what are your views on tellytubbies for my 12 month old ?

[Deecee]

I vowed I would never do it, and last week I gave in and after hiring countless videos, that my daughter took no notice of, I bought a tubby video!Standing in the que in Woolworths I found myself justifying my actions "because she loves animals" and this video was about animals too! I only use it for 20-30 mins a day Mon.-fri. if hubby isn't home ( he usually isn't) for that awfull half an hour, when your'e tidying up the mess from her tea, trying to prepare our meal, and all she wants is my undivided attention, or to crawl through the mess on the floor as I'm cleaning it up! Am I taking the easy way out? Is it really going to affect her speech development?I would love to hear from any mums with slightly older kids who have grown up with tellytubbies!
Also any other videos that might keep her busy for that short time? It's the only t.v. she watches I'm just a bit worried about the affect it might have on her speech, as it appears to be so controvertial.

jac - you're right - i meant playDAYS - still, playschool was lovely too. and no kipper ties.

tellytubbies was never meant as a replacement for playdays - being aimed at a different age group - but it went in the same slot which is why i got so cross.

caznay - i'd forgotten auntie mabel!!! sam and i used to love watching that, i had a tape full of it. it's in the pre-school/early years slot on bbc education, isn't it? storytime, words and pictures and numbertime are also brilliant for 3 and 4 year olds - i don't know the schedules any more but i know they're on before or after tellytubbies - 9.30 or something?

my "scary things" anecdote - my elder son, now 12, had a button moon vid (now THAT was good, but weird!!!) and "in a persian market" included a camel that spat; when it was coming up he used to leave the room. he was quite dignified about it, but definite!

debsb - southall??? i'm from west drayton!!! what school did he go to?

How many of your little ones like Rolie Polie Olie. This show is on at 7.30am every weekday morning on Channel Five and I think it is lovely. My little 19 month old enjoys it too!

Midge, snap about the balloon. Our 22 month old son loves it too. Needless to say, the BBC apparently plan to discontinue it. Possibly getting higher viewing figures than Panorama these days?
Can I just recommend to all connoisseurs of vintage children's TV the Smallfilms website Clangers etc where you will find Ivor, Bagpuss, of course the Clangers but also Noggin the Nog and the Pogles...

Bugsy, yep we like Rolie Polie wotsit, I never get the name right, which amuses my son! There is also another Channel 5 one, think its come back - the little girl with the imaginary friends/monsters, even my husband thinks thats quite nice when he's on breakfast duty!!

Yes Bugsy, rolie polie olie is favourite here too, it's on Playhouse Disney too, flippin awful channel but your guaranteed of getting something they like whatever time of day.

Janh, I remember button moon, but I'm not that young!! I think I must have watched baby tv well into my teens!

Marina, you're getting flashy with all those links! Well done. I must try, also how about those smiles how are they done SUEW or anyone?

Tee hee Star. I was so hungry during my pregnancy I think I ate Mary and Mungo along with a mountain of hot buttered toast and all the pies.

No BBC balloon? Disaster. Perhaps I should tape some before it goes.....

Did anybody else notice that their children learned colours by calling them by the corresponding teletubby b4 their real names? For my second child, anything yellow was "La La" etc. Also, although she's 4 now and doesn't usually watch teletubbies, she caught a little of it last week and was STILL terrified of the lion and bear.
I find the tweenies terrifying because the two girl tweenies are JUST LIKE my six year old and her friend! However I think the one with the mohican is adorable!

Well at the end of day Deecee, i really don't think that 20-30 mins of kiddies tv is going to make any difference to your child's development, it's the parents who put their children in front of the tv constantly who should be ashamed! Try and turn it into a more positive situation, my toddler (19 months) and i on alternative mornings and afternoons watch a couple of childrens programmes, then we go out for walks everyday on reins.
I think as long as there's a good balance of other activities, there shouldn't be any harm done.

i let my 2 year old watch it everyday