When is too much TV too much?
As a parent and a stay at home father of 4 children I feel that monitoring their TV time is important. I admit, I do let my kids watch too much television. I think this is common, though it may not be right. There are times I just turn the TV on to cartoons and let it play whether the kids are playing or sitting quietly on the couch. Ideally I should schedule times where TV is acceptable but I don’t. Having the TV on as background noise is quite common in my house. My wife and I even went out and bought an entertainment system with doors so we could shut the doors and minimize our exposure to the television. I am afraid though we leave those doors open most of the time.
So I am curious as to your policies in your own home regarding TV time with kids. Do you have cable? Do you keep the TV on all the time, some of the time, or hardly at all? Is there a routine or do you watch TV whenever you feel like it? Are all the studies regarding ADD and TV accurate, over-rated, or somewhere in between? Are you serious about this issue?
I would like to get an idea on what your thoughts are on over exposure to TV? Please feel free to comment!
Tags: discipline, Parenting, stay-at-home-father, television, tvRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Parenting
6 opinions for When is too much TV too much?
Shane
Nov 9, 2006 at 8:46 pm
Is watching TV everytime you get the chance to much for your kids :)
steve
Nov 9, 2006 at 9:34 pm
Good question. I heard somewhere kids should not be exposed to TV for more than 2 hours per day.
Hsien Lei
Nov 12, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I think most people fib when they’re asked about how much TV their kids watch. Who’s really going to tell the truth?
We don’t own a TV in our house and even when we’re out, if a TV comes within viewing distance, I quickly drag my kid away and run for it.
HA HA!!!
OK, to be honest, my husband likes to have the TV on. I like to have my computer on. What’s worse? Is either worse? Our son likes to have the TV on but I think he’s actively watching it for only half the time and 95% of the time, it’s something really educational and I know he’s getting something out of it.
TV is an important part of modern life and people who look down their noses at those of us who let our kids watch should get a life.
/rant over
steve
Nov 13, 2006 at 10:49 am
Hsien, I know people fib all the time. I actually know somebody who doesn’t have a TV for those reasons, BUT spends all their time on the computer. hmmm
I heard somewhere that it isn’t the TV that is necessarily bad it is just the TV tends to take time away from other good things like reading, playing educational games etc. So it is just the lack of exposure to other necessary activities. In that same article it mentioned that the only bad things about TV is it is addictive and is sometimes difficult to screen what your kids are exposed to.
Jens
Nov 14, 2006 at 3:46 pm
TV has its place, but why not audio adventures?
Audio adventures from Kiddio, contrary to audio stories, contain individual voices, sound effects and music. A feast for kids’ imagination and so much better than TV! TV surely has its place but would you rather have a TV or a CD player in your kids’ room?
What’s a great way to make bedtime easy for you and your kids?
Let them listen to audio adventures in bed with the volume set low after lights-out time. They’ll be asleep before the recording is finished!
http://www.KiddioAdventures.com
Andy
Nov 18, 2006 at 6:43 pm
No offense, but IMHO, audio stories sound rather dry for little kids. Maybe mine would like them, but I don’t think so…..but if they work for you then great.
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