Lately, Anderson has wanted to sit in the toy basket to watch TV. I'm not exactly sure why he thinks this is more comfortable than the couch or even the floor. I guess those diapers must have good padding!
Speaking of TV... do you let your kids watch? I know there is so much controversy out there and I would love to hear your opinion on it. The AAP says no TV under the age of 2, and I have to sort of laugh at that. I started letting my kids watch Baby Einsteins pretty early in their lives. Now, we only watch a couple of shows a day (some days there may be exceptions for one reason or another), and I only let them watch educational things. We have cable, and most of the things on Nick Jr (used to be Noggin), Playhouse Disney, and PBS are ok with me. They always teach something and encourage the kids to get involved. I don't let Camden watch "Spongebob" or anything of that nature, as I have heard some not-so-nice words coming from it in the past, and I believe it's just mindless nonsense. I normally turn on the TV when I need to get certain things done without the kids (ahem, Anderson) pulling on my legs and crying while I'm trying to cook dinner, fold laundry, or check email.
So, leave me a comment and tell me your opinion on TV, please! I'd love to hear everybody's thoughts. And, if you don't watch TV, what are some of your tricks for getting your kids to stay happy when you have to get things done?!
8 comments:
I let Leiana watch TV occasionally. We have some old-school cartoons on DVD (we get no signal in our house... just static) such as Darkwing Duck, Talespin, Batman, and DuckTales (we intend to get more in that vein). They are sort of my last resort though, and I really try hard to watch with her if I let her watch at all. We try to eat supper as a family around the table, but some nights she gets to watch something like NCIS or StarGate with us during dinner (she thinks this is great fun). When it comes to getting her to stay happy while I get stuff done... letting her "help" is my big one. Folding laundry, I let her play in the stuff that's not yet folded. Dinner - I've gotten a big pot, put an inch of water in the bottom and gave her a long spoon to stir it with (if she spills it... well, it's just water). I have it pretty easy though, she's gotten really independent and likes to go play by herself in her room (and I try to get a lot of "chores" done during her daily nap). I'm sure it will be different when we have two though! More to do, different "nap/quiet play" times :)
I vowed before I had children that I wouldn't let my kids watch more than 1 hour a week because I was sure that it rotted their brains. Well, now that I actually have two kids, the TV is definitely a babysitter at times. We have had days that Miller sat in front of it for hours...mainly when I had morning sickness with Ellie. But, Miller actually ended up learning most of his ABC's from watching Super Why!
When Jonah was little we didn't have him watch any tv so he wouldn't want it all the time. That backfired! Jonah learns so much for The Letter Factory, 1,2,3 Count with Me (Elmo) and from some other videos.
I am so curious to hear these answers! Teach me more experienced and wiser moms!
Eva and Thibault don't really watch regular tv- they watch their videos. Thibault isn't too interested in tv anyway, so its mostly Eva who picks them out. Almost all their videos are ones we've bought overseas, so when I hear a mom mention a certain show that wasn't around when I was a kid (like Noggin or Wiggles) I'm like, What? Oh, what is that about?
Now that its warmer out, we're spending more time outside and its easier to watch less tv, in my opinion!
My daughter watches Dora every night before bed time. The only other show the kids watch is Sesame Street in the morning (these two are typical days- obviously if we're not home, the tv isn't on). However. To put it frankly- if I'm on my period and am cramping badly or have a migraine and they can't seem to entertain themselves, I have no problem letting them watch Sesame Street, Super Why, Dora, Diego and more Dora. After a show I'll pull out paper and crayons and let that entertain them for a while, then try to let them entertain themselves again, then when it all goes to pot they get to watch tv again. And round and round it goes. 1) Normally it's a max of 2 hours a day (Ses. St and one or two episodes of Dora). 2) When I do let them watch more, I make sure it's educational.
I'm with you, Sponge Bob is a bunch of hooey.
If I don't want them to watch tv when I'm cooking, I give them their milk or the first part of their dinner at the coffee table as a "snack". That way they start loading up on what they will already eat for dinner (and not crackers or something else- which aren't bad, but it will hinder them from eating their dinner in just a few minutes) and it keeps them busy and away from my legs and the stove.
PS- Levi sits on his basket of books. Mecaden did the same thing. Kids are so weird.
JD watches the SAME little people video that he got with one of his toys. He will sit still the entire 25 minutes (we usually let him only watch it once a day at the most). The best part is hearing him laugh at the video or even calling out some of things that he sees. But if you try to show him any other cartoon like Veggie Tales or Go Diego he is up within 30 seconds running around playing with something else or upset that he isn't watching the little people video. I am with you Ash, as long as it is somewhat educational and we are not overdoing I don't think there is much of a problem.
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