I do agree that too much TV too young isn’t good. But I don’t think the medium’s inherently bad.

No one could be more of a reader than me (a children’s librarian to boot). When a snowstorm’s in the offing, I stock up on books before I stock up on food. But I did watch television growing up, and it does have its beneficial uses.

I was reading at three, and a large part of that was due to Sesame Street and The Electric Company (the latter, still much missed!). From Sesame Street, I learned counting, some rudimentary Spanish words, and even respect for the environment (a cartoon about a kid who littered made me a bear for picking up trash). I even picked up on a little classical music before I knew it *was* classical–short films featured music from Carmen and part of a Vivaldi concerto.

(I know some have complained that Sesame Street is too fast and frenetic, causing kids to lose focus. But that wasn’t really true of the show I grew up with–in the seventies and eighties, the show had more story arcs and leisurely sketches and films.)

As I got older, I was introduced to the books Charlotte’s Web and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe through seeing their animated versions on CBS. (Each one was split into two parts over two nights.) Later, the same thing happened with Watership Down. Often, I’d talk with my parents and sister about what happened in the stories I saw.

And imagination? I’d often make up new stories for the characters in my favorite shows and act them out. (Prehistoric fan fiction, call it.)

So I think that the television *habit* can be harmful–just mindlessly watching without regard to what’s on. But the medium can have its good uses, if one is careful and selective. It does mean sifting through the dreck, but if that’s what it takes to enjoy something of the caliber of, say, the John Adams miniseries, so be it.

They have two nannies, so even though Tammy might be a SAHM mom she has it easier than most stay at home moms.

My nephew was subjected to tv at a very young age. His father would strap him in his booster seat give hime pepsi, turn on the simpsons and then go into the other room with his friends to smoke pot, eat shrooms, drink and have sex. My nephew is now 8 years old. He has adhd, is just now starting to read and cannot sit down to have a simple conversation. I have and will still continue to buy him learning games and toys. He prefers to sit in front of the tv, rather than going outside to play sports. When my partner and I have children, I will follow suit and have no tv or movies but items to learn and play with.

Wow! That’s really good for her and Melissa to make this decision. Recently, I learned in my communication classes here at university that it is not good for children aged 3 and under to watch TV.

As for her older children, I doubt they watch TV either. They wouldn’t be able to keep the twins away from the TV if the older two were always watching it.

I think kids should be playing with toys and running around outside. What older children can find entertaining on the TV can also be found in books and games.

it’s all about parental control- taking charge of WHAT your child views an plays with and not allowing them to play violent games or watch loud crazy programs on the television…
there are many educational shows for babies and tot’s that were worked hard on by educators, writers, performers and child therapists…. which are specifically made for parents and child…

i do think tv and games can be toxic to a child growth, physically and mentally- but shouldering all the blame onto them is wrong…
it’s the parents that don’t control what their children watch and for how long that are in the wrong…
they should know better!
i think allowing your child to watch a little of the pg programs will be good for them too-
one day they might get overwhelmed…
because the world is very “BANG zip blam whoops, get out of my way! scrrreeeeecchhhh and so on…”

as for not allowing their children to watch anything with a screen, or only play with specific toys- well that’s their choice…
but their kids WILL get older and will see other toys and will want them… are they going to not allow their children an innocent doll because it doesn’t have eyes they approve of?

i disagree and agree i disagree because my son who is 18 months old i do let him watch videos baby einstein and baby genius dvd’s and there is no violence or adult anything in those videos and we watch them together and he laughs like dancing when theres music on these videos claps and i agree some tv should not be shown to kids at any age but that is for each parent to decide to say all tv is bad is wrong theres tv for adults and tv shows that are age appropriate it is up to us to make sure we are there if there is anyhting not appropriate to not let them see it or be there to explain that this is not the right thing to do not the tv

I think it is great that the kids are not allowed to watch TV — I would never have contributed overstimulation of the brain to hyperactivity but it makes sense.

You guys ROCK

A fan— Kammi

I will not lie– my almost 3 year old watches TV more than he probably should, especially since I’ve been on maternity leave and pretty much bedrest. Even before then he was a big fan of movies and a loyal fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. Even with TV, he’s one of the sweetest, most intuitive, well-mannered, helpful children I’ve ever met. He has incredible imaginative play, a terrific vocabulary, and is very independent. He loves to be read to, and learns easily. He learned his colors by comparing them to the colors of the trains on Thomas TTE. He is loud, but that is when he is running around and playing with a group of other loud children. My son has not suffered from television at all. I think each child is different, and parenting for each child should be as well. There is no magic formula that works for every child.

I don’t think TV or other media damage children when used reasonably — which is, of course, completely subjective! My son, now 3, refused to watch any TV at all of his own accord until he was around 2. He was too busy doing other things! Now he’s selective about what he’ll watch, but he loves things with trains and I enjoy watching IMAX movies with him. He knows a surprising amount about rockets and sharks and whales, which of course he gets from books as well, but I don’t see anything wrong with seeing them in action on the television either. Personally I try hard not to restrict him and so far he’s self-regulated his television viewing in a way that’s acceptable to me.

Each to their one, I guess.

Our daughter watched PBS Kids Sprout from a very early age and still watches it now at age 6. She also loves Charlie Brown, Looney Tunes,. Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music etc.

We allow her to watch certain channels that we consider appropriate.

We have also watched some of news together, and she is interested in hearing about current events and issues, such as Hurricane Katrina, the life of Princess Diana, and the election race.

We ensure she has outside playtime with friends and we take her on educational trips every chance we get – museum, conservatory, sightseeing etc.

She is very smart and articulate. She has learned quite a bit from educational programmes on Discovery Channel and we watch HGTV together too.

When children go to school they listen to their peers, whether parents like it or not. They talk about movies or programmes they have watched and sometimes your child comes home and wants to know why they cannot watch a certain thing.

It is all about parent guidance and discipline. Raise a child the way he should go… etc.

I wonder if Melissa let her older children watch tv? Hmmm!