Television

[Charlie:-)]

Just wondering how much TV do you let your LO watch? Curious really after reading Valentines thread about gender toys/tv programmes.

I was a little shocked at how many different TV shows some of the members said thier LO's watched.

I think I may be a bit strict when it comes to TV. I tape In the iIght Garden everyday then we can watch it when we want but we probably only watch it about 3 times a week at the most. Sometimes we dont watch it at all and sometimes we only have it on for say 10 minutes at a time 3 times a week and not the full half hour 3 times a week.

I dont have the TV on at all during the day, I prefer to listen to music and I generally put the TV on when we are feeding, but thats for me to watch not Maia.

Also do you think children under 2 years get any benefit from the TV? I personally dont think they do, maybe when they are more like heading towardas 3 years old I can see something like sesame street being educational, and maybe even beneficial to watch but before that age they really dont understand its just colourful, moving and rythmic sounding so how can they learn??? Anyone in the know about this, quite interested now in any facts around this.

 

[LisaJ1986]

I put the telly on CBeebies every morning. I have to sort the dogs, cats and all our breakfasts out so this gives me a bit of time to do it. It really makes her happy and she laughs along. It brought some things out of her.
Like we taught her to wave and clap, but only rarely. Since watching it on the telly she definately responds.
OH said on In The Night Garden this morning it said "Wave Makka Pakka" so Angel waved!
It certainly taught her that. It'll be on an hour but she doesn't really watch anything other than ITNG.

 

[daftscotslass]

I record ITNG on Sky+ every day and we watch it together after Becky has had her dinner at 5. We also watch Something Special together now and again but that's more for my benefit and we do the signs together (well as much as Becky can, she can only really sign milk, gone and duck) and I sing along. That's it really, I love watching her dance to the tunes and see her face light up when she sees Iggle Piggle.

I'm definitely not going to be anal about television - the only thing I won't allow is for her to have TV in her room when she's older. My nephew was never allowed television at all until recently (he's now 3 and a half) and it's now the cause of many a tantrum. To be honest when she's older I can't really see us having much time to watch TV as we'll be out and about as much as possible at the weekend.

 

[Iggle20]

LO watches what ever happens to be on Cbeebies when we put the TV on. No set times for on/off but only about half an hour or so daily. Certainly not all day long or when he wants etc. I don't see much benefit when they are so young, they have such imagination and curiosity and watching a screen all day long, I don't think enhances that any. I do tape ITNG though, sometimes that's our half hour viewing if Cbeebies has something "too old" on (space pirates, pop shop etc, too old for LO) but if viewing time falls during postman pat or squiglet etc then we'll watch that. We always watch together so I can point out what were watching, say colours or generally just do it together.

 

[CoreysMummy]

I dont put any kiddies programs on yet, but Jeremy Kyle and this morning is always on in the background. If we stay in all day, then we usually go upstairs to play with toys in his room while I tidy up there, and stuff... then back down, and if theres nothign on (which there never is) then I turn it off and we have music on or even just nothing but his NOISEY damn toys going off LOL.

I dont worry to much about it, he watches it sometimes, he seems to like adverts, but it will never keep him entertained. Maybe thats because I dont put any of the kiddies programs on - I dont know.

 

[Suzie and Faith]

We have it on in the background - mainly for me, but sometimes for Fi, I can't stand not having background noise and I don't often listen to music.
Fi loves Big Cook Little Cook and she too waves at the TV! Lol.

I'm not too fussed about her watching it/having it on, i'm sure when she is older she'll have many more interesting things to do. Though I don't think i'd want her to have a TV in her room until she was 10 or so.

 

[heles7]

Currently James has ITNG on Sky + and he probably has one on most days - his dad is more likely to put it on for an easy life but it is a godsend when im trying to prepare dinner. Most other programmes are too old for him and he doesnt seem to get much out of them. He does always pay attention when the Corrie music comes on though!

I have known a family where television was not something you just turned on. The TV was kept in a cupboard and bought out when the kids had arranged something with their mum and she thought it suitable. I'm pretty sure this isn't the right way to go about it as the kids would sneak the telly out at every opportunity and never given the chance to learn to regulate their own viewing habits.

