Do You Let Your Kids Watch TV?

Do You Have a Boob Tube Baby?

February 4, 2008

Television can be a quick fix for kids when mama needs a few minutes to herself. However, a study released in 2004 indicated,

Early television exposure in children ages 1-3 is associated with attention problems at age 7. Each hour of television watched per day at ages 1-3 increases the risk of attention problems, such as ADHD, at age 7 by almost 10%.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under two–years–of–age not watch any television and those over two should have very limited exposure.

Do you let your lil one watch television?

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33 Comments

live 4 gossip 5 years 15 weeks

my kids love thomas the train and bob. They like pbs style shows were I feel less quilty but really it is rarely turned off. They are both watching Kronk's New Groove which is my 2 yr olds fav but i talk about how you should be nice and the underlying messages so even fluff has a point. We don't have cable anymore as they would watch Sprout all the time i cought my son (he's 4) getting up IN THE NIGHT to watch it and that is just completly out of control. But PBS gotta love it from 2 to 5.

fashionhore 5 years 15 weeks

My cousin loves interacting with the tv and music channels so she watches them, but shes a 1 year old so she gets bored super fast. Her fav. is bunnytown.

fashionhore 5 years 15 weeks

My cousin loves interacting with the tv and music channels so she watches them, but shes a 1 year old so she gets bored super fast. Her fav. is bunnytown.

MJZink 5 years 15 weeks

My daughter is 5 months and we don't let her watch television, but if she is in the room when we are watching a show she looks at the television.

veruca_eve 5 years 15 weeks

I have no problem with movies, if my child wants to watch a disney movie per week or something, sure. I think the problem lies in regular tv, with the commercials going a mile a minute.

sweetnshy5282 5 years 15 weeks

AKirstin..you are so right. it seems that people look down upon parents who allow thier children to watch tv sometimes. when i was growing up I practically lived in front of the tv. but my kids don't watch THAT much. my daughter is 18 months and couldn't care less about it, but my son who is 4 loves it. I admit I let him watch more than I would like him to somedays. but as someone else already said, it's too cold to go outside and putting on a Scooby Doo movie or Dora and Diego for a little while really helps me get some cleaning done or even *gasp* a shower. LOL I really think that they make these studies just to make parents lose just a little more of thier sanity. it's tough enough trying to raise children then they tack on this list of things that could somehow in some way hurt your child in the long run. it's ridiculous!

sweetnshy5282 5 years 15 weeks

abqmama 5 years 15 weeks

The tv was never on when I was growing up, my parents watched the news after my sister and I were in bed but that was it. I seriously don't remember ever watching tv until I was much older. We lived in Germany so there were limited programs anyway. My sister still had problems with ADD and other things. My older boys watch a lot of tv, more than I would like, and so far my oldest son has absolutely no problems at all. In fact, everyone always comments on how smart and well versed he is and how great his memory is. The younger one is too early to tell but we shall see. Besides, my kids would much rather go outside if the weather is good. If I say let's go to the park or the zoo or somewhere, the tv is off in a split second.

lms 5 years 15 weeks

My daughter watches tv alot, but she also does activities, computer and reads alot. While I don't like alot of the shows, I think letting them watch "mindless" things every once in a while is fine. Afterall, us being on Pop is a "mindless" thing as well. It is something fun to pass the time.When my daughter was little she loved the Baby Eistein tape series. Those were the best.

lms 5 years 15 weeks

My daughter watches tv alot, but she also does activities, computer and reads alot. While I don't like alot of the shows, I think letting them watch "mindless" things every once in a while is fine. Afterall, us being on Pop is a "mindless" thing as well. It is something fun to pass the time. When my daughter was little she loved the Baby Eistein tape series. Those were the best.

lickety split 5 years 15 weeks

we don't have tv. my oldest has autism and when she was almost 3 we had to get rid of it because she would "stim" on it (trance like stare, etc). so my youngest, who is almost 7 has never had a tv in her house. but i think it's fine for most families.as for tv causing add, it's probably more likely that the children who are difficult to manage in their free time are comforted by tv, so their parents use it. egg chicken thing.last week we were at disneyland and a marketing person was chatting up my daughter AMAZED that she didn't know certain disney characters (some dog in particular). when she said we didn't have tv he was to stunned to speak. the majority of kids watch tv everyday and are just fine with it.

lickety split 5 years 15 weeks

we don't have tv. my oldest has autism and when she was almost 3 we had to get rid of it because she would "stim" on it (trance like stare, etc). so my youngest, who is almost 7 has never had a tv in her house. but i think it's fine for most families. as for tv causing add, it's probably more likely that the children who are difficult to manage in their free time are comforted by tv, so their parents use it. egg chicken thing. last week we were at disneyland and a marketing person was chatting up my daughter AMAZED that she didn't know certain disney characters (some dog in particular). when she said we didn't have tv he was to stunned to speak. the majority of kids watch tv everyday and are just fine with it.

