New Study: Parents Think TV's A Good Thing...

How awful!

I have a 14 month old and she has not watched a lick of TV in her life and we don't plan on starting now!

Outside of perhaps a very few programs especially for children on Public Television Stations with no commercials I believe that TV for kids is nothing more than giant and well-krafted plan to create little consumers who want sugar,sugar, sugar and more, more, more and only more of "what everyone else is wearing/doing/eating". Everyone knows that Brand Loyality starts at a YOUNG AGE.

No there is not a stay-at-home-spouse on the scene, a nanny or a sitter.

I work during the day, my husband works at night and you know what we get accomplished outside of raising our daughter and trying to make sure the bills get paid, the animals get fed and the plants don't die, and a modicome of order is maintained around the house - NOT A HELL OF A LOT MORE.

But they are only little once. And 0 - 3 are THE formative years for human beings. You can make 'em or break 'em right here. And it is pretty hard if not impossible to undue any damage done in these years.

So it is with the backdrop of trying to raise compassionate human being in mind that I feel that the little to a lot of pain and sacrifice my husband and I deal with in trying to keep her safely and happily occupied with something OTHER THAN TV watching while doing something like - cooking dinner - is not a lot to ask.

first of all, learn how to spell properly before you take on such a topic, if television is a bad influence on your child, then your grammatical skills should be of higher concern. your child is still new blood, and once they get older, you'll realize that all the lessons that you want to teach your child are not possible to amplify through you. television is a useful tool in doing so- if controlled. but completely banning television? what are you, a neo-nazi? keep this up, and it's a promise that your child will become a concieted, psychopathic, loner who knows nothing but the abc's of life's philosophy. stop being ignorant and in the dark. god save your child

the previous blogger seems to be extremist, and i'd like to weigh in and give a nod to the blogger cecile about avoiding tv. i think that's a positive and healthy reaction for a family to have, especially a new family. i find in general that having a child has brought out the best in us, namely a desire to be our best selves. there is a lot more to life than watching tv, and we gave it up as a family when i was pregnant. (our baby is now 15 months old). amazingly, my husband agreed (except for a mini that he uses to keep up on sports). we also listen to more radio and go on more walks. he turned to me and said, 'this is nice in the evening, sitting here talking with you.' i'm glad that our baby is very interactive and involved in the world rather than being a passive observer soon to be consumer. perhaps sesame street (which isn't what it used to be) and arthur are good for kids, but where is the follow up educational programming? too many people use tv as a babysitter. my parents did. i don't feel that it benefitted me in the slightest to watch countless hours of gilligan's island, i dream of jeannie, and the like, but even though sex roles on those shows were rigid, they are innocent compared to the drivel on today. that doesn't even touch all the commercialism mentioned in previous blogs. my personal feeling is that tv is too easy at any age and can become a bad habit. p.s. the previous blogger claims to know spelling rules, but i before except after c, misspelled conceited.

We all know that too much of anything is bad for anyone. That can be said for food, treats, spending money, drinking alcohol, etc. Occasional indulgences are called LIVING. TV can be good for anyone within reasonable limits. It can be bad if it is abused. In our house we allow our 3 year old to watch one show a day (PBS or a video). And many days go by where we don't watch TV at all. Usually it is 1/2 an hour to an hour. Once or twice a week we allow him to watch a movie. But whatever he watches must be educational or young child appropriate. We watch with him, then we turn the TV off. Because we set limits, he's never turned the TV on himself. He know that there's a time and a place. Besides, we cancelled our cable and only get the very basic channels. So if the PBS shows are not on it would be pretty boring for him. I think, however, he learns from our example. We just don't watch TV ourselves. We used to have our favorite shows before having children but now we prefer to do familiy activities. TV is not a priority for us. It is just something that can be entertaining and educational if used appropriately

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I think it's horrible to take on this "hear no evil, see no evil" approach to everything that I see so prevalent everywhere. One of my friends' younger sister (but not by much) was not allowed to speak to me, because I don't believe in God.

Rather than fear the worst and ban and shelter, why not immerse and educate? I've been seeing R-rated movies since I was an extremely young child. I was mature about it then and I am now. I don't swear often, I'm not addicted to violence or sex, or any negative effects that could possibly come to my mind right now.

