Television for an infant...Good or bad?
 

I have a four month old who is facinated by the tv. He will stop whatever he is doing and watch. He will not stop until the tv is turned off. I've tried turning him around when I watch tv, but he turns his head as much as he can to get a glimpse.

I don't think he should be watching at this early of an age, but I thought I would ask some of you who have been through it. So...T.V. or no T.V.? Thanks:crazy:

Re: Television for an infant...Good or bad?
 

a little tv maybe a hour or two in the evening but for the most part keep it little


i am not suggesting this as a for ever type of thing just till your baby gets a little older

It's all about the content...just slap in some of those little educational videos.

...of course my infant girl was hung on country music videos forever...*shudder*

Broadcasters are aiming ever younger with their programming (and so are advertisers). In Israel there is a new channel called Baby that essentially broadcasts programs like Baby Einstien for children.

The screen also has information on the bottom crawl and side panel (thing the Headline News screen) for parent - where to buy stuff, how to raise you kids, etc.

I limited my son, when he was younger to watching either video tapes or watching commerical free TV.

The aim of commerical television in capturing younger viewers is to train future consumers. Once they are used to watching TV they will do so for the rest of their life. Advertisers like this.

It is interesting to note that the creators of Sesame Street formatted their show in such a way as to emulate the rapidity of commercials -- which they had observed drew children's attention more so than longer form televsion. While it can be argued that the content of Sesame Street is educational, it can also be argued that the form in which it is delivered educates children in how to watch television.

In the end, I realize there is no escape from television and the the only thing to do is: a) ensure that television is doled out in moderate amounts and b) watch what your kids are watching and talk to them about it. Talk to them about the shows and talk to them about the ads. Teach them to be active views rather than passive.

My neice was rivited by The Godfather at a very young age...


She's not qutie 2 and I've got her hooked on The Simpsons :D

television as a babysitter, bad.

television as a teaching tool, good.

watch WITH your kid, talk about it, make it interactive. TV can be cool, it doesn't have turn your baby into a potato.

and, as in all things, moderation is the key to happiness.

Young children are unable to differentiate what happens on television from the rest of reality. It is equally real, and all is true. Of course, television is also an intregal part of our society, and there are better programs than others.

Here is something that I've been considering for a while. I think television, particularly at a young age contribues to ADD. The constant movement from scene to scene to scene, different angles, and the lack of silence all contribute to wanting things to happen quicker, and a difficulty in peaceful settings. I imagine that if I ever have a child that I will be very selective with what television I use, and limit the amount of time that the television is on quite a bit - esp. at younger ages.

I let my son watch Nick Jr. & Playhouse Disney shows since he was 3-4 months old, but not a lot of it.
It's educational & entertaining, but don't let them get glued to it- it can lead to problems down the road. Try to be more interactive with them or replace tv with a toy for a little bit.
But there is nothing wrong with tv in moderation. It stimulates their minds, and their visual motor skills.

My girls went to a Waldorf school last year. One of the requirements was no TV. We never stuck with it 100% but we did truly limit it! I observed their imaginations florish and they have much more desire to read. Although they are not in a Waldorf school now, I find them saying things such as "TV is boring." I'm glad!

I think that if/when TV takes away from family interaction it is bad. We turn off the TV every night at dinner and spend time conversing! I want my kids to know how to carry on conversations and be social -- not be glued to a machine.

As a teacher, I definitely agree that tv teaches kids to have short attention spans. I also HATE the "have to have" attitude that comes from commercials. We've spend a lot of time talking about actors and their jobs vs. reality.

I used to let my daughter watch tv when she was just born, Baby Einstein DVD's mostly. At the time, she could pretty much care a less. As she got older though (she's only 7 months now) and after a few months at the nanny's house, she has obtained this vacant stare when the tv is on. It's scarey as hell.

I lost my job a month ago, so I have been watching my daughter during the day, while mom works. It's the only good thing about being unemployed actually. Since I've been home, the tv doesn't go on during the day.

Thanks for everyone's input. It's good to see what you've all been through.

