Is it ok to let babies 0mths to 4 yrs watch 2 - 4 hrs of TV a day?

Question

If your answer is YES please answer :


Should the time be spread out or could it be a straight 2 - 4 hrs, or does it matter.

Please start your answer with YES you agree or NO you dont agree then please support your answer

Thanks

Answer 1

No

Kids need active play and interaction with people to develop social skills, dexterity, imagination, etc. While there are some great shows on TV, even the most educational still are passive entertainment (yes, climbing the rope with Dora is still pretty passive). We have greatly benefitted by letting our 2 1/2 old watch some TV--she has learned some Spanish from Dora, she gets shapes and colors, counting plus music and good life lessons. BUT I try to limit her time in front of the tube to about 3 shows a day or less (1 1/2 hours broken up throughout the day) because, as educational as it is, I think life is more educational. So, we go to the library, the park, art class, play with friends, play blocks in the living room together, listen to music, garden, read, go to the store. And during these activities we count, see shapes, etc. And we run, jump, dance, spin and do all sorts of crazy things that don't happen in front of the TV.

With our 10 month old, she is in the room occasionally when the TV is on, but she has no interest. With the older one, we didn't even turn on kids shows until she was 18 months but it's a little hard to avoid with the two kids. I have never turned on the TV for the younger one. She doesn't care about it and she has her whole life to learn. :)

That being said, I think TV is a tool just like any other entertainment. I use it to take a shower in peace while the younger one is napping. I use it to transition into nap time. I watch a show with our toddler and we talk about what we learned. We don't watch shows with commercials and we try to limit eating in front of it. And there have been days when I've gotten no sleep or am sick or have a important task to accomplish that I am SO glad we have the option to turn it on for her.

Answer 2

I am a kindergarten teacher and I truly believe that a little TV, not a lot, is good for toddlers. Be sure it something like Sesame Street, Baby Songs or Baby Einstein and let her watch for a half an hour at a time. She needs to develop her ability to sit still and focus on something/someone for that amount of time. After that, of course, it is very important that she be actively playing. Don't keep her indoors; let her experience the outside world. In another couple of months, when she is walking she should have the opportunity to walk a block or so outside on a sidewalk or in the park too. And soon, she will need to play and interact with other children. But TV is not bad, in fact it is good in small doses a couple times a day.

Answer 3

No.

I say that because the length of time is too broad for the age limit. I let my son watch educational TV. When he was a baby he only watched the Baby Einstein videos. They are great and they don't have all the quick movements and flashes of light that could lead too development problems. He's 2 now and watches the Little Einstein videos that are only 30 minutes long. He watches 3-4 of them a day but in increments. Not all at once. The educational experience is great and I'm not opposed to watching TV. He knows his ABC's, 123's, shapes, colors, and is even sight reading. He's 2 1/2 and amazes me with how much he likes to read now.

Answer 4

NO
Babies 0 mths to 1 yrs should watch 0 hrs of TV a day.
Babies 1 yrs to 2 yrs should watch no more 1/2 hrs of TV a day.
Babies 2 yrs to 4 yrs should watch no more than 1 hrs of TV a day.
Also, I would like to stipulate that the TV watched should be age appropriate and preferablly educational in some way. As for why, well that is obvious. It is bad for your health (eye strain, increased risk of obesity) to spend prolonged periods in front of the TV. This is true whether you are a baby or an adult. Also, there are many other things that babies that age need to be doing in order to prepare them for the world and hopefully make them smarter. They need to be interacting with other children, they need to be being read to, they need to be just plain playing. None of these things will happen in front of the TV.

Answer 5

Yes And No.
I think that it is Ok for kids that age to watch some tv. 4 hrs is excessive. I turn the tv. off after about 3 shows in the morning. Then I make my kids go play for a while. In the afternoon I will let them pick one half hour show to watch while I make lunch and they eat. then it is back to playing. I only let them watch shows on Playhouse Disney, Nick JR, and Noggin. They love all the shows and Most of them are tolerable for me too.
My Daughter is turning 4 and we are having an all out Dora Birthday party for her.
My Son likes Jo Jo's Circus and Blues Clues.
There has to be a balance for the tv time. and it definatly has to be spaced out. Sitting in front of the tv for 4 hours straight isn't healthy for anyone.

Answer 6

No for the 4 yr old,you can find something for her to do-take three of those four hours and teach her the ABC'S OR THE 123'S. Yes the 0 month old will be a sleep-the sound of the TV will make her think that someone is talking to her-and she don't know a thing about TV anyway.

Answer 7

Yes I believe it is OK

My support to this answer is for educational TV. My son watches Sesame Street only, and he can almost sing all the ABC's already. I think it should be spread out over the day though, because they get used to it quickly, and don't want to do anything else.

I also think 2 - 2 1/2 hrs is the limit for children

Answer 8

No - At such a young age, children need to be interacting with adults and other kids in order to develop correctly. Parking a baby in front of the TV can retard his language and social development. Babies don't learn to speak just from hearing language, they need to interact with you as well. Children cannot effectively learn social skills just by watching them on a show, they need chances to practice these skills and see them modelled by an adult they love and respect. It's much better for a young child to go to playgroup and try to make friends (sometimes successfully and sometimes not so much) than to watch someone else do it on TV. The child needs to practice these important developmental skills in a safe environment where it is ok to make mistakes sometimes without serious repercussions. TV doesn't allow a child any interaction at all, just passive absorption. I know it's hard to find activities for your child every minute of the day, but if TV can be avoided it should.

Answer 9

Yes
I believe in brainwashing babies with sesame street. LOL. Let them watch something educational in the morning while you get some chores done. Another good quality tv show in the afternoon won't turn them into lazy morons. It is all in the balance - everything in moderation.
I don't like little kids to see the news, kids need to be taught the difference between pretend and real shows. The news is too harsh for most little minds.

Answer 10

ok a 0 month old would not watch tv that long for one they are not awake that long and would be very bored of the blurry images coming across the screen. I let my kids watch stuff like telie tubbies when that came out and they liked that. Most kids do not tune into tv until they are like 3. before that they want to play with toys.
The tv can be great when you are trying to get supper ready or need a bath