TV restrictions for toddlers

amynicole21 wrote: How much do the parents of 2yo's restrict what their kids watch on TV?

I know we've been too lenient up until now. Most of Sophia's TV watching is on the Disney channel or Noggin, but we do watch the news and our favorite shows (Alias, Lost, 24, etc.) when she is sitting with us. Sometimes I KNOW she shouldn't be watching what we are watching due to violence or sex or whatever, and we try to distract her or change the channel. I was just watching Oprah though and there was a pole dancing lesson going on and I realized it was NOT something Sophia should be watching. Sure enough, when it was over Sophia said "watch me dance like the ladies, Mommy!" and started doing somersaults

One of her favorite movies is Jurrasic Park, and I was talking to a friend who has a 3yo and she looked at me like I was insane that I let my kid watch something like that. Thinking back, yes, it is probably far too advanced for her to be watching. I guess it's never too late to start restricting what she can watch.

For those who never let their kids watch anything but perfectly age appropriate stuff on TV, what do you do in the evenings? It seems our family's wind-down time is usually spent in front of the tv, so this is where the problem arrises.

~KARA~ replied: Maddi use to watch tv ALL the time. Now its just in the mornings mostly. She watches noggin or pbs kids from 9 till 12. then they get 1 hour of tv in the after noon when my oldest gets home. Occasionaly she will get to watch a movie while in tv, helps her wind down for the night and makes her sleep in for mommy. so I would say a total of 6 hours if that a day. She will play while the toons are on so its not like she is actually sitting there in front of the Tv for 6 hours.

Alice replied: Our TV is on a lot, whether or not any of the kids are watching it. But it's normally on PBS, Disney, or Noggin while they're awake.

As to what to watch together, why not use the VCR, and put on some G-rated movies until her bedtime? Try Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver and Company, Monsters Inc, Nemo....

mckayleesmom replied: Im like you Amy...I usually just watch whatever unless she brings me a movie she wants to watch. But she is usually playing and bouncing off walls,,getting into stuff. She doesn't watch for long.

ediep replied: Jason watches his shows in the mornings, sesame street and/or barney and thats pretty much it.

In the evenings, we have dinner and then Jason gets his bath, then we watch family fued usually, then Jason just plays with dad or does something else until bed. He usually goes up to bed about 8:30 or so. If there is something on TV at that time it has been the Yankee game lately.

luvbug00 replied: Hi all i'm new.
My daughter is actually 4 now. I have never really laid down restrictions on her tv viewing. Only when it's too bloody or sexual. I raise her to reality. Unfortunately the world has become so crual at times and I doubt a Big pupple dino will be there to bust out into song when a bully comes her way at school.( Barney is great, just not my parenting style.) I let her watch her share of cartoons but also she likes to watch real people in real situations. My little girl is very aware now if somone has had somthing happen to them good or bad and can understand their emotions and that is from being arround so many people and watching some of the shows that she does. Hope this was helpful in some way.

Insanemomof3 replied: I let my kids watch whatever really. Our tv is on alot as well, and I have certain shows that I watch during the day.

Usually though, in the morning from 8-10 it is kid shows on Disney (WIGGLES). Around 10 am though I start watching E.R. Tristan calls the show 'Doctors', and he HATES to miss it.

Nothing really seems to bother them though with what they see. Blood, gore whatever, sometimes they get scared but we explain to them that nothing can hurt them, it is just tv and not real, then they are happy and usually run off to play. If they are bothered much, they just leave the room on their own.

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley might watch Wiggles or Dora in the morning, but that's about it. She will usually watch one or two DVD's on the computer while DH and I work. These are usually Barney, LeapFrog, or something similar that is educational and age appropriate.



I can't say that Ashley has NEVER seen anything that wasn't age appropriate, but we do try really hard to filter what she watches. If something that she can watch is on, like American Idol, then we let her watch it with us. But, usually we just DVR it and watch it after she has gone to bed.

DansMom replied: I tape everything adult that I want to see and watch it when Daniel's in bed. That consists mostly of ER and Six Feet Under these days. Daniel watches much less TV and video this year than last. We've made a conscious effort to offer other activities, but also he's less into his favorite shows. He gets maybe a half hour to an hour of child-oriented TV or video in the morning while I'm getting ready for work. Lately, we've experimented with no TV at all in the mornings---I set him up with his breakfast and he talks to me while I get ready. If he asks to watch something, I make him tell me what he wants to watch so that he's making a conscious choice. At night, I often offer a favorite video with a snack before tooth brushing and bed.

Sometimes DH hides in the bedroom to watch shows like American Chopper and the Weather channel, and we watch Jeopardy.

DansMom replied: In the evening: Daniel's so physical, so we are almost always outdoors until bedtime. We have two sandboxes and a huge backyard, also live near two parks. In the winter, we have a big open play area in the basement, big enough to ride a tricycle. He has a child drumset, a keyboard, lots of toys and musical instruments. He still likes to help with dishes, we have a bath almost every night, so he is on the go until wind-down time. And then we do often do a video or read a book.

coasterqueen replied: In the mornings Kylie gets to watch cartoons on PBS or Disney Channel while we get ready for work (well not these days, lol)....so that's about an hour. But if it's nice out in the morning some days we just go outside and play around before leaving for the day.

At night she gets to watch 1/2 hour DVR'ed Berenstain Bears or Dragon Tales before bed.

As far as other times the tv is ALWAYS on but in evenings we watch local news channel, nbc news channel and then from April til September it's always a baseball game on. If baseball isn't on then it's always a cartoon on. We try to keep Kylie busy so she's not really watching the tv and if she's in her playroom we turn the tv on just because she gets scared in there so it's "noise" mostly to her while she plays.

There are some times when she's watching our adult programs, but it's very rare. We mostly dvr them and watch them after she's in bed or sometimes I'll get up really early in the morning and watch them. Or while she's playing in her playroom.

Now w/maternity leave she's watched TOO many cartoons too many times. SIGH.

Jamielou replied: Idont put a limit on what carley and laney watch as long as i think it is appropriate. By that i mean i dont let carley watch anything gory, scary or any sex scenes at all. She is 8 and her father has let her watch a few scary and she was afraid to sleep in her room for two months. That is mainly why i dont let her watch scary movies but if i thought she was old enough to handle the fact that they arent real then i would let her... Laney only watches wiggles and stuff on channel 20. But she ususally is just running around getting into stuff. So i just wait until all the kids are gone to bed before i watch anything. But we do like to watch fear factor together carley loves that show.