kids and tv...why is it so bad???

All of the experts are saying it is bad for your child under 2 to watch tv period, and ages 2-4 no more then 30 mins. I thought it was because they don't learn anything, no vaules are taught these days on tv. I thought it is better to be reading a book or playing an activity that helps them learn basic lessons to help prepare them for the school/world. Then I turned on Nick Jr one day! It is filled with lessons, not just good values, like sharing, and helping others, but also things as common counting, abcs, even different languges. I know the experts know that's out there, so what is so wrong with good wholesome tv shows. How does that hurt a child? we still have book time though the day, b/c I know reading is the best thing in life for a child, and she still gets to go outside for excerise. I mean I'm not useing the tv for babysitting or her watching it all day. But what's 2 or three hrs.?
How does tv hurt a small child???

Answers:
My youngest is almost 3, and he loves Blues Clues and all the other Nick Jr. shows. He also recently got into Barney, which im not a fan of- but hey, if he likes it, thats okay with me. Well- from watching the Blues Clues alphabet train episode, and a Barney episode learning numbers, my son is reading letters and numbers! I was shocked. So not all TV is bad, but you do have to watch what they are watching, and make sure it doesnt get to be an addiction as they get older.

I have noticed my kids sometimes staring very intensely at the TV that they completely ignore anything around them which is when I say Okay, time to turn the TV off and do something else!

Other Answers:
it actually taught my daughter alot like blues clues and barney but when they get older it seems like an addiction

I think you are doing ok. What works for you might not work for some other people though. Sometimes the experts go crazy, like telling you that spanking your children will mess them up for life. Use your best judgement and keep up the good work. It has something to do with studies linking it to ADHD- being too visually stimulating.

My pediatrician's office has a sign up warning parents not to buy the Baby Einstein videos for babies.

2-3 hours is too much!
Source(s):
http://www.savealittlelife.com/safetycorner/28-ADD-tv.htm

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/12/playarticle.asp" title="https://www.askdrsears.com/html/12/playarticle.asp">https://www.askdrsears.com/html/12/playa...

http://www.babymilk.com/news_feature.htm?ID=28

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53614

I Think It Depends On The Tv Show. I don't think watching TV is bad for kids, I think it is good. My 2 years old speaks spanish because of Dorah, how many 2 year olds can do that? Can these people who say TV is bad speak spanish?

i think you are taking this to the extreme. there are some parents who all they do is plop there children down in fron t of the tv all day long. and tv still is not a good way to teach a child, tv should be used for pure entertainment, not to teach lessons

blah blah

Because studies have prooven that your brain activity goes down when you are watching TV more than when you sleep- it literly turns your brain into mush and retarteds the learning process, and hurts development in small children especially

I don't think TV is a bad thing, especially with all the great new educational childrens programming out there. Letting the TV babysit for you isn't a great idea... TV needs to be spaced out with other activities like reading, coloring, playing outside, crafts, etc., but a bit of it does no harm.

I agree, the "experts" are a bit uptight on this issue.

Because too many people *do* use the tv as a babysitter and just plop their child in front of a tv while they do their own thing. There are a lot of kids that are getting raised by the tv while the parents don't pay any attention to them at all and just encourage their kids to watch tv all day.

An hour or two here or there, well I don't necessarily disagree to that. But when I see parents just setting their kids in front of a tv all the time and not paying enough attention to that child, not taking the time to play games with them and teach them things, that's when it peeves me and annoys me because if they are too busy to be a parent and just put their kid in front of a tv, then they shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

As long as the child is watching tv that is not harmful or scary then it's not so bad but not too much tv or they will just think that's all there is. My kids already want to watch more than 1 or 2 hours of tv per day and I tell them NO. They will also lose the ability to use their imagination by playing with toys instead. If they get away from the tv and play with the toys they have and draw and color, they are at least developing their minds and using their imagination, whereas with tv, it's just a zombie means of entertainment and they might learn things, but they're not developing their imagination or cognitive thinking by very much.

