(Sammi in yellow by couch in these pics, Nicki on other side...)
I don't have too many soapboxes (that I blog about...) but TV/video viewing is probably one of my lifelong one ardent ones. We have a lot of rules about TV in our house...always have and no doubt always will. Very much like me...and quite fine with me, too.....the girls are really sensitive to any type of drama on the TV. (heck, I personally get stressed over seeing some regular network commercials.) I think TV/video watching should be tightly controlled and quite limited for toddlers....and to be quite honest...for older children, too.
So...:
1) No background TV allowed at any time...kinda drives-me-crazy....
2) No TV-watching without me or Ed in the same vicinity keeping watch over their reactions.
2) No TV-watching without me or Ed in the same vicinity keeping watch over their reactions.
3) No more than 30 mins a few times a week....
4) We try to limit their exposure to commercials...
5) So far I only allow Mister Rogers, Calliou, Food Network, the Antique Roadshow and their one Elmo movie....and no TV-watching with babysitters..
6) No video game equipment in our house. Yep, for an engineer, I'm quite a fuddy-duddy about technical games & gadgets & computers...plenty of time for that when they are older...
7) And...for me....when the girls are down....Ed can't have any show on if I'm in the room that he knows will distress me. If he wants to watch violent "stuff" or degrading/disrespectful material (shows or movies), then he has to go upstairs to the den and close the door. I just don't believe in subjecting myself to negative and violent vibes. I don't understand a desire (or a market) for that genre and I certainly don't want to waste my energy on being stressed over negative images. Gosh, we get enough real crisis and awful events on the news...
My personal favorite by far (for the girls...and I quite like it too, to be honest....) is Mister Rogers. I tape it each morning and we watch it together a few times a week.
My personal favorite by far (for the girls...and I quite like it too, to be honest....) is Mister Rogers. I tape it each morning and we watch it together a few times a week.
Look at this last pic....Sammi automatically puts her arm across Nicki whenever a "scarier" image comes on the TV. In this case, it is when Elmo first encounters the Grouch in Grouchland. Sammi, you are such a protective sister....
I know that's a lot of rules...and do I realistically stick with them...? Yep, I surely do...
Ok, vent over.....
Happy Safe and Careful TV watching!
Hugs,
Cindy
11 comments:
I think you have set very appropriate goals and guidelines!
We've gotten much looser now that our twins are bigger, and I have absolutely SEEN unwanted repercussions. (Thankfully, we can easily "punish" in kind...e.g. "We don't talk to each other like that. Since clearly that came from TV, we're not watching any for the next ____ day(s).")
You sound like a Mama with her head on straight to me!
(and I STILL love Mr. Rogers! Huxley on Elmo in Grouchland scares me, and I'm in my 40's! What a sweet protective pair you have!)
Can I have an Amen on the TV thing? I so agree with you. Especially about the background TV thing. Makes. Me. Crazy. I don't get why people have to just have the TV on when they are doing other things.
But then, Tim and I are totally not TV people so I guess it is easy for me to say that. In fact, he just got rid of all but like four channels, which I didn't even think you could do anymore! And in all fairness, I am probably not doing anything more redeeming instead of watching TV! Web surfing.. playing Scrabulous... I just am not into TV. And so neither are my kids. Once they really discover it, we'll see how it goes.
I love the photo of Sammi "protecting" Nicki from something scary on TV! Too cute!
As someone that spent a great deal of time studying media in college, congratulations on your efforts!
I'm a huge advocate of limiting television to the toddler set and making the effort to watch WITH your children when they do watch. I don't think that tv or videos games should be eliminated, but simply that we need to be media literate and aware of the effects.
I did do extensive research on Sesame Street though and it's actually amazing how much research and funding goes into EVERY SINGLE EPISODE. They test every episode and really work to ensure that it will reach their audience well. Given that you also watch with the girls, the learning elements in Sesame Street are even greater.
-Breanne
http://bleach226.wordpress.com
The girls are soooo beautiful.
You captured such great expressions on their faces...
Have a Great Week..
HUGS
Good for you!!! The only thing my girls are allowed to watch is nogin. It's a learning chanel and I'm good with it. But, they are not allowed to watch it but in the evening before bed. They also are allowed to watch their movies. Cinderella, Cars, Polar Express and of course the big rat! But, for the record I'm a big TV girl. I love my Law and Order. *grin*...
Hugs..Rony
Can watching tv get any cuter? I love all of their expressions. Sounds like you have some great rules about tv. Why expose innocent little minds to all of that crap out there!
That last picture is great, Sammi protecting her sister from the scary parts of Sesame Street, soo sweet! Great TV rules, we have a 1/2 hour max rule in our home, except for family movies we enjoy on the week-ends. It's not always easy to enforce with the older kids, thanks for the heads up.
Hi Cindy
Just droped in to share with you my little gril. I got a referral on May 13 and am now out of the match room with my LOA. She had a bit of surgery at 6 week and is doing great. I think that is why God has brought us together. I may have to go o Ohio to see a speicalist Your girls are getting so big.
I agree with your synopsis -- we have similar rules about Katie's viewing. Really the only thing she likes or watches are some videos -- one per day, max. She can choose from Blue's Clues, the Wiggles music video, Baby Einstein or Big Bird in China.
I totally agree about the "TV as background" noise -- that has never happened and never will in my house! That fact has gotten me in BIG trouble many times as I've sent my boys out to the school bus not knowing that there was a 2 hour delay or school was cancelled due to weather...usually a neighbor would call me after seeing them standing at the bus stop! I've gotten smarter in my old age and now get up when I think school might be delayed or cancelled and check the district website!
I wish I could say the boys' tv watching was as tightly regulated...it's not. We still have strict rules, but I have lightened up some as they've gotten older.
Your girls are beautiful, as always!
I'm so with you. I hate strong violence or anything too scary. I don't need more fear/drama in my life. I'm already battling enough. I like happy/funny/impressive shows like Dancing w/ the stars -hee hee! Hugs and kisses to my girls.
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