https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:05:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-29028 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:26:05 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 29028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Heh heh, I used to work for Dimitri! </p> <p>Anyway, we do zero TV with our 18 month old. Of course I just said that and my partner is watching a nat geo video of elephants because the babe wants to know more about them. I love that she calls elephants "Amaleets!"</p> <p>But yeah, she's never watched a cartoon, doesn't know who Elmo is or what Disney is and isn't exposed to commercials (which I think is one of the biggest downsides of TV).</p> <p>I understand about making dinner. It is a total struggle for us every night. We've taken to giving her a pan with a little flour in it or a couple of cups of water to pour while we're cooking. It works ok... not great, but it's better than tripping over her or holding her the whole time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28995 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:24:55 +0000 mommacommaphd 28995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana- I think it just means that their mind is in neutral- they aren't thinking, just passively watching the TV. Think about when you watch TV and you look up and an hour has passed. Or when your husband is watching and doesn't even hear you speaking.</p> <p>This is the press coverage of one of the studies that concluded no TV for kids under 2 (and addressed the impact of TV on older kids):<br /> The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limited television for children – and discourages it altogether for children under age 2. A new study in the October, 2011, issue of the journal, Pediatrics, finds that some TV shows may be worse than others. The study, “The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children’s Executive Function,” published online Sept. 12, tested 4-year-old children’s attention, problem solving, self regulation and other executive function abilities after they watched one of two cartoons for nine minutes. A control group of children received crayons and markers for free drawing for the same time period. The children who watched a fast-paced cartoon featuring an animated kitchen sponge did significantly worse on tests than the drawing group. There was no difference between the drawing group and children who watched a slower-paced, realistic Public Broadcasting Service cartoon about a typical preschool boy. Study authors stated they cannot tell which features of the TV show created the effects, though they speculate the combination of fantastical events and the fast pacing are responsible. They conclude that parents should be aware that watching similar television shows may immediately impair young children’s executive function. In a commentary, “The Effects of Fast-Paced Cartoons,” pediatrician and researcher Dimitri Christakis, MD, FAAP, discusses the study and the implications that media exposure has for children’s health.</p> <p>I blogged about this exact topic here:<br /> <a href="http://mommacommaphd.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/science-informs-parenting-sleep-tv-and-fatherhood/" rel="nofollow">http://mommacommaphd.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/science-informs-parenting-sleep-tv-and-fatherhood/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28958 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:16:00 +0000 banana 28958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mommacommaphd: I know what you mean. That "zoned-out" look that my son gets is what worries me the most. </p> <p>What does that zoned-out look mean? I was never sure what that meant and why that was bad for kids. I always thought it might be like intense concentration and never thought it was bad until someone said "oh no, your son is zoning out watching tv. that's not good". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28587 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:59:04 +0000 junebugmama 28587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He's 4 and watches cartoons in the morning and usually a movie in the evening. He's obsessed with movies. It allows for me to cook dinner and pick up the house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28518 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:01:19 +0000 mommacommaphd 28518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 22months. Most days she watches no TV at all.</p> <p>On Sunday, we had the Giants game on, so she watched with us. On Thanksgiving Day we watched the parade as a family.</p> <p>Otherwise, we only turn on the TV under extenuating circumstances. For instance, if I have to clip her nails, I turn on the TV to get her to sit still. We have used it keep her entertained while we packed the car for a trip.</p> <p>She stays home with her dad- and I think he lets her watch now and then, but he knows she really shouldn't and that I would prefer if she didn't.</p> <p>The way she zones out when she watches is kind of scary. It's clear her brain is in neutral and I figure she'll have plenty of years to zone out- she doesn't have to start now.</p> <p>I read the research studies that came out, and I think it's pretty clear for the data that TV should be avoided, so I do my best.</p> <p>Tip for making dinner- I set her up in a chair at the kitchen counter with crayons and paper. While I prep dinner, she colors. The other thing we might do is get a little kitchen set that we can tuck under the kitchen counter overhang, so she can 'cook' while I make dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28125 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:58:21 +0000 Rosie Girl 28125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really depends on the day. We normally only watch a couple cartoons in the morning, and DS might watch one of "our shows" in the evening. Other days, like today, we watch more. He watched a movie today on top of his cartoons. Its cold out, and we don't have much to do! We are in a cuddle on the couch mood :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-tv-do-your-let-your-lo-watch#post-28123 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:50:53 +0000 banana 28123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 18 months old and I hate to admit that he probably watches too much TV. :( He watches probably around 30min-1 hour a day, usually whenever I need to prepare dinner. It's tiring running back and forth to the kitchen trying to prepare dinner while LO is causing a mess in the playroom.</p> <p>I know children under 2 are not supposed to watch TV but if we didn't let LO watch TV, either dinner would never be ready or he would cause a wreck/mess/injury to himself.</p> <p>For all you mamas out there, how much TV do you let your LO watch and if you do, for what reason? </p>