Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Do you feel like your child is missing out on some fun/interesting things?

DD is 10.5 months and doesn't watch TV. We've never had her watch videos, cartoons, etc. If the TV is on and we're watching something, she glances at it ocassionally, but doesn't have much interest in it.

But I see how all the kids on here love certain characters, songs, shows, and I think that's adorable, and wonder if DD is missing out on some stuff by not watching TV. KWIM?

ETA: We aren't AGAINST TV or anything for her, we just never did it and like I said, she has no interest if the TV's on, although we don't have cartoons on so I don't know if she'd be interested in that.

Message edited 5/13/2008 11:26:42 AM.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Trust me. There will come a day when your DC is interested in TV. Both of my kids had no interest until after their 2nd Birthday.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Well, Jack LOVES Backyardigans. Also, Elmo and Cooklie Monster when Sesame Street is on. His face lights up and he full on belly laughs when they come on the screen. In that aspect it is sooooo fun to see his reactions.

It also helps me to change him - I pop the Backyardigans on because otherwise to change a diaper is absolute and utter torture.

I don't think she's missing out on anything though - she has plenty of time to watch TV. Don't forget - I am home with Jack 24/7 and I really do need a break sometimes.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

No, I don't feel like she's missing out. Yes, I feel clueless when I read all these posts on here or talk to other parents and they mention these shows and characters that I've never heard of, but in the long run, I prefer that SHE prefers to run around outside, or run around the house, than to sit in front of the TV.

Alex has NEVER been into TV - trust me, we tried with the einstein videos so we could catch a break now and then, but her attention span for TV is about 5 minutes and then it's on to the next activity.

Once in a while I do wish she'd just cuddle with me on the couch to watch a cartoon, but I'm also really happy with the end result

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Jordana didn't watch TV until a few months ago- and I never felt like she missed out on anything. Now that she is a little older, she is obsessed with Elmo and Dora- but she only watches TV once or twice a week.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

The only tv my DC's have seen are the Baby Signing Times DVD's. Happy to say, DD now has 6 signs at 13 months old, DS maybe 4... it helps tremendously... they sign for "milk" and "sleepy"... it's very cool.

Otherwise they don't watch tv... at least when I'm home... DH tells me he only plays music.

I don't think they are missing out on anything that they can't learn from the games we play, songs we sing and books we read all day.

I know it's inevitable but I'm just trying to keep the character/product merchandising from them as long as possible... especially since Dora merchandise and others always seems to be on the recall list

Message edited 5/13/2008 11:55:29 AM.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Of course she is not missing out on anything! Its great that you haven't introduced her to the show world yet...when the time comes she will find interest in it on her own.

DS is 8 months old and we turn on the Noggin on weekends in the mornings for about an hour...he loves the Moose and sits there fixated for the 4-5 minutes that he is on, but other than that his attention span is about 5 minutes TOP! He likes to listen to the songs of "Franklin" or "Little Bill", or will watch Elmo on Sesame Street for a minute, but other than that he is not really interested yet. The only time he sits with us in front of the TV is during Jeopardy...but we make a fun 30 minutes out of it, talking amongst each other and talking to DS.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

My oldest just started watching tv in the last couple months-she just turned two.
Now i wish i never introduced her to it, cause like you, i felt she was missing out on things and not in the loop KWIM?

Now i can't get her away from it, she knows the whole PBS lineup from Sesame street to word world. She can seriously watch tv from 7:30am to 10:30am everyday if i let her. And things being so crazy the last 2 months with getting my house on the market and now moving, i've been letting her do that a couple times a week. bad bad mommy, at least they're educational shows.

WE don't have extended cable so no Noggin or nick jr for her.

But she still LOVES her books and that i love.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

we don't let ds wathc tv (he's 1). but he does know the characters through the books i read him and through the stuffed animals we play with (i.e. elmo, cookie monster, pooh.)

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

No. I can't say he doesn't watch it at all, but he sees very little, and I don't think he's missing a thing. He's 5 months, and at this point, he seems more interested in the people and the world around him. I'd rather he stares at the leaves blowing around than watching tv if that makes him happy.

I'm not completely against all tv, but I do think too much of it is not good and it doesn't really benefit the young ones.

I figure when he gets older, I'll have to pry him away from it, so I'm enjoying the tv free time now!

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

DS rarelt watches tv--there is no tv in daycare and i am against it at home unless i really need it on so i can get some things done...but without the tv I play music a lot--maybe your child would like that

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

My DS is 7 months and he does not watch TV. I really do not think he is missing out. He plays with his toys, I read to him, we listen to music, and we sing songs. I really feel like since he is not watching TV we interact more and he plays more. I think that he can learn more from this than TV, but that is jmo. Like a previous poster said children can learn about the different characters through toys and books. My husband and I intend on trying our best to keep him from watching TV until he is two.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

We don't put tv on for DD. I have played a few short clips of like a song with dancing from something like mary poppins or some thing from sesame street etc - but unless it involves music DD has no interest in it past about 2-5 minutes - The only time I put something on is when she is really fussy and nothing else works - again she will watch for about 2-5 mins then go and play with her toys. I actually like that she would rather play than stare at the tv.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

I did not allow tv until my son was 18 months, by 2.5 he was an addict. That doesn't mean he watches a lot now that he is 4. I go by the rule a half hour per year of age, and there are plenty of shows he would like to see but isn't allowed...such as powerrangers. He still loves them and has never watched a show...so no i think they are missing out on nothing. My 8 month old daughter does not get any tv time either, my son watches his 2 hrs of tv during her naps.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

I'm not against TV if done in modertion. Although I talk about Backyardigan's a lot it is really me who likes it and Matthew just likes the theme song and then tunes out. He really just isn't into it yet. Which is cool....I like the way he keeps himself occupied with discovering other things. My mom insinuated that perhaps he doesn't have a good attention span and that is why he doesn't like tv. I think that's a load of garbage. But no, I don't feel like he is missing out on anything!

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

DS is 16 months and only watches word world once in a while (usually to cut his nails).

I'm happy he doesn't watch it because I have no patience for kid's shows. And my time with DS is so short I want him playing with me, not watching TV.

It will all end one day so I'm enjoying the time while I have it. I'm sure one day we'll all be fighting over who gets to watch what on our one TV.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

My DD is 8 months old, and we don't let her watch TV at all , just last week I let her watch Elmo for the first time so I could cut her nails ,she watched for 5 minutes and lost interest, I don't think she is missing out on anything by not watching TV , she is a very smart child and very advanced for her age and I don't think she needs to watch TV to learn anything, she has books, toys , me and DH for that. Maybe we will let her watch TV when she is around 1 or so .

Message edited 5/13/2008 9:29:06 PM.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Jason could care less about TV. He will watch 3-5 minutes of Sesame Street. I am fine with it. TV is not a very good thing for young children.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

We never tried not to let Sydney watch TV she just has no interest. She used to nap to Baby Einstein. If she does watch she only wants to see Elmo. We TIVO Sesame Street and fast forward to the Elmo scenes.

Re: Moms whose DC's (particularly babies & young kids) don't watch TV

Logan didn't start watching TV until recently. He will watch it for a few minutes but then has no interest in it. The only time he really watched the whole thing was when I put it on for the first time, I let him watch a Baby Einstein DVD.

He has no interest for now so we are happy.