How much is TOO much TV for her kids?

13 Sep, 2012

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This week Heather, Jen and I have TV on the brain.  Maybe it’s because the fantastic new fall must see TV season is starting or maybe it’s because everywhere we look there is some type of “couch potato” activity calling our names – and our kids’ names too.

There are so many “screen activities” these days, it’s hard to put a limit on it all!  We are asking; how much TV is too much for your kids?  Here’s our thoughts.  We would love to hear from you!

P.S.   Here’s an interesting study we found on kids, television and their sleep habits.  It’s a good one to read if you’re worried about your children not getting enough sleep.  What they are watching may be the culprit!

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**Leslie’s View**

I’ll never forget the day mom and dad bought the family a NEW TV and our first VCR.  I thought we were the richest house in the county.  Gone were the days of the small TV set and we no longer had to rent our VCR from the Blue Hill grocery store!

Life was good.

But even though we finally had those luxuries, we didn’t watch many movies or much TV for that matter.  Growing up on a farm we had miles and miles to explore and, often times, I had my face in a good Nancy Drew book anyway. Sure I watched plenty of PBS favorites as a kid – Sesame Street, Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood and Reading Rainbow are all favorites – but I simply didn’t sit in front of that TV very often.  

But that was the ’80s and ’90s.  Times have changed.  Some form of media is EVERYWHERE you look.  And if you’re not on something, you’ll be behind.  Not just behind on your latest episode of Days of Our Lives, but behind with technology.  Most television isn’t on the standard TV set from our childhood anymore.  Instead it’s found on Ipads, phones and computers.  It’s with us everywhere we go.  And it’s hard to let go.

Truth be told, our family probably has too much screen time.  In the evenings you’ll often find my Ella and Gracie watching an episode of Blue’s Clues, I’ll be on the computer working on HVFH stuff and Kyle will be either on his phone or working from his computer too.  We could all use a little less TV and a little more play – and we’re trying.

The good thing is, my girls would still rather go on a long walk, jump on their trampoline, read books or paint a picture than watch TV.  I think (like anything in this world) it’s OK to watch TV – as long as it’s in moderation (and age appropriate, of course).  Banning TV in my mind is just silly.  Trust me.  I hadn’t watched but maybe 30 minutes of MTV my entire life – until college.  Once I hit my Freshman year (where I finally had cable!) I watched Total Request Live and “spring break stories” EVERY AFTERNOON on my tiny dorm TV, with a bagel sandwich and a glob of cottage cheese.  

No one needs a repeat of that.

A cartoon or two a day seems perfectly fine to me.  But don’t forget how much good is waiting for you outside of “screen time.”  That’s what I like to remind myself and my family.  

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***Heather***

We banned the TV. Okay, we aren’t that extreme but we did enforce some pretty strict guidelines recently. Over summer the kids’ tube time that was minimal evolved into three or four hours a day. Huh? How did that happen? It seemed like the kids were always watching TV and I was getting tired of the zoned out stare I would get from them.

When they got up, the turned on the TV.

As soon as they got home, they gravitated to the TV.

When supper was over, they were fighting over the remote.

Growing up, I don’t ever remember watching the tube as much as my kids do. Instead, we played in the pecan fields next to my grandma’s house. We built forts, had wars, made mud pies and fried eggs on my grandma’s sidewalk. 

And did I mention the commercials? “Mom I want that monster truck. Oooh Mom, I want that My Little Pony. I want I want I want…” Where did the “gimme’s” come from? It’s really my fault–but I needed my sanity. As a work from home mom, summers are brutal. Have you tried filling 12 hours a day with activities? And did I mention I launched HVFH in April with my galpals Leslie and Jen? I know, I know, not very good excuses are they? So I let them watch…But can you really blame the kids wanting to watch? How often do you and I just want to unplug and not have to use our minds and how funny are sheep riverdancing?

They were beginning to act like they NEEDED the TV, everything is great in moderation but how was I going to limit it if they were so used to watching all the time?  So we banned the TV. No TV unless homework is finished and chores are completed. Each child gets their choice of 30 minutes of TV or Wii. And in the evenings we settle in with popcorn as a family and watch something on Netflix. Our favorites include: Veggie Tales, Shaun The Sheep and Oscar.

I must say, I’ve been loving all the interaction in the afternoons and evenings. There are moments where chaos and temper tantrums push me to my limits, tempting me to hand them the remote. But for now, 30 minutes a day is enough. 

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**Jen’s View**

Before I had kids, I had big plans.  I wasn’t going to let them watch television.

Now I’m living reality.  My kids watch TV.  I’m also ashamed to admit they eat fast food.  That’s just the facts of life.

Here’s Madison’s favorite show right now.  She has many of the words memorized.

I’m okay with that.

She watches ONE pre-approved 1/2 hour cartoon a day.  She gets it right before nap (or quiet time as we now call it.)  She is three.

We also have video players in the car for long trips.  Both kiddos are usually watching Veggie Tales.

I like to choose what my kids watch.  I DVR it and buzz through the commercials.  They’re only 3 and one.  I can still do that.  It won’t last too long.  It is the last piece of my old plan that still hangs on.

Here are some lists of television shows for different age groups and learning levels.

We would love to hear your thoughts!  What do your kids watch?  Or do they?

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1 Comment

  1. robbi
    September 13, 2012

    We don’t have cable, or dish. We have PBS and netflix, that’s IT!!! My kids (now 8 &4) have always watched tv. However, the tv is NOT always on!! We do not watch evening tv with the kids, nothing is appropriate & I HATE the commercials! Did you know, PBS has NO commercials?? LOVE that!! I don’t keep a strict guideline for how many shows they can watch per day, but we have a few rules. No tv before school. And I often talk to them about too much tv not being good for them. It varies, some days they will watch 4 or more shows, some days only 1 show. My DD is catching on that the more time they spend watching tv, the less time to play. She often encourages DS to turn it off & go play with her!!!

    Good topic, thanks gals!

    Reply ↓

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