TV

[Stefka]

I was wondering if anyone had any info on TV and its impact on children. My DS is six months old and so far I have tried to keep it off as much as possible. There have been times it's been on when I have been BF him and I have stuck it on a couple of times on days when I was desperate to just eat some lunch. My aunt keeps trying to get him to watch telly tubbies and I don't feel too keen on this.

Is it really bad for them? How much can they watch safely if so?

I don't know the answer to this question but would be interested to hear about some of the research. My 3y old watched virtually none until around 2 and then was very gradually introduced. even now he only watches DVD episodes of childrens tv programs like Bob the Builder, Postman Pat etc. But now I have a 7m old as well, of course, he is watching all of this as well at a much younger age. Also, the maternity leave boredom is kicking in and the odd bit of Countdown, Wright Show etc is kicking in. I try never to put the news on in front of them or anything shouty like Jeremy Kyle crap (occasional guilty pleasure for me when they are sleeping).

My git instinct and from experience with dc1 is that it is ok in moderation as long as they are not just parked in front of it passively for hours at at a time. i.e I try to sometimes get involved in the story or ask him about it or say what do you think of that etc. And I don't let them just sit in front of one channel like CBeebies for multiple programs - we tend to do one program/episode at a time. It is getting harder as ds1 gets older though and obvioulsy the younger ones will get far more far earlier.

The other thing I do it try not to turn it on until after 4pm when he has done some playing, been outside etc. This lapses a bit at weekends, ilness etc but works well otherwise as they just accept it if you introduce it early. Also have TV free days when he is at nursery etc.

gut instinct1

gut instinct! ffs!!!

DS watches a fair bit of Cbeebies and if anything it seems to do him good (all the songs and rhyming and repetition) but we also go to playgroups and out to the park every day etc. But I think I'm going to be following in my own parents' footsteps and keep all non-BBC channels to an absolute minimum until he's old enough to understand what 'advertising' actually is.

that is a very good point - I've started to notice that they are totally transfixed and mesmerised in an unpleasant way if they catch the odd advert - 3y old thinks it is a real story and gets upset if something odd happens in the advert. I think you are right, as long as they have balance in their lives some TV is probably nothing to worry about. I do think having it on all the time in the background maybe does have an impact though.

Apparently TV damages brain function and development in under 3s when their brain is still 'plastic' (!) read a book by Dr Aric Sigman who has done research into this called remotely controlled. whether you believe what his research says or not there is no benefit to under 3s watching TV, so DD doesn't watch it. moderate TV for over 3s is ok, think that was classed as 20 mins max a day - but as madamez has said not stuff with adverts in

TV is on a fair bit in my house, but that's because it's the only way we can access digital radio. So although the damned machine is on, it has naught but a blue screen there to 'watch' for the most part.

I watch the news a fair bit, and my five year old is something of a political current affairs hound, and is obsessed with spotting politicians. Odd child!

As others have said, moderation is the key. You could do what I did for my daughter when she was small. Make a CD up of all the lovely catchy songs, or buy them if you can find them. At a young age they can be conned quite easily in that way

I couldn't have survived the toddler years without Tots TV, Tellytubbies and The Singing Kettle. I preferred videos to CBBC, etc as I soon learned the songs, etc and could sing along with the kids.

They were never too bothered with the TV until recently when DD discovered Hollyoaks and DS The Simpsons... Enough said.

The problem is how do you wean a child of Fifi or peppa pig?

small amounts can't do too much harm but I draw the line at 'in the night garden' for my own sanity!