When do they start being glued to the TV?

[FeelingLucky]

People keep saying that TV is overused as a form of babysitting, but my DD is 15 months now and has never watched much TV. Sometimes I put a Teletubbies DVD on for her; she watches it for a minute or so then goes off to do something else (like pull all the CDs off the shelf!!)

I remember a friend's DD at the age of 15 months was demanding to watch DVDs. Just wondering if my DD's behaviour is that unusual?

Suppose I'm just worried about her concentration span and also would like her to watch more DVDs as a way for her to hear a language other than English (we're a trilingual family).

[groovychick2]

My first son loved television but my twins have to be persuaded to watch it!! When it comes to a task their concentration is much better than his ever was/is now!!! It is hard on you because you dont get a break but I feel it is a good thing really. My twins love colouring, playdoh, bricks etc. so if you can engage her in something like that??My friend is German living in England and she managed to get some German books from the library for her children. HTH.

[Overmydeadbody]

They start to be glued to the tv when they are allowed to be.

It is not inevitable.

[fleacircus]

FWIW, the French have banned programming for under-3s and imported stations have to carry a warning. I wouldn't worry about her not watching it; in terms of her concentration span, how is she about games, looking at books, keeping herself occupied?

[FeelingLucky]

Thanks for replies. She's quite good at looking at books, so maybe it's not her concentration.

Deep down, I suppose I'm just a bit disappointed that she's beginning to say words in English now that she's at nursery ... just wish I could get her addicted to Teletubbies dubbed in French!

[Podrick]

My dd started watching at 2 years old
she loves it now

[SharkyandGeorge]

My two year old isn't that bothered by tv, she will sometimes vaguely watch it when on but by no means glued to it, we never have tv on during the day only maybe for 45 mins each morning for cartoons whilst she has her toast and gets dressed. But she never actually sits down and watches it.

The only thing she will sit and watch if in the mood is her sesame street DVD but she has to be very tired to actually sit on the sofa, otherwise she'll just pootle off when she gets bored.

[pudding25]

Oh dear, my 4mth old can't take her eyes off it...I also read in the 'Child of Our Time' book that toddlers/babies should play alongside baby tv programmes. Can't remember the reason but there was a good one!

I do think some tv is very educational for children.
My goddaughter was giving a detailed account of recycling methods to her mum who asked if she learnt that at school. Cbeebies was her reply

[cory]

Re her bilingualism, research has shown that children do not acquire a language actively by watching television anyway. Active pursuits (which seems to be what she prefers anyway) during which she has to speak French to somebody are the way forward. Being told off in French for pulling the DVDs off the wall is probably more supportive of her language than actually watching those DVDs.

We didn't even have a telly when dd was little and since we got one their TV watching has been minimal, but both my children are fluent bilinguals. You learn by doing.

If you want to encourage her French it is much better to read aloud to her in French and get her to talk about the book. See if you can find her a French friend to play with.

Also, don't see her English as something negative: any advance in language is ultimately good for all your language skills. My CM used to be amazed at how our children's English skills advanced during the summer holidays- 6 weeks when they did not speak a word of English. But they talked to lots of people, they were very active which meant their thinking was stimulated and that was good for their English too.

btw I can't concentrate on television for very long and I still managed to concentrate on other things long enough to finish my PhD thesis. Perhaps she just finds Teletubbies boring. Not blaming her...

Not saying that TV is not educational, but I think more for learning information or supporting language skills that are already being used in another context.

[ssd]

they start being glued to the tv when you can't think of anything else to do with them

its not a natural progression

[Bramshott]

If I put a DVD on for my two, my 18 month old doesn't watch it for long, but my 5 year old on the other hand is glued to it! I'd say that they begin being able to watch a whole film at about 3?

[FeelingLucky]

Thanks for the insight Cory, very reassuring and I know you're right, so will try not to over-worry.
It's actually DH who speaks to her in French - I speak to her in Chinese and she has picked up some words without us plonking her in front of Chinese DVD. Problem is DH is only around in mornings and weekends ... which is why we were hoping that a DVD might help ... or not, at the moment.

Ho hum ... I suppose I should learn some patience ...

[LunaFairy]

My ds is nearly 3 has learnt his entire alphabet from a tv programme called SuperWhy. We have sat down and gone through letters and have lots of books etc but since he started watching that programme he has learnt loads. He has only started to concentrate on tv recently as he now understands the programmes a bit more.