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ADVICE RATING

3.73 (May work) from 16 votes (198 Visits)

Turn the TV on, or off?

(October 2006) (rank 1st)

Today's first time parenting tip - Should you leave the TV on, or off around your baby.

Depending on your parenting style, you might have certain feelings about your baby and the TV. I know people who refuse to let their baby watch a second of TV, going as

far to shield their eyes from one if they happen to see it. Others watch TV all day with their baby propped in their lap.

So which is more right? Both are extremes, and I think they both have their drawbacks. Let's say you never let your child watch TV. Sure, they don't get exposed to bad programming, but it gives the TV an aura that it's more important than it actually is. I know a friend who had no television all the way up until college, and now whenever we go out to a restaurant or bar with one, its impossible to talk to him because he's so fascinated by it.

If you expose your baby to nothing else but the TV, they don't learn creativity, chances are they won't be active, and they don't get any exposure to real human interaction.

I fall closer to the "TV all the time" philosophy than the other one. Ours is on often as background noise. A baseball game or an old movie might be on while we play on the floor or do other things. At first, my son was enthralled, but as he got used to it and we kept offering other things to do, he ignores it now. Unless there's a fun kids program or something. And even then only for a few seconds.

We also turn it off when we're eating and reading. Sometimes I feel like the TV is on too much for him, but other times I'm glad he's sort of learning to ignore it. What does everyone else think?

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ADVICE RATING

3.73 (May work) from 16 votes

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	December 2006 \| pagan-mum-of-three

TV or not TV

One of our family rules is - No TV on during dinner time.

Other than that, we don't really have a problem with TV. I don't mind my kids watching the educational programs. We have pay TV, & I have found my kids have learnt a lot from watching their favourite shows. But I can't stand that 'Boo Bah' crap.... what is the point of THAT waste of time????

Reply

	November 2006 \| Chrysalis

The Tv isnt usually much as an issue here

Its the COMPUTER that has to have firm rules ;-) (maybe mum should abide by them.......)

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	October 2006 \| LaRenae

Background Noise

Our tellie is on most of times and it is funny what my one year old boy really pays attention to : pretty women, fast cars, the weather report and Jon Stewart (host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central) .... Most everything else he ignores ... He also likes when the lottery balls are being drawn for the day ... certain commercials with catchy jingles .... I would love for him to enjoy educational shows such as Sesame Street but he never seems to pay attention to children's programming ... We got for his birthday a "Baby Einstein" educational DVD and when I played it he did not look at it once ... I tried to get him interested, but did not happen ... I am afraid my one year old is an "old man" in disguise ... hahaha ... The news and weather reports entertain him the most ! My husband has a concern that our boy "watches too much TV" , but I know our little guy is very selective ... At one year old, I am not sure what to think of how much TV my boy "watches" ..... Great Topic !

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	3.00 (Average) \| October 2006 \| angelmum

Moderation

I grew up with no tv for religious reasons so as an adult I'm obsessed with it, I think everything in moderation is a good thing. As long as what your kids are watching is monitered by you then I don't see what is wrong with it, my kids love watching animal planet they can tell you just about anything you need to know about all sorts of animals!

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	4.00 (Good) \| October 2006 \| tinker79

T.V. on or off

Our t.v. is on for mostly background noise. I do turn it off while we are eating our meals. Braden really doesn't care except to get up and hit it. Alex has his favorite shows that he likes to watch. But they are all the good ones. Brooke like her t.v. time in the morning and she does like watching her shows too.

T.V in moderation in my household.

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	October 2006 \| exquisite-flower

T.V. on or off

I tend to like the background noise, so be it TV or music there is usually something going on that we are likely as not paying no attention to. There are certain programmes that i will turn on for her to watch, and certain ones for me also. The rest of the time when we are home there will be background noise of some sort unless we are both exhausted and everything gets turned off so we can have a 'rest time'.

Tomorrow we go to Mum and Dad's place. The rules there are different, TV goes on when they say it is ok. And depending on what the plan is for the rest of the day depends on what the answer turns out to be. We generally have a family time around tea time. While tea is being made and then until bedtime. And at some point the telly will go on and we will watch a DVD if there is nothing on that we like.

