TV and kids

[moonstone523]

H and I are not TV watchers... like the tv isn't on all weekend type people. I'm not anti TV. I could watch as much as I wanted as a child. I think I turned out okay.

Our nanny will turn on Dora a few times a day while Samantha is in her bouncer.

This isn't going to ruin my child, is it?

[amellis2]

I doubt it.

We watch Plaza Sesamo and Yo Gabba Gabba for about 1 hour to 1.5 but a lot of this time they are running around doing other things and not actually watching the t.v. (we watched about 1.5 hours while the girls were sick...all the wanted was to cuddle with me, so that's what we did.) a day (so 2 to three episodes sometimes.) and mine are fine. We still like to play with the other toys in the house, and run around outside for about 30 minutes a day.

She'll like to look at the bright colors and eventually, it will help with her bilingual skills.

[moonstone523]

Your girls are bilingual, right?

[amellis2]

Jan 3, 2013 10:34:00 GMT -5 moonstone523 said:

Your girls are bilingual, right?

Yes, as much as they can be right now. The are at the age where the understand more than they say back, ykwim? If I say, "Abby, Vente. No, no lo toques el tree." (it is usually spanglish in our house, lol) she steps back away from it.

Another popular phrase is "Saca la mano." They put their hands in/on everything!

Are you fluent enough in Thai that you could teach her a little Thai, too? They are like sponges at this age it will not confuse her at all to speak multiple languages with her.

[moonstone523]

Yes, I am fluent enough in Thai to speak some Thai to her. When I try to speak Spanish now, Thai comes out. I do sing to her in Thai some made up songs.

love her.

[tashaandsage]

I'm personally not really a tv watcher, but I will watch a little at night with H sometimes. If I was ever home by myself, the tv would not be on. So most of the time the tv is on ESPN or Nick jr/Disney/Sprout/PBS when it is on. I think my kids probably watch a tiny bit more than they should, but often it's in the background while they run around and play. There aren't just sitting there glued to it. I always hear that there is no such things as educational children's shows, but I disagree. I can not tell you much stuff Beckett has picked up from kids shows that I did not teach him. Plus I think shows that encourage love of music & dance (like Gabba) are wonderful. However, at 3 months, I just really don't think an infant needs to watching Dora or other shows designed for preschoolers. Maybe 20 minutes of Baby Einsteins or the Baby First channel or something. I don't think it will ruin her, but if it were me, I'd ask the nanny not to just yet. Totally just my opinion though.

[sara76]

Uh oh, Dora is the devil, Sammy's broken. Send her back.

No I don't think she's ruined. I think she's going to get enough stimulation from real people that a little bit of tv in the background is not a deal breaker. I used to freak out when Amelia even glanced at the tv from her swing and so I moved it behind the recliner so she couldn't see it. Then a few months later I was popping in Baby Einstein videos, but honestly that was mostly for the music. Right now I have Sesame Street on for background (I just turned off Pandora for a little break). It's cheerful. .

[jennifer8080]

The AAP says no screen time before 2. I originally stuck to that with Kennedy. But then Caleb was born and I would have loved for her to watch Sesame Street or Mickey Mouse. She has zero interest in TV. Caleb on the other hand loves it. If I have to make dinner or do something with Kennedy and he's not content, I'll turn Mickey Mouse on the iPad. I can get 15 minutes out of him. Once you have two kids, it's survival mode.

What about Baby Einstein or Baby Signing Times DVDs? Kennedy has always been into Baby Signing Times, and before she was mobile she would watch them. I would prefer something like that over Dora at a young age.

But ultimately, no, it's not going to ruin her, unless she's sitting her in the bouncer in front of Dora all day.

[amellis2]

I'll just leave this...

www.collegehumor.com/video/6789072/dora-the-explorer-movie-trailer-with-ariel-winter

here. For your viewing entertainment.

[alzi]

seriously? i have not an ounce of concern about this. a little bit of tv here or there is not going to ruin a baby. i'm not saying hours of tv...but 20 minutes so you can take a shit in peace? sure why not lol

at least that is my opinion pre-baby.

[moonstone523]

Lol Aly. You will not take a shit in peace for the first two months maybe. Are you ready?

So today I didn't see the TV on, other than toddler tunes which was on all day. Sammy also slept a lot too today. AND is taking that bottle like a champ.

[alzi]

i'm not ready!! haha.

i'm glad it's going well!! Go Sammy!

[etteyam]

Jan 3, 2013 12:28:58 GMT -5 jennifer8080 said:

The AAP says no screen time before 2. I originally stuck to that with Kennedy. But then Caleb was born and I would have loved for her to watch Sesame Street or Mickey Mouse. She has zero interest in TV. Caleb on the other hand loves it. If I have to make dinner or do something with Kennedy and he's not content, I'll turn Mickey Mouse on the iPad. I can get 15 minutes out of him. Once you have two kids, it's survival mode.

What about Baby Einstein or Baby Signing Times DVDs? Kennedy has always been into Baby Signing Times, and before she was mobile she would watch them. I would prefer something like that over Dora at a young age.

But ultimately, no, it's not going to ruin her, unless she's sitting her in the bouncer in front of Dora all day.

We strictly followed this...until now, we still don't let them watch tv, unless it's a musical performance. I'm sure a few mins of tv won't ruin a child. H and I are not big tv watchers, to begin with. For us, having kept them away from tv, has spared us from the commercialism that comes with these shows. When I got married in 2008, I saw my niece, who was 4 or 5 at that time, all geared up in Dora. She would not wear clothes or use anything that's not Dora. DD1 doesn't know any of these characters, hence, she didn't develop the "need" to have Disney, Dora or YoGabba Gabba. I guess this is the negative that I see with tv watching.