@Empty_One

I'm in the exact same situation you're in. I too am a stay home Dad for the time being. I know what you mean by that vacant stare. He seems so full of facial expressions, but as soon as the t.v. is on he is lost in a blank stare until the tv goes off.

when i was a kid i watched sesame street... mr rogers neighber hood and maybe a couple other shows... the rest of the time i was out and about... playing in the backyard or buried in my mountain of legos!

id keep it limited to shows designed to be educational andwhatnot... and have em do other stimulating activities...

I'm 100% behind you on that one gibingus.

We monitor the channels that are being watched. We got to one point with Cartoon Network that we simply banned them from watching it. And the cool thing is they accepted it because of the reasons we gave for us not watching mind-numbingly viloent and stupid cartoons. Anyone seen Shin Chan? That little charmer is a big no-no in our house.

The good thing about cable TV is that you can get your kids interested in all sorts of 'real' stuff too. My kids are fascinated by any programme about animals and dinosaurs are legend in our household.

Just moderate it people. :icare:

Not a mama, but I've babysat a lot.

My longest-term babysitting charge, Walker, used to watch videos in the Baby Einstein series...and just LAUGH. That kid had an awesome sense of humour. The bears and monkeys and stuff cracked him up.

Other TV didn't really interest him much. I kept it on for noise a lot, just because the kid didn't talk and I missed hearing human voices. I'd have on CNN or whatever, and he'd continue to play with his toys.

Maybe he was in his 'happy place'? ?
:)

Yeah, our guy loves baby einstein. it cracks him up, and i think he has a thing for aspen and sierra clark now. we let him watch it from pretty early on, as a video baby myself (sesame street, mr. rogers and electric company were daily for me and i credit them for a lot) i was all about the motion, color, patterns and concepts in the einsteins.

i think little kids go for puppets before they go for cartoon animation. flat drawings just don't appeal as early in my experience with my own and other kids. although he's starting to get into cartoons that match his favorite books, like maisy and clifford, he still likes muppets and puppets best. we are trying to steer away from einstein now and get more into sesame street and things that teach higher concepts. we limit to around an hour day, and make sure that there is a lot of physical activity to balance out the sitting time. we talk about what we are watching to learn words and concepts like sharing and stuff.

i believe in this completely. commercials are more dangerous than the program. we stick to pbs or videos. interesting that noggin, which is a cable channel for young kids is completely commercial free. they get it. i think their programming is great, but we have to set limits. it is important to make real life more entertaining than what they watch in the box, sometimes that can be a challenge for parents, but it is a good challenge that benefts everyone.

Ya know, i just thought of something. I always thought it would be nice to have a vehicle with a DVD/television in the back for the kids, as sometimes we drive a lot and it could come in handy, but that is still TV! I would rather have them sit and read or just think and imagine. Actually, my kids do plenty of that with no problem anyway, that I don't ever consider getting one of those in my car.

TV
 

My Kids turned out just find & they loved the TV at a young age. Just be sure let them watch in moderation

Lego and books are my preference... TV is way down the list of activities.

We started our son on the Baby Einstein Series very early. It has helped his development IMMENSELY. He is 9 1/2 months old, and we estimate he has a vocabulary of over 100 words already. He can't talk beyond Mama or Dada yet, but he is progressing. We coupled the Baby Einstein with Flash Cards, and he has a 90% plus accuracy rate. (we can show him an apple and a truck, and ask what one you eat and he goes for the apple!)
Basically, it depends on what the child watches and how involved you are. TV As a babysitter? NOPE. TV for education ranks high with us.

Our daughter is 1, and she is very picky with TV. She isn't interested unless there is music. For anyone who knows Playhouse Disney at all, she has no interest in "older" Wiggles episodes, but loves the "Network Wiggles" episodes (older ones are a lot of talking, newer ones are almost all music). She loves Baby Einstein. Otherwise, the TV can be on and she'll ignore it....likes her toys instead (all of which are educational)

we watch noggin, nick jr
he loves sponge bob and dora the explora

Sensory stimulation for babies..... sure,but I am against letting the television babysit your toddler or small children,There is real life out there,and in my opinion,it's best learned when experienced... not watched.

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AP article:

Attention Deficit Linked to TV Viewing
Risk to Children Increases With Number of Hours Watched, Study Finds
Associated Press
Monday, April 5, 2004


CHICAGO, April 4 -- Very young children who watch television face an increased risk of attention deficit problems by school age, a study has found, suggesting that TV might overstimulate and permanently "rewire" the developing brain.