I love the stimulation of the background noise. The impromptu dances we do and learning things that are inspired by hearing something that maybe we would miss or would seem contrived if we didnt have that.
Peace
EF.x

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	4.00 (Good) \| October 2006 \| dolphins30

I do the same

I turn the tv off while we are eating brekkie lunch and dinner. I let her watch so much tv a day, and she goes to kindy 4 mornings a week and we also do activities while we are at home too, so she's not really addicted to the tv.

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	October 2006 \| mrmia

I too am a turn it off person

I have a couple of friends who didn't expose their children to TV and they are one of the smartest children I know. They're extremely creative, love to read and their grades are Straight A's. And I also have nephews who have been exposed to TV whenever they get a chance and their eyes are completely glued - you can't even have a conversation with them. I like some instructional TV - I, myself, learned English through watching Sesame Street and 3-2-1 Contact and believe that's the way to go, or even watching sports and some nature channels. I just believe anything in moderation is good, but I prefer to interact and watch my child play. I may suffer from a messy house but it's worth it for me to watch my child grow.

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	October 2006 \| Bethdyl

TV is not a bad thing

My children watch tv in the morning, the kids shows and when they get home from school. But not all the time, it is probably half and half with the radio. My kids love music and dance around and sing all the time. Even when the tv is on alot of the time it's like background noise only, they don't sit there glued to it all the time, they play and stop for five minutes every now and again and watch it. They also love to watch shows like planet earth and animal documentaries. I think tv can be very educational given they watch the right programs.

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	October 2006 \| mommyofWHA

television for kiddies

My kids watch tv in the morning for about an hr or so, usually when I am doing some cleaning that I dont want them to be involved in ( washing floors ) .. but it is only children appropriate shows .. for example sesame street .. etc ( I grew up watching sesame street and love watching it with the girls!) .. Other then that we listen to music as well .. we have a digital cable system so it picks up alot of digital music stations and the one we usually have on is treehouse ..which is all kids music songs, so we sing and dance. I am not against tv watching, I mean lets face it, we have all let our kids vegetate in front of it, but as long as it isnt excessive and we monitor what they are watching then I see no harm in it.

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	October 2006 \| Jessgore

I play music...

My son watches actually television when he is up at 2am ill. And then it is only the channel three house.. I don't have a for or against on telly other then my against is that my 10 year old step daughter is often glued to it... Our telly is rather fragile and has statues on top of it so our son is not really allowed in the telly room anyway. I prefer to play music.

But we will watch the odd DVD down stairs in the baby safe play room when I am soooo tired, I'll pop on a DVD and let him watch it. Even then he usually watches 10 minutes then raids his toy box.... (while I take a cat nap on the sofa).

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	4.00 (Good) \| October 2006 \| jenlemen

research shows

kids under two do not need exposure to tv and that their stimulation should come from interactions with adults, right?
there's plenty of time for moderated tv use later in childhood. i guess i fall into the turn it off category.

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	October 2006 \| Prinea

I agree!

The evidence is very clear and convincing, IMO.

There is not one thing on any kids' show or movie or any other tv program for that matter that cannot be learned just as well through interaction with an adult and through that they not only learn but grow in so many other ways as well.

My oldest daughter didn't watch any TV until she was almost three and only in very limited amounts after that. My younger daughter will be 2 in Dec. and she still has not watched television and I have no plans for her to start anytime soon. I definately am in the turn-it-off corner of this one.

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	3.00 (Average) \| October 2006 \| allyp

I dont mind tv being on

My tv is on nearly all day.. Wether I am watching it or not.. My daughter don't even really notice it unless she glances up at it and see's something she likes. Or she hears something on it and looks up.. After that, she just goes back to doing what she was doing(like playing with her toys or rolling around) lol!! I dont think theres a problem with the tv being on. I was grown up with tv on all the time, I turned out fine.. so did my husband..

But I do spend lots of time with her, reading to her, playing with her and teaching her new things.

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