Rather than take away a child's privelage to watch TV, why not help them to become understand and mature enough to not need to watch it? I am by no means a drunkard, but I do know that upwards of 70% of high school teenagers have tried alcohol. I got way too drunk for the first time in my life on New Years. Rather than make sure I was punished for drinking, my mother's first priority was making sure I was okay. I decided I didn't like being drunk (I've had a drink here or there, but I haven't been drunk or anywhere near it since). I was never punished for that night. My parents trust me going out at night, too! They know that I occasionally partake in alcohol or marijuana (that, as well, is also a rarity in my life), but they know I'm responsible with it. They would, of course, prefer I didn't; but they're not barring me from the outside world.

There are, of course, special circumstances. I would never let my two-year-old get drunk by any means. My point is not to tear apart the entire article, but simply to point out that parents try this sheltering method all too much. Your kids, whether you like it or not, WILL get their hands on what you don't want them to. You'd be amazed the access kids have in high school to any drug of their choice. Talk to them about it. If a kid wants to smoke pot.... what's so bad about it?

My brother was far too hooked on the stuff, it was affecting his life. He recently went through rehab a few prescribed meds and now he's off, but he had his problems. I never did. I do it maybe once or twice a month. Teach your kids to be responsible is all I'm saying and don't do a sudden ban on everything.

i think tv is violent

you people are all nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a 14 year old Home Schooler who loves to watch T.V. I personally think that T.V. isn't exactlly a bad thing. I'm a major history freak!
Most of the stuff I know I've learned from watching T.V.! I see T.V. as a opening, a way to learn, to laugh, a place to relax, and a place to help you strech your imagination. With me being a teenager, I can see my parents not trusting me, but they do! They say it is a way to teach me responsabilaty. I have to agree that there are some things that are completely stupid on T.V.
but hey, everybody needs a little stupid every once in a while!!!!!!

Wow... u people have no lives i mean really who doesnt watch tv...

If you keep your diet the same and have 30minutes increased activity a day of course you will lose weight. I guess depending on how much effort you put into that 30mins would vary the amount. WBR LeoP

I have found that by eating a little before bedtime I can fall asleep better. WBR LeoP

I think that tv is the best thing anyone could ever have. i love the person who invented it. i learn so much from it. mostly about cars. because i watch the speed channel alot. i am really into drag racing. it is so fun. i go to races every weekend. so ya. im for tv.

i love tv

i am a 17 year old living in singapore.

moderation is the key to living a healthy life. however, i have to say i do admire cecile and many parents out there who make sure their very young do not get a hint of television or its entertaining or educational purposes.

i have never been banned from the television nor having to keep to time slots to watch television, but neither have i been hooked on it since i was a child. i guess it's really how the parents teach the kids. my parents didn't make me think that television was the only thing that could get me interested; in fact, there were so many things that i could find at home!

i fully agree that parents cannot amplify all the lessons that could be learnt from educational programs, and that parents are not able to take control over the things that their child come into contact with. as we grow up, we get more curious about things. in this case, if we are exposed to many things since young, and lessons were properly absorbed so that kids know the consequences of different actions, we will not see it as something we Have to explore and try to know whether it's harmful or beneficial. rather, we become more mature and knowledgeable..

ultimately, it all boils down to how well parents teach their kids.

thks for info. helps for my english hw essay - is watching tv gd for kids. heehee(:

i needed info for a english paper too (you guys are kinds crazy)

All thats on T.V. now is sex, drugs, raping girls, and violence. thats all anyone cares about theese days ;D and it sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think television is great, don't bash it because a few psychology weenies tell you its bad, they always end up being wrong or some other weenie will come out with some ground breaking research or some junk later that says that tv is great for you, then you guys will believe him and change your mind on the whole subject... just thinking like the masses right

tv is a relaxation device, after a stressful day you can just sit back and tune out, witch is very nice! its much more interesting than looking at the ceiling or watching the lawn, but not so interesting as to truly actively involve your mind

IM doin a english essay and u crazy neo-nazis are helping me big time! thanks! banning tv? wow... i agree with shishkabab man.

Thanks to you people...I just finished my school project which is called "Tv is good" I have to say I grew up watching a lot of Tv especially when I was 7 :D and hey with 8 years I stardet writing little stories which are books by now haha Tv definantly always was an inspiration to me,especially those cartoons.Now I'm 15 I usually come home late from school and I really enjoy watching series such as "History channel" or the "discoverie channel" but also a little comedy is also a good way to relax.And thank god!I'm SO glad my parents always trusted me and weren't too serious about "How to raise a child" I mean ok,it's ok to worry about your child but you never know if taking away the tv makes him/her actually stop ;)