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wumpiesmommy
Guest
Anything my little boy would enjoy watching or listening to? Im having trouble finding Christian cartoons or music videos.
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catholicmamajoy
Guest
He might be a little young for Veggie Tales, but they are a good start if you are looking for something in electronic media for him.
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Kelfa28
Guest
Not too young…my 14 month old loves her veggie tales.
She gets to watch one episode a day…sometimes two episodes now since mommy is having fun with morning sickness again!
She’s too young to understand the premiss but she apparently like the hopping vegetables.
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pentecostbaby
Guest
To me, unless mama is in extremis (also morning sickness here that’s really hyperemesis gravidum, AKA going to the hospital with dehydration and requiring lots of meds to function), I don’t think TV is a good idea. The AAP recommends no screen time for kids under 2, and only a half hour a day after.
In practice - some kids are media junkies who shouldn’t be allowed access to TV. They pick up influences too easily and literally get addicted to the visual stimulation combined with the passivity that TV requires. Other kids wander off after 15 minutes. I was the latter, and my sister the former. DS1 is an addict too - we strictly, strictly limit it and occasionally do TV detox where it stays off for a few days. DS2 doesn’t care.
I truly believe that children who do not engage with narrative-driven media are happier, more peaceful, and kinder. I see it daily in the children I interact with, in my kids and my friends’ kids. The lack of narrative takes the focus away from conflict. Even shows with pro-social messages show conflict, and that’s what small people generally focus on.
Hence, my favorite for kids is Yo Gabba Gabba - no storyline, just some songs and music. Short. Doesn’t include rapid visual cuts or flashing-light stimulation. I am not fond of Sesame Street because of its commercialization.
In practice - some kids are media junkies who shouldn’t be allowed access to TV. They pick up influences too easily and literally get addicted to the visual stimulation combined with the passivity that TV requires. Other kids wander off after 15 minutes. I was the latter, and my sister the former. DS1 is an addict too - we strictly, strictly limit it and occasionally do TV detox where it stays off for a few days. DS2 doesn’t care.
I truly believe that children who do not engage with narrative-driven media are happier, more peaceful, and kinder. I see it daily in the children I interact with, in my kids and my friends’ kids. The lack of narrative takes the focus away from conflict. Even shows with pro-social messages show conflict, and that’s what small people generally focus on.
Hence, my favorite for kids is Yo Gabba Gabba - no storyline, just some songs and music. Short. Doesn’t include rapid visual cuts or flashing-light stimulation. I am not fond of Sesame Street because of its commercialization.
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abon12
Guest
barney?
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Aggies08
Guest
Mine really liked Dora/Diago (netflix) around 18-20mo; the eldest didn’t do TV until 2yrs, the younger, well 
. Diago is more “boy,” but he may like either.
Does he have a kitchen? ALL 12mo+ I’ve known love to have a little kitchen with a little set of plates/bowls/food.
If he can go outside, sandbox+water tables are fun. So is a bucket (don’t fall in) of water with cups.
. Diago is more “boy,” but he may like either.Does he have a kitchen? ALL 12mo+ I’ve known love to have a little kitchen with a little set of plates/bowls/food.
If he can go outside, sandbox+water tables are fun. So is a bucket (don’t fall in) of water with cups.
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Kelfa28
Guest
I’m sorry.
I’m at a complete loss as to how to get ANYTHING around my house done if I can’t let my daughter watch at least one program a day.
It’s not possible. She naps once a day and I need a mental break every once in awhile.
I’m home with her all day.
She is read numerous amounts of books, we have activities we can sort of afford (library time once a week and swim lessons once a week) and we take walks and go outside if the weather is nice.
She absolutely loves books. She’ll quietly flip through a book for quite awhile. I’ll let her turn the pages and read to her whatever she lands on.
My daughter plays with blocks, we get the tupper ware out and we listen to music a lot.
We don’t even have cable…just some DVDs and Netflix.
You can have opinions on whatever you want…but I have ZERO issue letting my daughter watch one episode of veggie tales a day.
She clearly enjoys it. I’ll let you know how messed up she’ll be in a few years from now…sheesh!
I’m at a complete loss as to how to get ANYTHING around my house done if I can’t let my daughter watch at least one program a day.
It’s not possible. She naps once a day and I need a mental break every once in awhile.
I’m home with her all day.
She is read numerous amounts of books, we have activities we can sort of afford (library time once a week and swim lessons once a week) and we take walks and go outside if the weather is nice.