At the other end of the spectrum my neices (8 and 9 ) seem to have total control over the telly and it sits on all afternoon with Nickolodean even if they are paying no attention to it. The American teen drival has infiltrated them so much that when they are playing, you can often hear them adopting an Americal accent. It's enough to drive me bonkers and vow never to subscribe to the childrens package!!!

 

[Hazel]

Connie is addicted to the tv , this started from very young (a few weeks old) with her and Daddy watching Hellboy . She loves Pitch & Potch and Eggbird. As she sleeps very little during the day tv has been my saviour so I can get on and do things like make a bottle.

Luckily we're out the house quite a lot so it's only when we have a day in like today and it's been snowing so can't even get out for a walk.

 

[maybebaby]

We watch cbeebies during breakfast (switching to milkshake for Roary and Thomas ), then it's often on in the morning before his nap. We're usually doing another activity (eg drawing) at the same time, although he does pay attention to his favourite programmes.

I don't think he needs to 'benefit' from it, not everything has to be educational. He's entertained by some programmes and that's enough for me. He's also capable of entertaining himself without the telly on so I have no problem with it being on a few hours a day.

The only thing I have a major problem with is the adverts aimed at little kids, I will only watch kids channels with adverts for particular programmes (Roary, Thomas and Peppa Pig but not every day) then back to cbeebies.

 

[Bee]

Finlay doesn't watch TV. I don't put any kids programs on for him as they bug the hell out of me.

He will watch Top Gear with us though when its on

 

[kalia]

I decided when we moved into our flat 3 years ago that I didn't want a TV. Since then there have only been 2 occasions we wished we had one. Eurovision (we went round to a friend's) and when they announced the new Dr Who
We download things from iplayer and watch DVDs though. It's really weird watching TV at someone's house because of all the adverts - we can go months without seeing any advert and it's annoying when they interrupt a program when you're not used to it

We experimented with a few different programs - my Dad likes to put the TV on for her, he will change it from whatever my mum is watching to CBBies He's getting the idea that it doesn't matter, it's all nice sounds and pretty lights though - and of all the options on CBBies I'd prefer her to see 3rd and Bird. She likes cartoons and songs so this is a perfect combination She watches one or 2 episodes a week and they are 10 minutes long.

I see nothing wrong with her watching TV it's just that we are too busy playing, singing, going for walks and generally hanging out to watch much at the moment.

 

[happy-chick]

Ellie enjoys watching TV, some days its on quite alot and others its not on at all. It all depends on Ellie & what mood shes in etc. I dont mind her watching TV, it does her no harm! She has her fav programs (ITNG, Big Barn Farm, Balamory) and sometimes will sit and watch whilst playing with her toys, sometimes we will all sit and watch together, other times shes not interested at all.

She has a wide variety of stimulation and activities so I dont see the harm in watching TV for her enjoyment although I do feel she learns lots from it too x

 

[cez8457]

My tv is on most of the day, i work from the living room so i guess its habit. I put cbeebies on for Kyla, she watches programs and not others, its not like she sits in front of the tv all day lol. Shes on the go all the time playing and when ITNG or Balamory comes on she'll just stand there dancing and singing to the tv.

My nephew harry whos just turned 4 has learned alot from watching childrens programs, like 'go dieago go' He learned some spanish words lol, Whats that one with mr tumble he learned signs from that. That boogiebeebies is great he'll copy the dance, so thats giving him stimilation and exercise.

Kyla likes In the night garden and we bought her a jigsaw of it for xmas and we said to her wheres ' pc plum' and she picked it straight. I dont think many children between like 1-2 will sit there glued to a tv, they enjoy playing and running about but its nice for them i think when their fav program comes on that they can say still for 10mins, and chill before going off to play again. I always like to interact with kyla when ITNG or balamory is on that way its fun for both.

