My son watches so much TV?

Question

Of course it is only Noggin and Wiggles tapes I have.
We are having our home worked on and so we live with my Dad in an apartment and so he would get so bored and never let me take care of our newborn if I kept the TV off.
I also spend some time here and there playing with him with play doh and coloring but other times he just wtches TV and plays with the few toys he has here. Is this bad? Does anyone else let their child watch that much TV?
Please don't tell me to do more activities with him I have to feed my baby and clean and cook, after all.

Answer 1

My mother used to brag about using the TV as a babysitter. We all turned out OK. I have found that my son, who is three, also watches a lot of TV. I do some activities with him, but it just seemed to work out that way. He had been diagnosed as speech delayed and I am certain that the TV and his favorite characters helped him to develop to where he is so that he's talking a mile a minute now! He'd come out with "Well, well, well...What do we have here?" from Raven, for instance. I honestly don't think TV is as bad as we have been told. You do things with him and try to make sure he gets outside when possible. (Maybe your dad can take him for a walk.) Make sure he doesn't eat a lot of junk and gets excercise to keep him healthy and his weight at the normal level. And don't feel guilty or allow those who never let their kids watch TV, for instance, because it's "evil" to make you feel bad. Good luck!

Answer 2

I am in the SAME boat. I have a 3 year old and a newborn, and I too posted the same question recently. I was paranoid that TV was becoming his "babysitter" I monitor what he watches - - I let him watch TV in the morning until Noon, he takes a nap and can have 1-2 hours in the afternoon, and sometimes a program before bedtime. I started to worry that I wasn't playing with him enough because I've been consumed with the baby. But he's smart and very active in the house. He has actually learned ALOT from his TV shows. It's just harder for me to take him outside anymore b/c of the baby. Trust me - - young ones get plenty of excersice in the home running around, especially boys. Mostly our TV is background noise. I don't buy the answers of obsesity, diabetes, bad vision, and delayed speech. Once the baby gets older, you'll be able to do a lot more one on one activities with him and you'll be able to take him out more. I know exactly how you feel, and sometimes feel the same way. I just make sure we have mommy and me time anytime the baby naps. I can totally relate with you. Don't worry - personally I think you're doing fine, if he seems to get too "obsessed" make a TV schedule like we did. Hope this puts you at ease with your dilemma.

Answer 3

Wish i could answer this differently lol. But im in the exact same boat my son watches so much tv, well actually what is too much?
I would say he watches about half an hour in the morning before nursery, and an hour at night when im making dinner.
But aswell as him watching tv, i do read to him alot and sit and play with his toys with him too.
What age is your child?

But as you said you do play with him and you do have another child, so im sure you do the best for him.

Leanne

Answer 4

That's your fault, your child watches just as much television as you allow him to. So if your complaining then turn the TV off. Try and get him to play with building blocks, or puzzles. As for as cleanning and cooking so do I, I have a 3 year old and a 3month old I get it all done and still have time to interact with my children. So what your saying is a cope out my dear.

Answer 5

Cut out the cleaning and spend more time with your son. YES he is spending too much time in front of the television. It's not his fault you have all of these other things going on in your life that seem to be so much more important than him and his well being. Learn to manage your time more effectively and stop turning your child into a couch potato.

Answer 6

I don't think its going to kill him to watch the tv...so long as you're watching with him, and playing along. My parents used to let me watch tv a lot, but they also watched tv a lot too. And to the person who said that watching too much tv will ruin your vision and blah blah blah...that's totall bull ****. I watched tv like it was my job, and I wasn't a big fattie kid (I played sports), I was good in school, and I'm not some psychotic anti-social weirdo. Watching tv isn't going to turn your son into a zombie, just make sure you spend time with him, and that he gets out in the fresh air a few times a day.

Answer 7

instead why don'y you get him Dr suess Kindergarten or mickey mouse play school computer games that way he will at least be learning somethng educational. OR you could try those answers that you didn't want to hear.
You will find this interesting.
> > >Message
> >
> >
> > The Stranger
> >A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our
> >small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this
> >enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The
> >stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a
> >few months later.
> >
> >As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind,
> >he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom
> >taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the
> >stranger... he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours
> >on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
> >
> >If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he knew
> >the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to
> >predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game.
> >He made me laugh, and cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad
> >didn't seem to mind.
> >
> >Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each
> >other to listen to what he had to say, and she went to her room and read
> >her books (I wonder now if she prayed for the stranger to leave).
> >
> >Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger
> >never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity was not allowed in our
> >home... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor,
> >however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made dad
> >squirm and mother blush.
> >
> >My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for
> >cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis, made
> >cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished, talked freely
> >(too freely!) about sex, his comments were sometimes blatant, suggestive,
> >and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about
> >relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he
> >opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked
> >to leave.
> >
> >More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our
> >family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was
> >at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would
> >find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him
> >talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name....???
> >
> >* * * * * * * V * * * * * * * *
> >
> > We just call him, "TV."
> >
> >**Note: This should be required reading for every household in America!!!**
> >
> >He has a younger sister now. We call her "The Computer

Answer 8

nicely it extremely is probable because of the fact my son continues to be drawn to each and all of the attractive hues and stuff yet my son is 5 months old he he only chills interior the morning with us staring at television for roughly 40 5 minutes. and he certainly watches the television. yet all young ones are differant. identity say probable a million.5 or 2 because of the fact he will have only a sprint extra of an interest span

Answer 9

consider getting him involved in a playgroup with other kids.
maybe even switching off with the other moms.
the problem is that tv doesn't develop his physical skills
(running, jumping, etc.) and puts him at risk for childhood obesity and diabetes. tv also does not develop his social skills, which
are very necessary for life. playing at a park outside with other kids would be ideal. consider taking the kids to church and putting them in the child care while you have a break and go to church. pick one that aligns with your beliefs. you can meet friends there to switch off with for the play activities.
put the newborn in a stroller and walk around the complex or neighborhood. let him bang on pots and pans in the kitchen.
the tv is definitely a problem. but i understand you have many other responsibilities, also. if you keep the tv off more he will have to learn to find other activities, coloring or play doh by himself perhaps.

Answer 10

I say as long as it isn't Spongbob or the likes, it's ok for now. I let my kids watch TV. They love to watch Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Dora, etc. I let them watch things that teach them something. When my daughter was just two she could count to ten in Spanish. I wouldn't have been able to teach her that, I took French in school. Some shows teach them.