She absolutely loves books. She’ll quietly flip through a book for quite awhile. I’ll let her turn the pages and read to her whatever she lands on.
My daughter plays with blocks, we get the tupper ware out and we listen to music a lot.
We don’t even have cable…just some DVDs and Netflix.
You can have opinions on whatever you want…but I have ZERO issue letting my daughter watch one episode of veggie tales a day.
She clearly enjoys it. I’ll let you know how messed up she’ll be in a few years from now…sheesh!
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jediliz
Guest
when my 6 year old nephew was that age, he was starting to get into the movie Cars but if you want to limit that kind of entertainment (television), maybe some toy cars, trucks instead? Thomas the train? As for music, I’d say anything with children’s songs like Working on a Railroad, etc…any sort of musical cd with songs like that.
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KP3243
Guest
Go over to the blog Showers of Roses this mother is amazing she has 7 kids and they are always doing stuff and they don’t have a TV and they are very Catholic! It’s wonderful!
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Cath4life
Guest
use pius media. They are Catholic and have family friendly movies.
www.piusmedia.com. It works like netflix and they have different levels of membership.
Blessings,
www.piusmedia.com. It works like netflix and they have different levels of membership.
Blessings,
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Nimzovik
Guest
I’m sorry. At the rate the 17 month old is growing synapses, I am simply compelled to assert:
TV = ADD/ADHD! TV now equals problems in concentration later.
Yes. It is just that simple.
TV = ADD/ADHD! TV now equals problems in concentration later.
Yes. It is just that simple.
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JoyfulRC
Guest
This really is quite a generalization and I likewise feel compelled to respond. I was allowed to watch TV and I’ve never had trouble with concentrating. Now, resisting those impulse purchases is another subject altogether.
I understand that you feel strongly, but the parents who choose carefully among television shows shouldn’t be made to feel like they are doing wrong by their children.
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Nimzovik
Guest
It is almost irrelevant in regard to the quality of the program. The constant movement, the bright colors, the continuous sound of TV , is a stimulus that certainly is not the way actual life is.
Keep the kid away from it. At least until they are 15 or so…
TV is called ‘the plug in drug for a reason!’
Keep the kid away from it. At least until they are 15 or so…
TV is called ‘the plug in drug for a reason!’
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Nimzovik
Guest
At 17 months? I just do not think so.This really is quite a generalization and I likewise feel compelled to respond. I was allowed to watch TV and I’ve never had trouble with concentrating. Now, resisting those impulse purchases is another subject altogether.
I understand that you feel strongly, but the parents who choose carefully among television shows shouldn’t be made to feel like they are doing wrong by their children.
Why take the risk?
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JoyfulRC
Guest
This is a funny one to me. My great niece was not interested in TV at all until one day she happened to see Barney. She can’t get enough of the big, purple guy. It is funny because her father (my nephew) was a little too old for Barney when it came out and swore that he would “NEVER allow a kid of his to watch that stupid Barney!” What parents won’t suffer for their children.
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TarkanAttila
Guest
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Back2Church
Guest
My 6 year old has been watching TV since she was about 6 months old and using the computer at about a year and a half. All of it was participation activities, meaning I or my wife would be right there with her. Once she hit about 2 we would let her watch some stuff on her own so we could get things done around the house. At around 3 we started letting her use certain programs on the computer independently. (we were never far off enough that we couldn’t keep her monitored, though).
It may very well be that did wrong by her, but all I can tell you is that she’s finishing up kindergarten (her first school experience, we never used day care) and I couldn’t be happier with her performance. I constantly run into parents, teachers, even the principal, who tell me how sweet and caring she is with others and how she’s always going out of her way to help out her peers and her teachers. She’s the best reader in her grade (officially at a second grade reading level, but she is currently reading a book about insects that is marketd for adults), has been accepted into the gifted and talented program, and she’s already working on multiplication (I’m teaching her how to actually multiply, rather than memorizing tables).
Did all the TV and computer time at such a young age make her ADHD? I don’t know. She’s only gotten in trouble at school twice at the beginning of the year (within the first two weeks), learned her lesson, and hasn’t gotten in trouble a single time since. She has her own iPod loaded with games, and the TV is usually on at any given time (our house is quite hectic… imagine the old show Full House), and has access to a computer at all times (with permission and monitoring, of course)… but guess what she spends most of her time doing? Reading. Chapter books, even. And when she’s not reading she’s usually doing some arts and crafts project.
