...and got into a bit of a debate, which is insane, since A.) we're not even married yet and B.) we don't even have a child, but whatever. She thinks that growing up watching tv didn't do us any harm, but...I don't know. I think if I had a child, I'd cut out all TV for him (or her) except for Discovery Kids, Animal planet, the Travel channel, and maybe some old shows like The Brady Bunch, The Cosby's, etc. What do you think?
2007-10-30 14:31:56 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I think it's great that you and your girl are talking about important stuff BEFORE you have chitlins. Honestly, most people don't broach these subjects, have kids and get married anyway, and THEN fight about it. Ridiculous.
As far as TV is concerned, I agree with you. TV is an excellent tool when the programs cater to what you want your child to see and learn. I have a 7 year old and TV definitely impacts a child. Your girlfriend should sit with some youngsters and watch the flippin' news, then she would see what kind of questions it made the kids ask. Bottom line is TV shows us images that arent meant for kids. And if they dont have a parent there 24/7 to answer those questions, the kid is going to be effected.
Lastly, by the time you do have children, the question will turn to "Where on the internet can our child go"?
Good luck.
2007-10-30 14:43:19 · answer #1 · answered by tobelove75 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When I grew up, we did not have TV on school nights. That was for homework or reading. I was a little less restrictive with my kids but I limited what they saw and how much. I let them pick out a 1/2 hr block when they wanted to watch TV (with approval of the show). Sometimes if it was an especially good show we would watch together and that would not count as time.
Of course any TV watching was contingent on keeping up good grades.
2007-10-30 15:28:07 · answer #2 · answered by leer 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a 5 month old girl and even now I shake my head at what I hear and see on TV. From commercials to actual shows and the language they use one them, it is appalling!
We are so desensitized to what we see and hear on TV now it seems it just gets brushed off. What happened to good family TV? Now we have to sit and watch Big Brother, Survivor or even worse Family Guy! (full of blurred out nudity, swearing and crude language) Not that I will ever let my child watch that, although I do enjoy it myself because that is all we are bombarded with on TV.
I wish shows could be like what I grew up watching, Full House, Boy Meets World...you might remember the whole TGIF lineup? Good wholesome shows for kids and youth.
If my daughter is only 5 months now I can't even imagine what TV will be like years from now!
2007-10-30 14:59:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that a vital part of raising a child is to make them feel trusted. If you say, "You are not smart/mature/old enough to watch this" to as many shows as you are suggesting, the kid will develop issues with self-esteem and with your trust. Should you monitor? Sure. Should you explain? Definitely. Should you let a small child watch South Park? Absolutely not. But, you can't eliminate so very, very much all the time. As time goes by, your kid will secretly develop ways to get away with what they wanted to do in the first place.
I think the bigger issue is the AMOUNT of TV, rather than the quality.
2007-10-30 14:49:14 · answer #4 · answered by Esma 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with tv. Just because it is technology, doesnt make it bad automatically.
There are plenty of educational tv shows (inluding cartoons) out there, like mickey mouse clubhous, dora, even Bindi "the jungle girl". Kids learn through repetition. If you let them watch one episode of mickey per day, for example, half hour long, they wont learn as much from it as they would if you just gave them free reign, and played it all day. My 2.4 year old has access to the tv all day, and knows 90% of her alphabet already. That doesnt mean she is glued to the tv all day either, she spends plenty of time interacting with the 4 other people in the household - but the tv is available to her. I believe this is the difference. I am sure if I started limiting it, they would be glued to it while it was on, for fear of missing out on it later. It's no big deal here - it only becomes a big deal if YOU make it one.
Oh, and you cant shield your kids from reality every chance you get, and them expect them to be okay when reality slaps them in the face when they move out. If you teach your kids about the world they are growing up in, they will better learn how to survive it when you are not around, and you never know if that will be 20 years from now or 2 days from now. Life is too short, dont waste your time. Childhood is for learning about their world, not learning about a world you would like to create for them - they cant live there their whole lives.
2007-10-30 18:22:24 · answer #5 · answered by Kaaia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you both have the wrong idea. What you watch has as much of an impact as how much you watch. The american academy of pediatrics recommends that children should not watch TV before age two and even after that they should be limited to 1 hour or less a day. You do have the right idea of being very selective on what your kids watch as it should be age appropriate. I let my kids watch some stuff on nick jr and PBS but am careful about what and how much they see.
2007-10-30 14:43:18 · answer #6 · answered by Panda 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think that it does depend on what they watch. For example, I have a year old and she is only allowed to watch the Wonder Pets and SpongeBob. There are some other cartoons that to me are a bit weird so I do not let her watch them. Parents should also spend some time reading to their children or playing with them. I totally agree that the television should not be the childrens babysitter but a form of enjoyment.
2007-10-30 15:12:46 · answer #7 · answered by Aleida R 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in our house there is no tv before school. Tv slows the brain down to less than sleeping state and it takes 2 hrs to get back up to speed. The first 2 hrs at school are the most important. Then after school I usually limit it to 1 hr of screen time. I monitor what they watch and never more than PG and even then often not that.
2007-10-30 14:53:47 · answer #8 · answered by Rachel 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a hard topic for parents, not everyone thinks the same way.
I think what you have mention is a good start for younger kids, for me I would look at the rating eg. G or PG etc..and also see if it's suitable for my kids to watch. I don't think it's good for them watching something not suitable for them at a young age.
Hope you and your girlfriend are okay now, don't debate too much into little things. Just stick to that TV ratings that will solve your problems.
Good luck.
2007-10-30 14:49:53 · answer #9 · answered by Win 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes...nowdays shows are put on which really shud nto be there...
I mean do you want your children to watch
girls next door (playmates teliign how hard they work)
Kimora Fab (Where a Kimora lee Simmons goes on n on as to how perfect rosle model she is)
Parental controls....unruly kinds and tehir ever lest botehred parents showign how thrashy tehir life is...
no such things influence little minds....nuture them with good values, respect and knowledge not all such crap.
2007-10-30 17:38:44 · answer #10 · answered by DJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