"Baby TV is so important"??
Something is badly wrong with our culture if there is a market for a 24-hour entertainment channel for babies.
Excuse me? Having this channel is "so important"?? Do these people really care about the babies at all? I don't think so. What a way to help our already entertainment overloaded society. Start babies out on TV before they can even talk and then package it to parents as safe, appropriate, and healthy.TV offerings already abound for older toddlers, and a lucrative — though controversial — market has developed for baby-oriented videos, attracting the Walt Disney Co. and the makers of Sesame Street, among others. But until now there had been no ongoing TV programming aimed at infants.
"This is the first channel dedicated to babies and their parents — transforming TV from its original purpose into a way for them to interact," said Sharon Rechter, BabyFirstTV's executive vice president for business development and marketing.
"The fact of life is that babies are already watching TV," she said. "That's why having BabyFirstTV is so important — what we want to offer is completely safe, commercial-free and appropriate content."
28 percent of children under 2 have a TV in their bedroom?! That is frightening. And we wonder why children can't concentrate in school or why there is a major obesity problem in America.A 2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 68 percent of children under 2 watch TV or videos daily and 26 percent have a TV in their bedroom. Nonetheless, the pediatrics academy recommends that children of that age not be exposed to TV or videos, saying that learning to talk and play with others is much more important.
Let's start by teaching children some basic things like how to do something besides sit in front of a box. What every happened to playing with trucks, or playing dress-up, or picnics at the park, or baking cookies, or making mud pies, or cuddling and reading stories with mom?
posted by Crystal Paine at 1:17 PM
13 Comments:
Thanks Crystal for this great post! Our family does have 1 tv but it doesn't get used very often, esp. not for regular tv. Mainly when we use it, it is for video's or to watch old family movies. I couldn't imagine having a tv in a child's room! My mother-in-law made a comment once about buying our 4 yr old son a tv (at the time he was 1 yr old) and we quickly squashed that idea.
Kids need lots of fresh air and regular play. My 2 children love to play with magnetic dress up dolls. Yes, my son even has one that is a boy.
I just think tv has been one of the downfalls of the family. I know people would disagree but how can a family be close and talk when everyone is too busy watching the tv? Oh, there are so many better things to do as a family!
I agree, Diane. Thanks for commenting!
I think more than 28% of children have a tv in their bedroom. We know several families who allow and promote this. It is sad.
Wow, Susie. I don't think I know anyone with a young child that has a TV in their room. Come to think of it, I don't know anyone who has a child with a TV in their room. But, I've heard it's really prevalant. I guess I just run with a different group of people -- people who really care about their children enough to not allow TVs in their rooms.
I'd suggest that computers be removed as well -- at least computers with internet access, since that is just as bad, or worse. In this day and age, we have to work hard to protect our children. But, it's worth it!
APPALLING!!! And very sad.... I've never had a tv in my room except for a short amount of time and I rarely turned it on. I don't need one in my room!! (and I'm 20!)
Susie, I think the article was saying that 28% of children under the age of 2 have a tv in their bedroom. But either way, it's still ridiculous! :-)
I babysit occasionally for some neighbors and every time I go over there I am amazed that they have a tv in virtually every room of their house except for the bathrooms! :p There's a huge tv in the living room, a smaller one in the kitchen, one in each bedroom (parents' plus an 8 y.o. boy and 6 y.o. ) and also in the office/den. What's more, is that usually they are all turned on to different channels simultaniously! And they never turn them off when they leave the room... as soon as I send the kids off to catch the bus in the morning I walk into each room and turn off the TV. It's sickening. I think I'd shrivel up and die if I was constanly biragged by such trash!
Our family never watches regular tv, and we only watch a movie a couple times a month at very most. When I was younger I wished we would watch more movies etc, but now that I've seen the "other extreme" I'm very grateful for the decisions my parents have made in this area! There's no such thing as quality family relationships in families that spend all their waking hours (and even their sleeping hours! LOL) in front of the tube. I love my family and the time that we spend reading, talking, playing, and working together! It is so precious! I wouldn't trade it for anything.... well, except someday I hope to trade it for my own husband and children to spend time with! :)
Doesn't the American Pediatric Association recommend no TV for children under 2?
It's all about pragmatism....what's "easiest" for the parents. Sad.
The TV has really become a sore spot with our ILs and we are amazed at the amount of TV some of our friends allow their children to watch! My ILs TV is on constantly and we have to keep our eye out as to what is on everytime we are there. We have spoken to them about it even. My children are9, 7, 3 and 9 months. We have told the older two what they can and cannot watch even at Grammy's house.
Thankfully we have many friends who limit or have completely eliminated the tv in their homes. However, one family has a television in the kitche, den, family room, parent's bedroom and all three kids' rooms. Their children are 3, 8, and 10. It is so sad.
Anyway, I don't mean to ramble, but the tv is more of a problem for most families than even I had realized. I think we have a happy middle ground in our home.
I really enjoy reading this blog. :)
Susie
Samantha: My husband and I are with you on the no TV in your room deal. It really encourages slothfulness, too. We keep our TV in a box in our closet. That ensures that it is only taken out for special occasions and is not constantly asking to be turned on.
Katie: What a wonderful attitude you have and what wisdom you display! Keep making wise choices -- you won't regret it.
Kristie: I agree. It takes a lot more work, effort, and thought to invest time in your children, but the rewards are every bit worth it.
Susie: Thanks for your kind comments on this blog. I enjoy blogging (if that wasn't obvious!). Glad that your family has found a happy middle ground!
Wow! And the logic is so twisted "We know TV isn't the best for babies, but the fact is, they're already watching it, so let's provide a channel just for them, so they can watch 24 hours!"
Yuck. How 'bout solving the problem and turning off the TV. Read a book to the baby. But we can't do that, 'cause that wouldn't make any money for the entertainment industry, I guess.
I was a little upset when our VCR died, but after about 6 months of nothing TV or video related, we're all surviving. Imagine that! :D
Any parent who would put a TV or a computer in their child's room needs their head examined.
The greatest thing that has made me stop watching TV is the fact I have children. Just about everything is so disgusting on TV. You even have to be careful with what the news show. I watch the news but am careful that my toddler doesn't see anything scary. The last thing I need is for him to start having nightmares. Even daytime tv is bad.
My husband and I have our shows we watch after the kids go to bed, but I could never imagine having a child watching tv unsupervised (especially if you get cable). There are some horrible shows out there. I know that they say you can program your tv to block out certain ratings, but those ratings are a joke.
I let George watch Thomas or Teletubbies sometimes , but I am in the room with him (he knows how to change the channels). I would be mortified if he switched over to something scary.
One of our jobs, as parents, is to protect our kids. If you have a tv or computer to be used freely without supervision you are NOT doing this part of your job very well.
CappuccinoLife: I know, I know. Isn't the logic bizarre. Just because there might be a market for something doesn't mean it is the RIGHT thing to do. Just like the companies who produce cigarettes. Is it right to make tons of money at the expense of people's lives and futures? If only more people based their decisions upon what is the right thing to do.
I totally agree, Zan. Like Jesse says, the best TVGuardian or computer filter there is is a parent sitting right there viewing it with the child. (Provided you are a parent who CARES what your child watches and wants to protect them from filth.)
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