Too Young for TV

Wow, this is something I've worried about a little lately and today recieved this article. So I just had to share it. So, no more TV time, Erin. Sorry. It's gonna be hard to do, but it's for you so I can do it.


Too Young for TV?
Is time in front of the boob tube bad for baby? In a word, yes. But in the real world, TV happens. Here's how to turn it on in moderation (and without guilt!).
While the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics recommends no tube at all for kids under two, it's the rare parent who doesn't turn to Sesame Street or Baby Einstein for an occasional, sanity-saving break. At her age, your baby gleans little from even a so-called educational program, so avoid TV whenever you can. But don't guilt yourself to death if you flip it on from time to time.


If you need a break from holding or entertaining your baby, or you need to chop the veggies for tonight's dinner -- or simply grab a shower—set your baby up in a seat or on a blanket with a few toys, in a spot where you can see and hear each other. She'll enjoy that just as much as Elmo or the Teletubbies. Listening to music (it doesn't have to be kiddie tunes!) will often lengthen the time she's willing to sit solo.


When you do turn on the set, try to make it a do-together activity instead of a babysitting session. Talk about what you see ("That doggie looks just like Aunt Susan's!") and explain what's happening ("The boy is painting a picture—he is using a pretty blue color"). Stick to shows designed especially for small children, without distracting commercials.


If you've been in the habit of leaving the TV on for company, now's the time to stop. Otherwise, your baby may grow accustomed to its constant noise and lights, and expect the Great Entertainer to be on all the time. Before you know it, she'll be big enough to demand the shows and characters she neeeeds to see and want to watch them instead of engaging in other kinds of brain-building, muscle-building play.