AKirstin 5 years 15 weeks

I completely agree with that, Dbtabm. I watched a fair amount of teevee as a kid, and so does my daughter. There is so much snobbery surrounding it, it's very popular to claim you don't watch much or at all, and to roll eyes at people who do. Whatever. I'm not going to feel guilty about something so insignificant, and neither should anyone else. It's just another one of those momentary cultural mini-panics. There are several arguments *for* watching teevee, too, but you won't hear about them unless you seek them out because it's not popular opinion.

Dbtabm 5 years 15 weeks

I think if your kid is going to have ADD they're going to have ADD. I seriously doubt some of these studies. I would be more concerned about childhood obesity and too much TV consumption. However, it all has to do with moderation and what other activities you engage your child in. I watched a TON of TV when I was little, and that was before cable, and neither I or my siblings showed any ill effects. We also played outside a lot and played sports. I don't think it has to be an all or nothing kind of thing.

LiLRuck44 5 years 15 weeks

I allow an episode of Dora (on DVR so no commercials, lasts 24 minutes) about two times during the week. I personally don't like her watching TV at all, I think any tv is mindless. That being said she does love the characters and she usually hops up and turns off the tv during the last song and runs off to get her own "backpack" and recruit her brother to be Boots. I found a Dora book that is basically the episodes just in story-book form, and I can practically read it to her in my sleep. I cherish my showers when she's happily watching Dora....

LiLRuck44 5 years 15 weeks

meumitsuki 5 years 15 weeks

My son watches about 30 to 60 minutes a day of tapes. If you look up some of the details of the studies they actually think its not the TV show, but the commercials because the "story" is so short so kids can't develop long synapses for long attention spans.My son loves Thomas and Little Einsteins.

meumitsuki 5 years 15 weeks

rgrl 5 years 15 weeks

Oops, I didn't mean to make it sound like watching TV everyday is a bad thing. I think we all do the best we can, and on cold long winter days the kids just get so bored in the house. Th only thing that bothers me is when I hear about 2 year olds watching Sponge Bob or some senseless show like that. There are much better children's shows out there.

lizbeth 5 years 15 weeks

My 2 small children watch television a lot. But, it is supervised. Either Noggin, movies we buy, and on occasion, American Idol (my vice). I make sure they also are read to, play actively outdoors, and draw, color, or create things on a regular basis. My husband travels A TON with his job. Sometimes, putting a show on for them to watch is my only saving grace. Thank God for tv!

wingedkiare 5 years 15 weeks

You know, I watched a lot of TV growing up. Something like 6 hours of PBS, and a couple episodes of M*A*S*H. And I really don't have any issues with ADD. But my sister does - and I think she watched less TV than I did.We'll sit down and watch a couple shows, and typically I have a movie on in the background while we play. I do feel a little guilty, but that's due largely to studies like this.

wingedkiare 5 years 15 weeks

You know, I watched a lot of TV growing up. Something like 6 hours of PBS, and a couple episodes of M*A*S*H. And I really don't have any issues with ADD. But my sister does - and I think she watched less TV than I did. We'll sit down and watch a couple shows, and typically I have a movie on in the background while we play. I do feel a little guilty, but that's due largely to studies like this.

rgrl 5 years 15 weeks

My son watches a 1/2 hour Teletubbies show once in a while. Not everyday.

Princesskitty22 5 years 15 weeks

My brother and I both watched a lot of television when we were little. I had VERY MILD ADD and he didn't. Same household; same television. I think that it depends on the child and I'm not sure that these studies are actually helpful, since all they seem to do is make parents feel upset, paranoid, or guilty.

Novaraen 5 years 15 weeks

dont feel guilty macneil...dont feel guilty at all! When i first read this, i was opt to feel guilty too because my boys who are not quite 3 watch TV a lot...but like i said its mostly educational stuff. they dont really care for the mindless cartoons anyway...they cant concentrate on it for long enough. anyway...its cold now and i havent been able to take my boys out so yeah, i get them situated in front of their TV with pillows and blankets and such....we have a little pow wow and its fun!but dont feel guilty! :DCheers!

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