Tv is a non personal way to teach. I agree there are some good shows but its not bonding or teaching one on one social skills.
Personaly I beleive some of the shows are a great way to help your child along.
Another research says Tv stimualtes the brain so dont let them watch before bedtime :)

It can be good & bad. Like anything, moderation is the key. The biggest problem I'm aware of is that it can stifle creativity. Instead of dreaming & using their imaginations, kids who watch too much TV tend to act out what they saw on TV & make drawings using TV characters instead of coming up with something from their own ideas. My kids loved Blue's Clues, Dragon Tales & later on, The Magic Schoolbus. If you have cable, NOGGIN is also good channel for entertaining & stimulating shows. It has nothing to do with the content. A television and computer have a constant flickering screen. You cannot see it. This constant flickering screen affects brain wave patterns. Ever notice a child watching television eyes glued and mouth open? They do this because their brain waves have slowed down. It really affects children under the age of 6. They are slower learners. Television watching is also associated with attention problems later in life. Have you noticed the increase in ADD? It is because television viewing is encouraged. I've taught preschool for 12 years and can always tell the children who watch t.v. They have a much harder time focusing and learning.
Source(s):
M.A Child Development/Education

I think it is okay if you let them watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day. When children get older, it becomes a habit that is hard to break. When children watch too much violence on TV, they might think violence is O.K. There are alot of violent acts in childrens' programs especially Disney movies.
Children study and read less and their school grades suffer nowadays because parents let them watch anything as long as they want.
Just make sure the programs are educational and suited for preschool age and younger. For example, Dora, Barney, Baby Einstein, and Blues' Clues. It is all about monitoring and finding a balance in your childs life. It is great for winding down, or when you really need to do something important for yourself. I only let my children watch Treehouse and never anything else especially Disney. They rarely have nightmares, don't know what a gun, sword or negative words are and never show aggression towards others. When we go to the toystore, my son skips the gun sword section and heads right for the fire trucks and blocks. I love that he isn't poisoned by all that media garbage and violence. Sounds like you are doing the right thing and choosing the appropriate TV for your child. And a couple of extra hours of good TV won't harm them.

Here's an article from the BBC about how television, computer screens, etc. can affect hormone levels: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3847505.stm It is because they are like in a trance. Children should be active and involved not just sitting there and staring at someone else playing, they should be outside and doing it themselves.

I've read that too much exposure to TV at a young age can be associated with hyperactivity and ADD. I am not positive that this is entirely true but I think that children that young don't need TV anyways. My niece doesn't like it. She prefers to play make believe or color or do things of that nature. I think that it's fantastic that she feels that way because she is developing her motor skills and using her mind in ways that she can't while just watching TV. She does like to watch it sometimes, but most of the time she'd rather be interacting with a person or making something creative. 2 or 3 hours is an eternity to a small child. they need to be constantly stimulated, not just visually and audibly by the television, but mentally, physically, and emotionally as well. TV cannot do that for them and I feel that parents who just let their kids watch as much TV as they want are not really doing their jobs. I understand how difficult it is to be a parent. I am only 20, a full time college student and keeping 2 jobs currently, believe me, I understand. but if you give children the tools, they will entertain themselves far longer than the TV will.

Experts think that a baby watching TV has a harder time learning to talk and ask they get older they won't like books and become couch potatoes. We have a tv on in our house almost 24/7, background noise. If the TV isn't on then the radio is.

My daughter is 15 months, she isn't talking very well (mama and hi only) but she is VERY active and advance in every other way or development, just slow in talking.

Anyways, she doesn't sit and watch it like we do, infact she usually has her back TO the TV while she plays. I think she just likes the noise. The only time she SITS and watches TV is when ELMO is on! LOL! She will sit and watch him, or run to the TV to give him a kiss (or makes her "stuffed-animal-of-the-hour" kiss him). I think it is cute.

Occationally (especially when we need 10 minutes of quiet time, or need time to clean) we will sit her in her high chair (with a snack or her lunch, never dinner or breakfast, that is family time) in front of the computer (it has a DVD player and holds her attention better then the TV) and put on ELMO. I see nothing wrong with TV, I was raise in front of one, but I am not a couch potato, I like to get outside.

As far as these other comments saying it is a passive or non-personal way to teach, that isn't right! Most the these show ENCOURGE children to get up and dance and repeat! You can also sit down with her, dance with her, and everything! You can make TV time mommy and baby time too! My daughter, even though she is 15 months, loves to dance, so we will get up and dance to "Elmo's World" with her!

I put on age appropriate learning programs for my son. I also interact with him with the shows. Does TV rule his day? No. As long as you go about it a fair way, I don't see the problem. TV is great, my 3 daughter will watch the shows on nick jr I tryied and tried to teach my oldest abc and 123 even for that matter purple blue and green but i could get in her little head.. but dora and blues clues wow she is walking around the house singing dancing and asking more and more tv is a good thing if the right thing is on

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kids and tv...why is it so bad???

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