Under 2's and TV

BitterAndTwisted

When I looked after three children as a full-time job the youngest was under two. I used to limit their TV watching to about an hour or less while I was downstairs rustling up their dinners. The little guy didn't seem to be interested, possibly because the other two were older so what they watched (mostly Mr Rodger and Sesame Street) possibly wasn't age-appropriate. Also I don't think he had enough concentration to sit down quietly for that long. He always used to prefer to play with his toys while they were watching.

I can't see a lot wrong with allowing tinies to watch something appropriate for a short period if there's a chore that needs doing as long as they aren't parked in front of a screen for long periods and it's not a substitute for stories or other interaction.

milliebear00001

mildred1978 wrote: »

I'm 36. I don't recall anything similar from my childhood (it was all Playschool, Rainbow and Button Moon back then). And we now have 16/18/21 year olds leaving school/university unable to speak, spell or follow simple maths properly. Could be a big coincidence, or it could be that the likes of the Tellytubbies and In the night garden aren't actually doing kids any favours.

I would suggest it is, as you suggest, a coincidence. OR that there actually aren't any more young people leaving school/university unable to speak, spell or follow simple maths than there have ever been (but that you might believe what you read in the papers rather too easily), OR that there are, but that this is due to poorer parenting, rather than poorer children's programming, OR that children are more exposed to TV and other screens these days (it is now available 24 hours a day, whereas in my day, you got a couple of hours a day max), OR that there is more choice of cheap, imported, poor quality programming for their parents to sit them in front of, rather than parents choosing quality public-service childrens' programming such as that offered by CBeebies etc.

Just a few alternative suggestions.

mildred1978

milliebear00001 wrote: »

I would suggest it is, as you suggest, a coincidence. OR that there actually aren't any more young people leaving school/university unable to speak, spell or follow simple maths than there have ever been (but that you might believe what you read in the papers rather too easily), OR that there are, but that this is due to poorer parenting, rather than poorer children's programming, OR that children are more exposed to TV and other screens these days (it is now available 24 hours a day, whereas in my day, you got a couple of hours a day max), OR that there is more choice of cheap, imported, poor quality programming for their parents to sit them in front of, rather than parents choosing quality public-service childrens' programming such as that offered by CBeebies etc.

Just a few alternative suggestions.

I don't read papers. My experience is first hand as an employer. But I agree with your alternatives too.

The welsh government are considering scrapping GCSEs after businesses raised concerns about the literacy and numeracy of school leavers. When asked, the exam boards said that a grade A-C in English or maths were not an indicator of literacy or numeracy. !!!!!!???

wendz86

My Daughter is 13 months and at nursery 4 days a week so either watches no tv on those days or about 15 mins of In the night garden. She is hardly interested in anything else, i can have the tv on and she will just play with her toys. I would be worried more if she was glued to it.

Gillyx

When I'm making feeds up for my LO or if I have to do something like empty the washing machine, I'll put him on his mat/bumbo with Baby TV on, tbh he stares into space sometimes and is enthralled so whether he's actually watching it or not...

I was allowed to watch T.V when I was younger, stuff like Nicklelodeon, and it's not hindered me in any way at all, in fact I don't like TV much I'd much prefer to read a book

Hiddenidenity

I have a 1 and 3 year old. The 3 year old likes certain cartoons so if there on the 1 year old will watch on her way past etc. She never sits and watches tv although if it was on and she did it wouldn't concern me. My eldest watched quite a bit of tv and was definitely talking/singing alot clearer and sooner than her.

marleyboy

My 2Yr old shows no interest with the TV, choosing to play with his toys instead, I can only think of that as a good thing, I certainly don't want him growing up indoors throughout his childhood .

delain

My Squeak (nearly 2 - where did that go :eek:) enjoys TV when she watches it, which is only usually for a short time each day.

Her favourites are Mr Bloom, show me show me, or anything with Justin in it. We tend to sit and watch it together, she is a good talker and chatters away. She also does the signs from the Justin shows. We have the on demand thingy from Virgin so I can choose what we watch when we have TV time, which is handy

To be honest she's more interested in what happens when she gets the remote out of the drawer and presses all the buttons!

I dislike the adverts on the kids channels, we don't get nick jr etc after my twins who have special needs got fixated on it... but OH tends to put milkshake on in the mornings at weekends and the ads do my head in. So many plastic bits of junk that are often £30 a pop :eek: and don't even get me started on Lelli Kelly shoes with the 'makeup mobile' :mad:

We make up for the TV with reading. She will 'babble' hey diddle diddle from the book we have, and is starting to learn counting and will 'count' things out and about, by saying, 'three, four, three, four'

jellyhead

delain wrote: »

She will 'babble' hey diddle diddle from the book we have, and is starting to learn counting and will 'count' things out and about, by saying, 'three, four, three, four'

Awww

Neither of mine talked before they were 2. Perhaps they watched too much TV, or too little :rotfl:

Carmilla

I record waybaloo and in the night garden every day, then if Seb (18 weeks) keeps looking at the tv, I put him in his swing and put the program on for him. He watches about half a program before he looks like he is not interested any more. About half of the programs get deleted without being played. He does like music on the tv, so I turn that on while he is on his playmat. I have the tv on lots as I like the noise. Seb seems to like cooking program's too. DH has watched rugby, cricket and football with Seb, but as he is talking to him throughout I think that is what he is responding to more.