 

[sarah113]

my tv is on all day but my lot rather do drawing or have books read to them

 

[loz]

Emma only watches TV when she's having her meals. Usually ITNG, big cook little cook, space pirates, balamory. She loves TV and I've found that if she's in her high chair, if she's distracted by TV I can get her to concentrate longer to eat!!!

I dont have it on at other times for her unless she's really upset and ITNG seems to have some kind of sedative affect! I'm not keen on her getting addicted, I'd rather she did something active.

I have normal TV in the background when she is playing with her toys sometimes but she's not watching it.

 

[sparky]

itng every day and she also watches the wrc, esp the crashes! she seems more interested in the fish tank - and shouting at the fish!

if we are stuck in tv is a godsend! babytv is ace but we dont have sky!

 

[Kimbo]

i put cbeebies on from waking up until it finishes. I hate having no background noise.
Leah doesn't always watch it, she's mostly playing or trying to run upstairs
but if a theme tune comes on like balamory or me too, and higgeldy house, she will stop and dance to it.
But when big cook little cook comes on, she is obsessed and will stand right in front of the tv (blocking my view of Big cook )

 

[lea m]

I don't think he needs to 'benefit' from it, not everything has to be educational. He's entertained by some programmes and that's enough for me. He's also capable of entertaining himself without the telly on so I have no problem with it being on a few hours a day.

The only thing I have a major problem with is the adverts aimed at little kids, I will only watch kids channels with adverts for particular programmes (Roary, Thomas and Peppa Pig but not every day) then back to cbeebies.

ITA with you! I dont see TV as something that has to be educational!
My kiddies dont watch tv all day, in fact they hardly watch anything (mainly because Im cruel and dont put the kids shows on ) but when they do its for entertainment only!
But there are some educational "bonus' " As someone has said, Dora and Diago have tought my little cousin some Spanish words etc!

When my older 3 were younger they would watch Balamory and the other Cbeebies programmes each morning!

Lola loves Quincy ME hahahaha

 

[valentine]

Just wondering how much TV do you let your LO watch? Curious really after reading Valentines thread about gender toys/tv programmes.

I was a little shocked at how many different TV shows some of the members said thier LO's watched.

I think I may be a bit strict when it comes to TV. I tape In the iIght Garden everyday then we can watch it when we want but we probably only watch it about 3 times a week at the most. Sometimes we dont watch it at all and sometimes we only have it on for say 10 minutes at a time 3 times a week and not the full half hour 3 times a week.

I dont have the TV on at all during the day, I prefer to listen to music and I generally put the TV on when we are feeding, but thats for me to watch not Maia.

Also do you think children under 2 years get any benefit from the TV? I personally dont think they do, maybe when they are more like heading towardas 3 years old I can see something like sesame street being educational, and maybe even beneficial to watch but before that age they really dont understand its just colourful, moving and rythmic sounding so how can they learn??? Anyone in the know about this, quite interested now in any facts around this.

Hi Charlie,

I think your opinion of the tv, may (may) be to do with the age your LO is. Until DD was about 14 months old, we watched very little children's tv, maybe like you ITNG a couple/three times a week and it was never something we did at a certain time of day or whatever.

Now she is older, she dances when she hears her favourite show and she is so so happy when she sees that Fifi or Peppa is on. She enjoys it, dances around, laughs at all the characters, learns new words and really enjoys them. She doesn't watch more than 30 mins or so a day (when she's with me anyway!) in 10-15 minute (one episode) bursts.

I think it does benefit her, she learns words, dances around and has fun. I certainly don't think its doing her any harm. I personally wouldn't have on children's tv all day everyday (it would drive me barmy for one thing) and then I couldn't watch my fix on 'Come Dine With Me' either!

Valentine Xxx

 

[uncle_bens]

We decided to throw out our TV whilst I was pregnant. Partly because I dont want to watch it anymore and more importantly I dont want cici used to it. Saying that we pick what we want to watch and download it BBCi Player, channel 4 player ETC. I'm not against kids watching kids programmes but when you have it on in the background theres all sorts of crap I wouldnt want her to see (Jeremy vile and hollyoaks especially! ).