Do you think there is anything wrong with not limiting TV?

Question

I know people limit childrens tv time, but I think it has as many positives to it as negatives. Let me start by saying my mom let me watch tv without limitations when I was little and she said that I learned a lot more from watching educational shows. I myself let my 2 yr. old watch as much as he wants to, because he is learning alot. He watches mostly educational shows. He knows his colors, shapes, animals, and the sounds they make. And now he can identify some of his letters and numbers. I'm not saying I let the tv be a babysitter. Most of the time he is playing rather than watching. I still read to him and play with him, and he loves to go outside, and he has a great imagination. I don't feel like it has anything to do with attention span either since I done well in school as does my 13 yr. old daughter. Is there really anything wrong with not limiting tv, as long as it isn't inappropriate for the age? Do these people not have any housework or anything?

Answer 1

I agree! i let my 21 mos old girl watches her favorite TV shows without limiting her. she learns a lot from watching some educational shows. she knows all the alphabets, she sings and dances a Little and speaks a lot of words. sometimes, i watch the show together with her and tell her what it's all about (like telling her the story from the TV).

I love her and i do always read for her and play with her. however sometimes, when I'm too busy, I'll let her watch TV instead. she's not addicted to the TV. she plays and learns things with 100% focus and attention! so far, i don't find watching TV affects her learning in any way.



I totally agree with you, sweet.pjs1!

Answer 2

I think that part of limiting TV should be limiting what is watched. Cartoon Network, for example, has very few shows I would consider educational. Nick Jr, on the other hand, has a LOT of good preschool level shows on it, which are educational.



My kids watch TV as long as the chores are done, and the homework is done, etc. I prefer they not sit in front of a TV all the time, because even though the mind needs exerscize, so does the body and sitting in front of a TV for 5 hours isn't good for the body.



We watch a lot of Nick Jr, Noggin, and channels such as the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, etc, as well. Those are great learning channels, even for adults.



About the only thing I would say is to limit anything innappropriate. A tv can be used as a learning tool, but that shouldn't replace things like reading to your child, or taking your child to things that are outside the home- parks, musuems, the beach, etc.



Your children sound like they are doing great for their age, just don't forget that there are other things out there where a child should experiance it first hand to learn it best.

Answer 3

I really think it depends on the child and the age of the child. Our son is 11 and high functioning autistic. If we allow him to watch television, he's not really paying attention to what's on but checks himself out of reality. For him, allowing him to read or making him stay active is a much better alternative as we're able to keep him tethered to Earth and it basically forces him to focus his attention.



Our daughter is 6 and she's fine with television. She also plays more than really watches whatever's on. I do limit the types of programs she views, however, as I have a really hard time with several of the cartoons that are on these days. I still prefer that she read, color or do some other activity.



I'm not sure yet how I'll be with my 2 month old son. Probably allow some programs within reason.



Probably a lot of my attitude towards television comes from the fact that I grew up without one (I'm 33). I still don't care for it and would much prefer to play a game, read, take a walk or do anything other than veg in front of the television.

Answer 4

I think this varies with each child. If your child shows interest in other things besides the tv there is no problem with it. You just need to keep an eye out for signs of dependence on the tv. If your son starts sitting in front of the tv just staring at it and not paying any attention to anything around him then that would be a problem, but if like you say, your son is interested in other things, I don't see what the big deal is.

At my house, we have education shows on from 9am - 12pm. Then we got outside or just play with no tv. Most of the time during the three hours, my 1 year old could care less.

Now my 4 yr old, we have a problem with. She will sit in front of the tv and not do anything else all day long. That's all she wants to do. We have to limit her.

Like I said I think it all depends on each kid.

Answer 5

I think if you monitor what children are watching there shouldn't be a so called "time limit". As your child grows make adjustments as you deem appropriate. A two year old can pick up a lot of educational values from the TV shows that are available. Make sure to reinforce what they are learning, i.e. colors, number etc...

Answer 6

I don't have a problem with educational shows. BUT I do have a problem with my kids learning everything from television.I like to show them that learning is fun, and having some hands-on activity to do seems to make it more fun for them. And sometimes, what could seem age-appropriate isn't. Yes, I do have housework and other things to do, I find that comment to be a little insulting. I was 100% understanding of what you were saying up to that point. Paying attention to what your kid is watching isn't so difficult. With my older son, I programmed his television so he can only access certain channels. And my youngest son isn't at the age to be interested in really watching anything, he likes to listen to Classical music, and his Classical Baby DVDs.



Don't draw the conclusion that those of us who monitor what they watch are some kind of TV Nazis. Yes, some people go overboard, but not all of us.

Answer 7

I limit my kids to about3 hours. Now when I am sick, they or sick, or swamped with school I allow them to watch more which I regret. They do learn but after so long they it has a numbing effect and they are not taking in what you think and many kids are addicted. I read up on this before we decided to limit my son who was two at the time. We realized he constantly had to have the tv on and when we turned it off he would cry. What I do is start them on drawing, play-doh, lots of arts n crafts stuff or tell them no tv its play time. Use your imagianation! They love to paint but that requires supervision! I also use flash card to teach him more stuff. My son by 3 knew lots of stuff-colors, number, letters,shapes, and I do beleieve educational shows help but they need one on one interaction with parents. Once you get into the habit of limiting tv its easy and becomes routine. At first I was like OMG what do I do with this kid and I was like this is insane their is more to childhood than tv. Its obviously your choice but this is my view.

Answer 8

I leave my TV on Disney Channel all day because they don't have news showing violent scenes from the war, or other negative images. My son does not just sit in front of the TV though. He plays with his toys, and helps me in the kitchen, or plays outside. We have a new deck with a railing and a gate so he can go out and get fresh air and play while I am cleaning and I don't have to worry about him getting out.

Answer 9

Some of these people make me laugh. We're staying at home RAISING our kids and they sit there and judge us. Unbelievable. What do you think kids do at daycare? Discuss the world events? Anyway, I see nothing wrong with letting your kids watch TV. My daughters have a schedule, in the morning we watch TV (while I clean up the house, do laundry, etc) and then we go out in the afternoon or do some type of activity. There is nothing wrong with that.



PS Good for you for staying at home with your kids.

Answer 10

I let my daughter(2 yrs) watch 1 hour in the morning, PBS. Sometimes later, a movie like finding nemo, she cant get enough of it. I thinks it wrong to have the t.v on all day. how do they exercise body and mind? my daughter loves to color, and play with her dolls, teletubbies. I read to her and we dance and play ,i put the nursery music on after t.v. good luck! yes you should limit t.v. my husband and i will watch our shows in the evening, but she's never interested, only comercials with animals or toys. she always colors and plays in her room.

Answer 11

I let my kids watch as much as they wanted but I screened everything they watched. Children are very vulnerable to images and I didn't want them to see or hear anything that they were to young to understand. I figured they would learn about life situations when they were ready with their peers.

Answer 12

I don't see anything wrong with it if you are monitoring what he watches and it's educational shows. My kids watch quite a bit of Noggin, and they learn alot from it, along with me helping them along.

Answer 13

its not anything wrong eith not limiting tv but remember that tv is a mind drug. your child doesn't have to really stretch his mind because the tv does it for him. its like always telling you child all the anwsers. Soon he will learn them all but it won't help him learn to think for himself. Let your child watch tv but then sit him down and let him do some type of mind work just to get him thinking for himself...

Answer 14

I give mine 15 hrs a day, it makes them smart

Answer 15

So you plop your child down in front of an electronic nanny so that you don't have to interact with him huh? Why did you have him in the first place?