How much TV for the toddler?

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My wife and I go to battle over the question of how much TV is appropriate for a little one. Personally, I would like to throw the TV in the garbage :eek: (but how would I get EWTN???). For the most part, I have managed to convince her that 30 minutes per day is quite enough (and this number is based somewhat on a study that was recently publicized in the popular media). That 30 minutes is usually Baby Einstein, Dora, the Wiggles, or Elmo. I want TV (if it has to be in our house) to be a treat (and as much as it can be) a learning experience. Actually, I think that because of the limited time she spends in front of the “talking box,” she has taken to books as her main source of visual stimulation / discovery. Pretty Cool! What do other parents do? What are your thoughts? Are there any other good studies out there on this topic?
 
A recent article in National Catholic Register covered this. You would be well advised to read it.

Why does your wife insist on the TV being on?
 
I think, overall, my wife has a problem with silence. A quiet house is unnerving to her. It is like she needs background noise, distractions, etc. I do not want my little girl to be plagued with the same problem. I think Bishop Sheen talked about the need for silence in one of his programs and how, in silence, great discoveries about God and ourselves are made.
 
Go Irish:
I think Bishop Sheen talked about the need for silence in one of his programs and how, in silence, great discoveries about God and ourselves are made.
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:amen:

You don’t say how old your daughter is. We never watch TV. Our 13 year old is exposed to TV only when she visits relatives or in hotel rooms on our once a year vacation. At age 9 months, her favorite toy was her “Pat the Bunny” book. And we were already reading to her Eric Carle books (“Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, etc.) She is now an extraordinary young woman–gifted academically and musically talented. There is no doubt in my mind that being an avid reader and a music student since the age of 4 are the result of not watching TV. Certainly, 1/2 hour a day won’t harm your daughter. But only by not watching TV at all, can you really avoid the inevitable disagreements and reap the full benefits of quiet family pastimes (reading, music, games, strolls, crafts, and similar activities.)
 
Turn it off. Better yet, throw it out. You’ll make the adjustment in less than two weeks, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
 
Turning off the TV is the best thing you can do. I have 2 kids and their behavior improved almost immediately.
 
Go Irish:
I think, overall, my wife has a problem with silence. A quiet house is unnerving to her.
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You should try to get your wife to substitute tv with radio. My mom always had the radio on in the kitchen when we were growing up. It’s a lot less intrusive than television. The fact that it’s not a visual medium makes it easier to ‘tune out’, yet it solves the quiet house problem.
 
We have a tv but it’s not hooked up to cable. My 3-yr-old loves tv and asks for it everyday, however I don’t let him watch. My 16-month-old really isn’t interested in tv. Like you, I believe 30 minutes now and then is plenty for his active little mind. I have noticed that he is more hyper and ornery after zoning and zombie-ing out in front of the tv than if he looks at books or entertains himself other ways. I have not allowed myself to use this as a babysitter. Others have commented how my children play well together (they have their days, though!). I don’t want to dumb down his language or thinking ability, or have himself thinking he must constantly be entertained.

In my opinion, that’s why a lot of young people find Mass boring, because a) no one ever explained to them the reasons behind Mass, and b) the priest is not on the altar to entertain, therefore they find it boring. They have been conditioned into being constantly entertained.

I also don’t want my children to grow up using the word “like” like every other like word, the way like the kids on like the tv do. One of my PEEVES!
 
We have a TV but no cable and without cable the local channels are nothing but a blurr. We did have a cable up until a year ago when my husband was laid off (back to work now) it was a perfect excuse to cut off the cable something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

The shows you mention seem fine for a toddler and 30 minutes seems reasonable. If your wife likes noise she could try some nice classical or religious music in the background. Or pop in a video of a meditation on the rosary or devine mercy.

My daughter does watch TV at her grandma’s and friends’ houses. She also has a stack of videos to pick from. She doesn’t have a set limit but she rarely watches more than one video a day. I wanted more control on what she watched (without having to constantly say -you can’t watch that show).

You’re wife may need a little relief for your toddler and the TV helps give a little distraction. 30 minutes seems quite reasonable I wouldn’t make a big issue of it.

Side note: If you have high speed internet (cable or dsl) you can watch EWTN online. That’s what we do.🙂
 
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rayne89:
Side note: If you have high speed internet (cable or dsl) you can watch EWTN online. That’s what we do.🙂
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Wow, thanks for that hint. I did not know that and I will have to check it out (since we don’t have TV or cable).
 
TV has been shown to cause learning disabilities and problematic behaviours in children who watch it at a young age. They are linking some of the ADD type disorders with tv watching. Instead of TV, try different types of music. Classical , jazz etc. Obviously no offensive stuff and watch the talk radio that can be bad.I listen to Catholic Radio through the internet all the time.

www.relevantradio.com

www.avemariaradio.org
 
La Chiara:
Wow, thanks for that hint. I did not know that and I will have to check it out (since we don’t have TV or cable).
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Yup, just go to ewtn’s website and look under multimedia

ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.asp

you can also watch some past shows, there’s all kinds of great stuff!👍
 
For a toddler!?
A half hour a day is plenty! Maybe TOO much. How about a 1/2 hour a week?
Develop good habits now.
How about teaching them excercise, play, music, prayer, reading, a new language, medicene… ok, 😉 well you get idea… hehe.
 
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