Are there other parents out there like me?

Question

Am I the only parent who cares about what i put into my child's body? everyone i know gives their kids lollies, cookies, ice-cream, hotdogs, doughnuts, fast food, etc.

all that fatty, sugary, high carb food cant be good for the next generation???

Are there any parents out there like me, who believe children shouldn't watch TV or play video games?

what do you think????

Answer 1

ice creams cookies high fatty foods are not Good.but as children,small amount of that do not make unhealthy.

long hours infront of tv is not good.twicw in a week let them watch some cartoons and documentaries on nature.

Answer 2

My kids diets are roughly 90%/10%.  The majority of what they eat is healthy and balanced, with a few reasonable treats (natural ice cream, biscuits, etc, no lollies).

They do watch the occasional children's show, but only things like Word World, the Wiggles and Little People. When they're older video games will be limited to non violent games only for about an hour a day.  I think some of that stuff in moderation is fine, as long as they're not accounting for the majority of a childs day.

Answer 3

me  for one think video game don't hurt kids ... TV before 9pm is very good no swearing  extra and yes i feed my feeds junk food on the odd occasion  except for Alex my downs son he loves McDonald's burgers ......... if you restrict to much in a child's life as soon as they are let free they will do every thing the other kids at school do ...

Answer 4

I think you are doing a great job.  I am not as disciplined with all this as you with my 3, but I know my kids eat a lot less junk and watch a lot less t.v, video games etc than most of their friends.  What better way to set them up for a healthy life than by living by example.  They will always want the junk and will also come to feel they are missing out on something when they see their friends eating the "fun stuff".  Maybe if they were allowed some potato chips or a few lollies every once and a while, they will love the treat and also not feel they are missing out.  Same with the t.v and video games.  Just like with anything, if you stick with "everything in moderation" you can't go too far wrong

Answer 5

im still pregnant so i have it all to come but i respect where you are coming from. i would like to think you should limit these things to treats and not make them everyday life. its not healthy. i think it would have a negitive effect if you cut them out completely tho :)

Answer 6

I let my boys watch cartoons on noggin that are preschool based educational programs but only for 1-2 hrs a day and they are playing and running around the room the whole time interacting with the show.  I do allow treats just like my mom did with me and my grandma did with her.  A treat from time to time isn't going to hurt them.  Even the pediatricians will give out suckers at visits for being a good little boy/girl.  It is when parents make their childrens whole day about tv, video games and junk food and no exercise or healthy food that their is a problem.  Everything in moderation.

Answer 7

I  have 4 children ages 21 to 3 all girls... My first child watched TV and she loves ice cream , At the age of 4 my husband took her to see " The terminator" (rated "R").... and you know what... she turned out great..She is a senior in college on a full scholarship.. works full time for a surgeon and has her own apt. She pays her own bills, she is not a drug addict and as far as I know she has not killed anyone . So for me , my children watch TV.. they get candy and ice cream in moderation and they have been known to play video games.

Answer 8

survival of the fittest mean if they don't know about it then they don't know how to deal with it.as for the food thing ,as best they can have at the price of thing as they are is always good.

Answer 9

Everything in moderation..they have to leave the home eventually,,,and when they do, they will go hog wild on what you deprived them of..

Answer 10

You should move to Germany! I'm living here at the moment and most kids in my son's kindergarten eat whole grain foods and don't watch tv more than a few minutes once a week. Some of the kids here have never watched tv and never been on a computer before attending school, which they start here age 6. It's a different world to the one we moved from!

Answer 11

my kids are vegetarian wholistic diet kids...tv has "gone wild" and video games are limited to funny not violent ones

Answer 12

My oldest daughter is three.  We dont totally restrict "junk" foods, but we do limit them.  Fast food maybe once a month.  Other little treats on occasion.  Well, we DO forbid sodas and artificial juices.  Overall, we try to lean towards healthy snack alternatives.  Her favorite is yogurt with granola and fresh fruit.

As for TV, its not forbidden, but it is limited.  And we only have 2 channels anyway.  She watches PBS, with all those educational kid shows.  Video games arent all bad either, but she is too young for them anyway.  My husband and I are adults, and enjoy sitting down and playing video games with eachother now and then to unwind.  I really dont see how its any different than playing cards, or a boardgame, or something along those lines.  Its just something fun to do together while chatting and cuddling.  

What it comes down to in our household, is moderation.  We dont totally "deprive" ourselves of treats and fun.  But we dont over-indulge either.  You have to feed your body AND your soul well.  You cant totally deprive them of the little indulgences.

Tv can be really educational.  I remember being so frustrated with school!  I could learn more in an hour on the discovery channel than I did in a whole day at school.  

And I dont think totally forbidding treats is healthy.  You have to teach them how to control themselves.  Otherwise they may become adults, try those things and go on a total binge because its all so new and wonderfully "forbidden".

Answer 13

:)  It will be interesting to see what your child does when he/she reaches 18 and moves out.  I'll bet he/she watches tv, and eats junk food like crazy.

Answer 14

i believe kids today are too lazy and eat too much. I tell my kids healthy choices first then if you have room 1 small junk food choice. I also have the cable turned off during the summer and enroll my kids in summer camps or scouting clubs. we go swimming and for walks. we do a lot of camping too. my kids are 7 and 10 and they love it and they don't even miss the tv except when it rains, but then we have family day.

Answer 15

I can't say I'm the same as you, but it's a healthy and good way to bring up your children. I've brought my son up as a vegetarian because it's what I chose when I became a parent, I think it's healthier and I just prefer it. I make sure that he gets his fruit and vegetables and drinks enough water, but apart from that I don't have too many restrictions. He is allowed lollies, ice-cream and other treats but doesn't have them frequently. He only has fast food on rare occasions and knows that he won't get these foods unless he behaves. As long as my son gets all the good foods he needs, I believe it's fine to give him a few treats now and again.

As for video games, he loves them. Whenever he plays them, he does so with me and has a really good time. I think it's good because it gives him some 'healthy competition' in wanting to beat me and means we can just have a laugh together. Like TV, I make sure that they're appropriate for his age and that he doesn't spend much time on them. On days where he watches TV or plays video games a lot, I usually take him out to the park or on a walk for some fresh air and exercise.

I don't overdo it, but I think these things in moderation are fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with your way though, if it's what you want to do then that's fine as well.