For every hour of television watched daily, two groups of children -- ages 1 and 3 -- faced a 10 percent increased risk of having attention problems at age 7.

The findings bolster previous research showing that television can shorten attention spans and support recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics that children younger than 2 should not watch television.

"The truth is there are lots of reasons for children not to watch television. Other studies have shown it to be associated with obesity and aggressiveness," said lead author Dimitri A. Christakis, a researcher at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

The study, appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, involved 1,345 children who participated in government-sponsored national health surveys. Parents answered questions about the children's TV viewing and rated their behavior at age 7 on a scale similar to measures used in diagnosing attention deficit disorders.

The researchers lacked data on whether attention deficit disorders had been diagnosed in the youngsters, but the number of children whose parents rated them as having attention problems -- 10 percent -- is similar to the prevalence in the general population, Christakis said. Problems included difficulty concentrating, acting restless and impulsive and being easily confused.

About 36 percent of the 1-year-olds watched no TV, while 37 percent watched one to two hours daily and had a 10 percent to 20 percent increased risk of attention problems. Fourteen percent watched three to four hours daily and had a 30 percent to 40 percent increased risk compared with children who watched no TV. The remainder watched at least five hours daily.

Among 3-year-olds, only 7 percent watched no TV, 44 percent watched one to two hours daily, 27 percent watched three to four hours daily, almost 11 percent watched five to six hours daily, and about 10 percent watched seven or more hours daily.

In a Pediatrics editorial, educational psychologist Jane M. Healy said the study "is important and long overdue" but needs to be followed up to better explain the mechanisms that may be involved.

Christakis said unrealistically fast-paced images typical of most TV programming may alter normal brain development.

"The newborn brain develops very rapidly during the first two to three years of life. It's really being wired" during that time, Christakis said.

Overstimulation during this critical period "can create habits of the mind that are ultimately deleterious," Christakis said. If this theory holds true, the brain changes likely are permanent, but children with attention problems can be taught to compensate, he said.

Jennifer Kotler, assistant director for research at Sesame Workshop, which produces children's programs including "Sesame Street," questioned whether the results would apply to educational programming.

"We do not ignore this research," but more is needed on variables that could affect the impact of early exposure to television, including whether content or watching TV with a parent makes a difference, Kotler said.

"There's a lot of research . . . that supports the positive benefits of educational programming," she said.

gibingus, I heard this on the radio this morning and came home to post it. Very intersting; don't you think!?

oh it's interesting, mrs. gibingus reacted by taking all the baby einstein episodes off the shelf. i'm looking for more information, but i am a raging skeptic and cynic.

as with all major news reporting of studies like this, i'm suspicious of how truncated the article is, how high and mighty the conclusions are, and I am frustrated at how obviously narrow the quotes are.

it may take a careful eye to notice, but the einstein videos, sesame street and quite a few other video products aimed at very young children have very long cuts in them and are almost completely comprised of static shots. you don't see the rapid gun slinger music video editing style and fast tracking shots that now predominate commercial programming. noggin's programming is brilliant, i know many preschool teachers and child care professionals who are blown away by these products. they take full advantage of the medium as a teaching tool.

i personally find my toddler (22 months) has a normal attention span for his age, and i have read in many sources that children that age average about 60-90 seconds of focus on the high end. we are working on growing little gibingus' attention span, currently, he loses interest in anything longer than thomas the tank engine segment (5 minutes). this correlates with the length of the books we read to him. he will turn pages to keep the pacing going.

so, i'm not buying it based on this short and thin article. i recall reading anthropological studies that were obviously biased by race and dealt with attention span issues in black children back in the 80s. they basically proposed the idea that black kids needed more stimulus to mirror their chaotic home environments and couldn't just sit still in class. those theories have since been shot to hell.

in the end, we always seek to blame the cultural environment before we look to ourselves. we lie to ourselves when we don't accept that the tail wags the dog. if you use your tv as a babysitter, don't blame the tv.

10% per hour seems extreme, don't you think?

I think there is a difference between main stream television and videos.

