watch?
@plainhousewife (332)
Philippines
March 19, 2008 2:23am CST
According to the internet, scientists say too much TV can cause behavioral problems in toddlers. This however can be recovered if TV time is reduced by the age of five.
There also has been studies that showed kids who watch a lot of television tend to eat more junk food, exercised less and had a tendency to become overweight. Then there's of course the violence and disturbing images they get to watch over the TV. Being glued to the TV can also lessen the time they could be doing other things like exploring, reading or playing.
Pediatricians have suggested that children below two watch no television at all and those older a maximum of 2 hours a day.
How about you?
How much time do you let your kids watch TV?
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I have a 21/2 toddler who watches TV from the time I bring her down from the bedroom in the morning up to the time we go back upstairs to put her to sleep at night. The only time the TV gets to rest is when she takes a nap. It's not really the regular TV programs she watches, but educational DVDs intended for her age. I'm not sure if that is doing her any harm. Since her little sister stays in the same area where she watches her DVDs, her little 6 month old sister watches as well.
2 people like this
7 responses
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 Mar 08
I am no fan of television myself - so during the hours that the children were / are with me only there is very little watched.
now my husband is a huge tv fan and although he agrees the kids should not watch much he does not often temper his own watching so they are exposed to it as he watches in the main room of the house.
we no longer have television but the movies are played a lot.
2 people like this
@plainhousewife (332)
• Philippines
19 Mar 08
Actually, my husband and I don't watch TV that much as well. It's only my toddler who does most of the watching. *sigh*
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
19 Mar 08
when when I had a toddler, he did watch a lot of tv but that was 30 years ago, he liked the saturday morning cartoons
2 people like this
@plainhousewife (332)
• Philippines
19 Mar 08
I used to remember when I was a kid, too, I watched a lot of TV as well.
Um, I don't think I have any signs of behavioral problems. It's either I don't know about it or they just haven't showed up yet. :D
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
3 Apr 08
My kids are social kids they would rather go to a friends house than watch tv. Dont get me wrong they love tv at times but I am lucky and dont have to restrict it too often. They like to watch tv as a family if they are gonna watch and I think any influence the tv can have on a kid is alot less if you are there watching with them.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
26 Mar 08
My child watches about 2 hours a day. Give or take. We do crafts. We read books, go to the park. She goes to pre-school 3 mornings a week. She has started taking an interest in cooking, There are so many things you can do with your children to sit them in front of a tv all day seems a waste. I am trying to build a relationship with my daughter to last a lifetime. Can't do that if all she does is watch the boob tube.
@plainhousewife (332)
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
[b][i]There are so many things you can do with your children to sit them in front of a tv all day seems a waste. I am trying to build a relationship with my daughter to last a lifetime. Can't do that if all she does is watch the boob tube."[b/][i/]
—True. There is just one thing I'd like to clarify, though. People may already be starting to think that I just let my daughter watch all day. She just likes the TV on with her DVDs playing in the background as she goes along with her playing, coloring or play pretending. We do activities together as well and I know the importance of being around for her. It's just that she likes the TV on even if she isn't watching it and is busy with something else.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
3 Apr 08
The TV is on here all the time, but that doesn't mean my son is watching it. I put on some shows just for him but they are educational shows such Sesame Street. Sometimes in the evening he will hang with his brother and sister who are watching shows, but I think he is hanging out more than watching TV. I thing there are some shows that are really good for kids to watch. My two older kids watched TV more than my little one does, he's just not that interested, but until the were like 6 they only got to watch the educational shows on PBS.
1 person likes this
@cmofi123 (344)
• United States
26 Mar 08
My child id almost 6 months olds, he pays attention to the TV once in a while.
No as for studies here and there: When I was a child, my parents will go to work around 3 in the morning and my mom will leave an alarm on for me to get up to go to school. I use to wake up early to go watch cartoons. I remember the Teenage Ninja Turtles on UPN 13 (I remember it really good back in the 92') I will watch about two hours then go to school when I use to come back from school I sat and watch TV until my mom came home.
Now, I barely watch TV. I'm not a fanatic of TV. I have a show here and there that I like but that's it.
Screwing me up, nah, actually I'm a morning person. My parents never had a problem waking me up early to go to school, I will always wake up on my own and as far as I'm concern I am no couch potato.
1 person likes this