TV might mess up some kids, but it’s not a given for all kids. I think it all comes down to WHAT ELSE the parents do with their kids that determines how kids turn out. If you let the TV raise your kids, then of course your kids will turn out messed up. But if you only use TV as a supplement to reading, talking, Q&A, arts and crafts, walking, etc…, then I bet your kids will turn out just fine. Good food (whole stuff, home cooked, not artificial junk) and lots of sleep for your kids are what will leep their minds going and temperments reasonable than anything else. Well, that and being a good example for them, of course, since all their behavior is initially learned from their parents.
It may very well be that did wrong by her, but all I can tell you is that she’s finishing up kindergarten (her first school experience, we never used day care) and I couldn’t be happier with her performance. I constantly run into parents, teachers, even the principal, who tell me how sweet and caring she is with others and how she’s always going out of her way to help out her peers and her teachers. She’s the best reader in her grade (officially at a second grade reading level, but she is currently reading a book about insects that is marketd for adults), has been accepted into the gifted and talented program, and she’s already working on multiplication (I’m teaching her how to actually multiply, rather than memorizing tables).
Did all the TV and computer time at such a young age make her ADHD? I don’t know. She’s only gotten in trouble at school twice at the beginning of the year (within the first two weeks), learned her lesson, and hasn’t gotten in trouble a single time since. She has her own iPod loaded with games, and the TV is usually on at any given time (our house is quite hectic… imagine the old show Full House), and has access to a computer at all times (with permission and monitoring, of course)… but guess what she spends most of her time doing? Reading. Chapter books, even. And when she’s not reading she’s usually doing some arts and crafts project.
TV might mess up some kids, but it’s not a given for all kids. I think it all comes down to WHAT ELSE the parents do with their kids that determines how kids turn out. If you let the TV raise your kids, then of course your kids will turn out messed up. But if you only use TV as a supplement to reading, talking, Q&A, arts and crafts, walking, etc…, then I bet your kids will turn out just fine. Good food (whole stuff, home cooked, not artificial junk) and lots of sleep for your kids are what will leep their minds going and temperments reasonable than anything else. Well, that and being a good example for them, of course, since all their behavior is initially learned from their parents.
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JoyfulRC
Guest
Your original post was pretty strong, at least that is the way I read it.At 17 months? I just do not think so.
Why take the risk?
My intended point was that parents such as the OP who are serious about good parenting need to be supported and not implicitly criticized for having a defensible opinion that differs from mine or yours.
I probably should have refrained from trying to refute you (which I am sorely tempted to do as it is a character flaw in that I love to use logical argument to prove I am right. Probably one reason why I love being Catholic is because of its internal logical consistency.). The thread is about which programs are suitable for a 17-month-old child, not about whether TV is suitable for a child, so we’d better not continue with this or the mods will gently remind us! And I’ve got to get going to Mass.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
I suggest not to start him watching TV or movies at his age.
Sing to him.
Take him outside.
Let him bang on pots and pans.
Read to him.
Read to him.
Read some more to him.
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takers
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When our daughter watches TV (a little over 2 years) she typically asks for Thomas the Train, Curious George, and Shaun the Sheep. They are all slow moving cartoons with an intended young audience. There are a few moments where I’m not a huge fan of the character trait being displayed (Sir Topham Hatt can get mad at the wrong train or for the wrong reason, Shaun has some eye rolls) but overall they teach kindness, telling the truth, being friendly, etc so I’m cool with it. Plus, I can have these ones on and they don’t bother me. We’ve tried Veggie Tales but they seem to be for an older audience, say four or five, so we’re holding off on those for a while longer.
I think that there are certain types of people that having zero television in their house works for them and there are other people that appreciate the education and distraction that TV can give. Neither one is right or wrong as they are both employing methods that work best for their family. Yes, we do have a higher diagnosis of ADD/ADHD but there are a lot of questions regarding what causes this: preservatives in food, a faster paced life-style, less recess time, too quick diagnosis, etc. So say that watching TV will absolutely give a child one of these issues is incorrect. Yes, they may contribute but like everything else moderation is key.
I think that there are certain types of people that having zero television in their house works for them and there are other people that appreciate the education and distraction that TV can give. Neither one is right or wrong as they are both employing methods that work best for their family. Yes, we do have a higher diagnosis of ADD/ADHD but there are a lot of questions regarding what causes this: preservatives in food, a faster paced life-style, less recess time, too quick diagnosis, etc. So say that watching TV will absolutely give a child one of these issues is incorrect. Yes, they may contribute but like everything else moderation is key.
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