Also, as a teacher, on thing I know for sure is that ADHD kids can focus on computer games and television -- nothing else. That has always been interesting to me. I think the main point is to not overdo it and to stay aware of what you child, including your infant, is watching.

Wow. I didn't think this thread would have lasted so long. A lot of great advice and it is much appreciated. Just a little update. When I started this thread my son was 4 months old and facinated by the tv. Well he's now 6 month old and could care less about t.v. It doesn't even hold his attention for a minute. Go figure.

My 8 month old does the same. One minute he is utterly captivated by Blues Clues. The next minute he wants nothing to do with the tv. Mostly he would rather play with me or his mom. Lately the walker in the kitchen is what amuses him the most. We don't moderate the amount of tv we all watch. Just not that anal. Especially since we have started watching less and less. If I notice that it is becoming a problem, this will change.

gibingus, First, the average normal attention span for your child's age is the normal attention span for all kids his age, including those who watch TV, which is most kids his age. You might be interested to find out if there are any studies on attention span of children that age before TV became prevalent ...


The first three year learning phase is a one shot deal. At the end of that phase the basic operating system is compiled and imprinted in the brain, it's read-only, hard-wired, forever. This is crucial brain development that stops by age three.

When a one-year old is playing with a something, she explores it, pokes at it, drops it, throws it... She's learning about space, about sound, and developing motor skills and a sense of competence. Watching TV just doesn’t provide the same sensory experience. In addition, the relentless chatter and noise emanating for televisions may interfere with the development of ‘inner speech' by which a child learns to think through problems and plans, and restrains impulsive behavior, like talking or thinking, or whatever...

The images and sounds emanating from television contribute nothing but fluffy useless data that will be imprinted peranently at around age 3. The more TV a child watches between ages 0-3, less substantive experiential data will be imprinted from which to build.

Lastly, a TV is not a culture, it is a TV. :-)

My son, in utero, would move around when the theme song to American Country(a brief variety series the spouse liked) would play.
At 6 months, he would react to the theme from Cops by stopping whatever he was doing(toe-sucking, discovering his penis, whatever :p) and watch the tv. I bought a cassette single of the song LOL

At 4 months, educational videos are a waste of time and money; their attention span is that of a housefly. It's the flashing colors and loudness that they notice.
I wouldn't worry at this age. It's not like it'll come up in therapy when they're adults: "My parents had me watching country music videos when I was 4 months old and now all I want to do every day is the two-step" :D
As for the Cops theme, my son doesn't remember it. I will say, however, he's teaching himself piano and is damned good(he's 15)

Hahaha. I do that myself. And I'm much older... much much.

It does seem a reasonable response for an infant. There's lights, noise, faces, movement. My guess is that it's abnormal to be able to ignore it.

I was obsessed with the Cheers theme song. I watched way too much TV, though.

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...650352,00.html

"...Three studies have shown that watching television, even if it includes educational programming such as Sesame Street, delays language development..."

I say get a TiVo so you can watch your shows whenever he's asleep.

Active Play > Educational TV > Regular TV

It's been harder to avoid with our second child because our first is now old enough to watch and it's just silly to separate them if the TV's on.

Our goal is to offset the TV's influence by engaging our kids in as many other active and enriching activies as possible. The more outdoor time the better.

too much TV in the early years is bad, because the brain is not fully developed to experience 3d objects! a TV is always 2d. therefore it would be better if children don't watch too much TV.

but i read also about a study which stated that children learn more from real life experience than from TV Shows which explain the world for children.

TV is not bad, but use it carefully! also children don't need expensive toys. but they need different and challenging (not to challenging!) offers to choose from.

My 12-month old niece is like that too. The giant flat screen TV has been blaring constantly since the day they brought her home from the hospital. Before she was mobile, she and her stroller were parked in front of it, and now it looms over her on her play mat. It's the same when she's at her grandparents' house. When it's on she's fixated on it and only pauses occasionally to stare at the various adults trying to get her attention. It really creeps me out how zombie-like the poor kid is. Even when playing she's still staring. My husband and I are planning to start a family soon and I'm practicing now nice ways to limit the TV time when with the grandparents. TV's fine when you really need a break, but it shouldn't be a 24/7 presence in the house.