What do you think about children under 3 watching T.V.?

Question

do you let you baby watch tv? i was just wondering what other moms do because i just read that...

studies show that babies under the age of 3 who watch television have a high risk of developing ADD and ADHD, also have a 40% higher risk of becoming obese...

Answer 1

It's not wrong as long as they are not glued to the screen. Parents who let the TV raise their kids are usually the same parents who blame the media for their bad kids, and that is a problem.

Answer 2

We allow limited amounts of TV restricted to specific TV programs that we have chosen. I know that television is not ideal, but with 2 kids that are full of energy, sometimes 30 minutes of Sesame Street or something similar is the only way that I get a break.

Answer 3

I don't have a child. But when I was younger I always watched the cool Nick Jr. Shows.

Blues Clues,

Franklin,

Little Bill,

Little Bear,

HAHA!

But then again I suffered from dyslexia and it by far sucked. so...

I guess the thing you read could be true.

Answer 4

Perfectly OK if you don't give them a steady diet of TV. Selected learning programs are good. Being obese is your responsibility for feeding them too much and not getting them outdoors to burn up that energy buildup. Don't read too many articles. Use a little common sense.

Answer 5

i don't own a TV.

Answer 6

I have 5 children, and they all watch TV and have since they were about 1. None of them have ADD, ADHD or are obese. That is because we have limits.

The oldest 4 have a TV in their bedroom. That's because TV is for their downtime. That means morning when they are just getting up or evening before they go to bed. Other then that, you are playing downstairs or outside for free time unless you are ill. That's a good rule for our family. I hate when kids do nothing but sitting watching TV, video games, or computer all day, but then I hate when parents never allow children to watch it. Finding a happy medium is the best.

Answer 7

I only let my son watch Sesame Street.

Answer 8

I think it depends completely on what you allow them to watch.  Their little brains absorb everything they see & hear.  If you give them something educational like Little Einsteins to watch then I think watching TV can be very beneficial to them.  But if you give them garbage to watch, I can see how those studies may be right.

Answer 9

My boys have always been allowed a little time watching cartoons and i watch them with them.  They watch stuff on Noggin and have learned a lot.  Neither of them are ADD or ADHD and they are both active and their height and weight are good for each other (as in their height and weight match).  I do think though that when children only live their lives in front of a tv playing games and watching tv (especially stuff that is inappropriate) that is does increase the risk of obesity, violent behavior and ADD.  ADHD though i don't see it as if they are sitting in front of the tv all the time then obviously they aren't hyperactive running around like ADHD kids do.

Answer 10

I think if it's limited to a small amount of time per day and it's educational, then it's fine. I have 4 boys who all watched a little TV when they were that age and none of them are ADD or ADHD or obese. My boys are now 13, 13 (twins), 11 and 8.

Answer 11

I think I watched TV before I was three, I loved Sesame Street and those kinds of shows.

I do have ADHD, but I also have Tourette's, and ADHD is associated with Tourette's (I also have OCD and have a form of stuttering).

I'm definitely not obese.

I think that TV can be a great thing if you don't let it control you, and I have learned a lot from watching it.