how much television should a two year old watch?

Question

only watches einstien, teletubbies, finding nemo movie.Educational videos.

please only parents answer this question, the first two answers i just recieved must have poop in ther diapers.

I do play with my child, read, color, paint and talk with her. she has a swing set out side and is very active. she knows about 12 baby sign launguage.
I just wanted an idea of how much is safe and what was too much in your opinions. thanks

Answer 1

Except for the occasional Disney or educational DVD, none!

Answer 2

My son was obsessed with Blue's Clues and would have watched the videos all day if I'd let him--and it started right around his 2nd birthday. He had no interest in TV before that.

The answer is, really, whatever you feel comfortable with. If you want to let him watch half an hour while you take a shower, that's fine. If he demands Joe all day long, is it really worth a huge battle over that extra hour of TV after lunch time? Maybe not.

But make sure that you're not trying to make your kid watch TV when he doesn't want to--often kids that age are just as happy doing something else, and if you don't mention it, they'll forget entirely. Be guided mostly by what your child wants, not a timer.

Don't be too pulled in by the promise of "educational" videos, either. Nothing is as educational as playing in the sandbox and going to the library.

Answer 3

There are some very good children's shows these days that really do a good job at teaching. My daughter is five now but she has learned basic spanish thanks to Dora, she loves music thanks to the little Einsteins and the doodle bops, She loves books thanks to Reading Rainbow, and this last summer she has begun to enjoy reading on her own due to between the lions. We let her watch a lot of tv i'll admit, We live where it is very hot during the day so she can't go out to play for long periods of time without getting overheated so she comes in to watch as she cools off. I don't think there is any harm in letting them watch so long as you are making sure they aren't parked in front of the tv non-stop. My daughter walks two miles with me at night so she is still getting physical activity. She reads for an hour a day. She partakes in imaginary play and she draws. Be the judge and ignore the experts. Do what you think is best, some kids, need less, some kids might want more. Don't just turn a station on and let it run, be selective and make sure the shows have something of value, education, or substance. If they are watching they may as well be learning!

Answer 4

No more than half an hour. Mine watch an hour a day, but they are older, 5 and 3. For my kids "movie time" is very regimented. They've become so used to the routine that they do not beg for more, and they know when to expect it, so they do not ask for it at other times. In fact, they tell me to turn off the tv once the show is done. Also, we always watch our shows on DVD so we don't have as many commercials.

Unfortunately, many programs that are good (like Sesame Street, Barney, and such) are longer than half an hour. Blues Clues and Dora can be nice then because they are only 30 minutes.

You can work up to an hour as your child gets older, but I plan on keeping my kids at an hour a day.

Answer 5

I think the American Pediatric Association strongly recommends only a half hour a day (and not to exceed 1 hour). i have also read that young children should watch live characters (like the Teletubbies or puppets on Sesame St) since animation has too many flashes and cut scenes which can interfere with the brain development of a young child. Scary, isn't it?

Answer 6

i would maybe do an hour or maybe just a half and hour of educational tv because they have activities you guys can do together even for a two year old like jumping and things and my kids love doing those things during the show and after and its a good way to spend time with your kids too. i would do things without the tv too so they can use there own imagination also. longs you have you and the child time without the tv and its longer then the tv time then i dont see now harm in it. i used it so i could clean the house and i used it for together time too like dorah the explore i used that show to help him speak spanish and i would ask him do see what dorah sees things like that and disney play time on the internet they have some good projects to do with your child too.
i hope this helps you.

Answer 7

If he's watching shows like that then I would let him/her watch more than usual. My son has learned so much from those baby Einstien videos and other educational childrens shows. It's like he teaches himself. They have a new channel out now for kids up to 3yrs old. Obviously you want him/her to be active for at least part of the day so maybe get him/her to dance along with the shows or act along with them.

Answer 8

My daughter just turned 2 in June. I have basically had the tv on since she was born. She colors, she knows her ABC's and her numbers front to back (and she doesn't just recite them, but if you point to a specific number or letter she'll tell you what it is), she puts together 25 piece jigsaw puzzles in about 5 minutes, when we go for walks and she sees a car like we have, she'll point it out to us - "Daddy's car!" She doesn't sit in front of the tv day and night, if a show comes on that she likes (Dora, Thomas, Toopy and Binoo) she'll watch it. When it's over, she'll say "over" and go back to what she was doing before the show came on. Don't let anyone tell you that too much tv causes any kinds of problems with their mental development. But on the other hand, I do only let her watch shows that I approve of. If I find anything frivolous, stupid, non-educational about the show, it gets changed. She doesn't watch any cartoons meant for older kids - like Bratz, etc. She's allowed to watch shows that she can get something out of - be it a moral lesson, or just going through the ABC's. By the way, she learned her ABC's from me, not from tv.

Answer 9

Me being a mother myself I think that no more than 30 minutes a day should a 2 year old watch television. I can understand if you have something to do it would be o.k. for just a couple more minutes but no more than 1 hour but if you do have to clean or some put him/her in a play pen with little toys for them to play with to keep them busy while you are busy with chores etc.

Answer 10

None, don't let the TV be a babysitter.

You should be the one teaching your children things, not the TV.

You should be sitting with them and reading, counting, naming colors and items. That's what being a parent is all about, teaching and raising your children to be intelligent productive adults when they grow up.

Throw away the TV.

Answer 11

not more than 3 hours at a time. Dont let the TV raise ur child. start turnin off the TV an start teaching him/her abc's 123's colors and playwith ur child take em outside, color, go to the park and the zoo.