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We asked babyworld members about their children's viewing habits
and if TV is the font of all evil… <<
continued from page 1
We asked babyworld members about their children's viewing habits and
if TV is the font of all evil…
"A bit of TV never hurt anyone"
"A bit of TV never hurt anyone but I don't think a child should be left
in front of it all day whilst the mum does something else. I am sure the
child would have no objections but they'd get square eyes! That's what
my parents always told me. Ben doesn't watch TV yet, he is too little
so I can't really say what I will do because I just don't know." Rachel
"I am the only one in my group of friends who doesn't
have the TV on all day"
"I do think we should be getting children away from the TV (she says,
as Abi is watching a video). I am the only person in my group of friends
who does not have the TV on from the minute the girls get up to when they
go to bed. My two watch TV for no more than an hour each day and at weekends
not even that much. Don't get me wrong: I am not perfect and I don't spend
all day playing with the girls but I encourage them to play by themselves.
Some of the parents at school have huge trouble getting there on time
because the children won't move from the box, why switch it on at 7am
anyway? We have the radio on for timings etc, Rachael knows when the pips
go at 8am she needs to get a shift on or else!" Stephanie
"I am sure children would have more fun doing
other stuff"
"We don't let our daughter watch much TV but then when we do let her
she's not very interested in it anyway. I think TV should only be watched
by the under threes for a limited amount each day, say approximately 1
hour at the most. I'm sure children would have more fun doing other stuff,
like playing with their toys or going to the park." Maz0602
"I have the TV on as background noise"
"My boys watch a bit of TV. They have preferred programmes so we have
CBeebies on or I might put a DVD on for them. There was a furore a few
years back when Teletubbies started about it being rubbish etc, but my
mum, who is a remedial teacher, says that it is aimed at toddlers and
the educational content is quite good. I have to say that I am sometimes
amazed when we are out for a walk, and one of the boys will point at something
and give it a name - all learnt from these programmes.
"I do tend to have the TV on all day, but I watch GMTV and then the boys
get to watch an hour before their nap and when they wake up they don't
take the blindest bit of notice as it is usually on ITV or BBC and it
is just some noise in the background. Every now and then I don't turn
it on at all and we have the radio on. Having said that, I do know that
when certain kiddies' programmes are on, the TV will have their undivided
attention and that is when I nip into the shower!" Jules
"Everything in moderation"
"I let Rory watch a bit of TV - we have CBeebies and his favourites
are Balamory, Pingu and Tractor Tom. I would never let him watch for more
than 30 minutes at a time, and he doesn't have a TV in his room (unlike
some of his little friends). He doesn't know how to switch the TV on himself
and select the channel, so has to ask one of us to do it for him. Since
having Iona, TV has been very useful if I'm trying to feed her and Rory
is demanding attention. Ten minutes of Big Cook Little Cook and he's content
while I feed. I think that as with a lot of things it's 'Everything in
Moderation'." Morag
"We've become too Americanised"
"We watch CBeebies only, as personally I find the quality of the stuff
on some of the other channels way below par. My daughter watches a little
in the morning before going to school and again when she comes home. I
see this as a time for her to unwind after a pretty full-on day at school
and have a snack. All of the children's programmes on CBeebies are gentle
and thought-provoking for little minds. We usually watch it together and
have a chat about it. But I've just got the one child and she is now nearly
five.
Sure, I think plonking a child down in front of the TV for hours on end
isn't a good thing. Not sure I agree with the concept of 24-hour TV. Unfortunately
there are some parents out there who will literally use it as a babysitter
while the parents sleep. It also blurs the difference between nighttime
rest and daytime activity for a child. That's the one thing I fear about
this country. We're becoming so Americanised in our attitudes to stuff
like this and feel the need to 'have to have' full-on entertainment for
our children 24/7 and I don't think its for the benefit of either parents
or child." Trixie
"I can't see a Tweenie hurting anyone!"
"I don't think TV hurts, in fact it's taught mine a lot more then I could
have taught them myself! Obviously I've never let them sit and watch it
solid for 24 hours, it's all in moderation. Besides they go to school
and playschool so they aren't in front of the TV all day every day just
probably and hour at night. Most of the time it's on they aren't always
watching... unless its Dora! Next they will be wanting to take kids' toys
away.... let kids be kids I say, cant see a Tweenie hurting anyone!" Niccii
"I didn't let my son watch TV till he was two"
"Sorry, but I tend to agree. I think three is a bit much, but I did not
let my son watch television until he was two. I am attempting to do the
same with Guinivere, but it is more difficult because of Logan. I limit
what he watches, no more then 2 hours of computer/TV time combined a day.
He only watches educational programmes not Power Rangers, Spiderman etc."
Steffe
"I hope one day she'll be glad I told her to play
in the garden, rather than stagnate in front of the box"
"We're not really TV fans in this house. We don't have the TV on every
evening ourselves. We often have music on, or nothing at all. I think
that is part of the problem...it is becoming a background drone in many
houses. What's wrong with silence? I think some couples use the TV to
avoid facing up to their relationship but that's another thread.
"Our children watch TV, but not much. It's not allowed on in the mornings,
and it isn't allowed on every day. They probably watch it a few nights
a week, for up to an hour at most. They also watch DVDs at weekends in
the morning or before bed sometimes. I have to admit that it wouldn't
surprise me if no TV was the best option for toddlers. TV probably limits
certain attributes such as imagination.
"I'm horrified that some small children have TVs in their rooms! My niece
was 7 at the weekend and she had an iPod for her birthday! She already
has a TV, DVD player and video in her room. I find it quite vulgar. She's
a little girl. She should be reading fairy stories, painting pictures
and playing with castles, not sitting with headphones on being indoctrinated
by sexually provocative music made by manufactured girl bands controlled
by men. She actually sings things like "My sexy ass" etc, and I hate it.
Rosie does complain at times that her friends have TV's in their rooms
and are allowed to watch them all afternoon etc but I hope one day she'll
be glad she was told to play in the garden or read a book rather than
stagnate in front of the box." Kelly
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