to wonder what's so bad about tv?

[CailinDana]

I've been on MN for a while and every so often I see posts mentioning tv as though it's poison. I'm just wondering why people have that view of it. I used to be a developmental research psychologist and never came across any evidence that it does children any harm in moderate doses. Of course, if a child is sitting in front of the tv for hours on end it's going to affect their fitness and their social skills, but if a child is only watching an hour or so a day, where's the harm in that?

Obviously I am aware that allowing children to watch programmes that aren't suitable for their age can be damaging. On the other hand I think that some programmes can be beneficial - a few posters have mentioned their children learning makaton from Something Special and some spanish from Dora the Explorer. That's a good thing surely? Just wondering what others' views are on it.

Did you ever think that these parents actually want the best for their child instead of wanting to make others feel bad? And it doesn't have to be seen as all or nothing. TV doesn't necessarily have to be avoided ot excluded- you can treat it like it doesn't exist, like some kids don't go horse riding or don't have a CD player- it doesn't have to have such an enormous degree of importance.

Doing well in school these days doesn't mean much these days! Sorry, had to say...

quirrelquarrel - watching tv doesn't necessarily equal not doing well at school. As I said dd had loads of tv as a baby/toddler and was able to read aged 2. Now she's nursery age and has been moved up a year into reception and is on the g&t register so I think she's doing ok

quirrelquarrel

I think you need to get off that high horse really

You are not a better parent because your children don't watch TV ,even if you think you are

And I have to laugh at leaving a 2 yr old alone to fingerpaint the walls while you do housework.

This thread has reminded me of one on Netmums a while ago where a mum invited another mum and their toddler round for a playdate with her child. The other mum apparently came in, saw all the childs brightly coloured plastic toys and went to her car and got a sheet to cover them because it would be 'too stimulating' for her pfb!

My point was that doing well in school doesn't necessarily prove a high level of intellectual maturity these days- G&T is a perfect example- it was not that you can't do well at school if you watch TV. I'm not sure where in my original posts you got that from.

So you think kids are more 'intellectually mature' if they don't do well at school?

:o
Not worth it...but feel a bit sorry for you that you think it's impossible to get some time away from a two year old without their having to get into a scrape or watch TV.

I let DS watch it, in moderation. If it's on all the time it visibly distracts him from other things he's doing. I have watched him when playing and he'll easilly get distracted from what he's playing with to see what's on the tele. So, I came to my own conclusion that it can't help his concentration much.

So now, he gets some tv time whenever we have a free moment or winding down from the day (not every day!) but whenever we're doing something else or when he's playing with other toys it doesn't go on at all.

He certainly doesn't have any development issues from the tv he's watched - he's 2.2 and easily meets all 3 year milestones, as well as some 4.

I have nieces and nephews who have watched loads of tv during their preschool years and all are around average in terms of development with one being well ahead. My younger brother who is 12 has some developmental delay which I think is due to extreme use of gaming systems as he's grown up!

As I said we don't really watch much tv nowdays. Suits me fine cos I don't do much housework either.