Sudden Obsession with Elmo. Where to draw the line?

DiscusCoach · May 2011

We don't have a TV and just recently started playing a little Elmo on my computer and a little Baby Einstein. She is an Elmo junkie. It is the first word out of her mouth in the morning.

What limits do you set on television watching?

If we add up all the little bits (10 minutes in the morning, a little in the afternoon, some in the evening) I think we watch for an hour total. Too much?

norman25 · May 2011

We don't watch any tv, but, honestly 10 minutes here and there doesn't sound that bad. Personally, we don't watch just because he has the rest of his life to sit in front of the tv, since he doesn't know what he is missing yet, we go for activities instead

Que*Syrah · May 2011

DS watches anywhere from 30-45 minutes throughout the day. I am fine with it. I wouldn't let him sit for an hour, but a little here and there is fine.

dragon_chica · May 2011

At home DD watches about 20-30 min. at a time totaling approx. 1 hour for the entire day. If she's at my parent's it's a whole other story! *sigh* Usually when I do put it on it's because I need a mental break or have to cook (she can be very clingy.) I know they recommend to wait a certain age but some times you gotta do what you gotta do to stay sane throughout the day. I try to only have her watch "educational" shows (no Spongebob!) and I have yet to introduce movies and probably won't for a couple more years.

I always hear the same line that people give for many other choices, "I did it when I was younger and I turned out fine." True, I was and still am a TV junkie myself but I don't want TV to be DD's first choice of entertainment. I want her to be active, run around, and use her imagination. Just because I turned out ok doesn't mean anything. I'm sure if I watched less TV I would've been more physically active, maybe even been more social and opened up more in life then letting myself get "lost" in TV land.

juliane2004 · May 2011

We have the tv on all day. But DD specifically watches approximately 4-5 episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba in a day on average (so about 1.5-2 hrs per day specifically kids shows).

JLGY · May 2011

My DD watches about an hour per day in the evenings. I really don't think it's a big deal because we also are involved in lots of groups, go to the park, play-dates, etc. We are always on the go, so it's balanced. She's actually learned quite a bit from her shows too (the more educational ones obviously).

meg1974 · May 2011

I don't think TV (or videos, computer, etc.) is a big deal as long as you are interacting with them while they're watching it. In all of the studies I have seen that said TV is bad, it was used as a substitute for human interaction.

magdusia · May 2011

I think 10 minutes would be a tease. at least to my son.

this is how our tv watching goes..

if he wakes up before 8am (usually he's up at 8).. he can watch Elmo since it's on from 7 to 8.

If he woke up at 8, he can watch elmo (or something on nickjr.) which was recorded for 30 minutes (this is all with my nanny)

when i get home the only TV he gets is sometimes after dinner if the weather isn't great.

All combined he will get about an hour of TV a day. (30 minutes - twice a day).

There have been times where he was sick and we just let him watch a lot more.. but normally it's 1 hour. I just hope my nanny is obeying that rule.

mechanicsgirl · May 2011

The TV usually runs most of the day at our house, but it's on adult programs (documentaries, grown up movies, etc). DD and DS get a half hour of Dora while I shower (after working out on the treadmill in the living room), brush my teeth, and get dressed. They also sometimes get a half hour of Dora or Diego right before bed at night. If it's a particularly trying day (I'm sick or one of them is sick and a beast), we probably watch a little more.

So an hour max most days.

I don't think it's too much.

ASmallWonder · May 2011

meg1974:
I don't think TV (or videos, computer, etc.) is a big deal as long as you are interacting with them while they're watching it. In all of the studies I have seen that said TV is bad, it was used as a substitute for human interaction.

This is pretty much my stance. Honestly, DH and I are admitted TV junkies so it's almost always on at our house but Aiden rarely actually watches it because we're always playing. I don't see a problem with him watching a tv show here and there while I get ready or whatever.

groovygrl · May 2011

My kids love elmo as well, and I have shown them youtube videos on my computer (they also have a regular video but for whatever reason, the computer ones they truly love!) and they will point at hte computer and say elmo! elmo! elmo! Sometimes I show a couple and sometimes I tell them elmo is sleeping. In the beginning there were little mini breakdowns if I didn't show it or when I stopped showing it but they've gotten over that. I think it is partly a phase & partly just realizing there will be limits & being ok with that.

sandrarodz · May 2011

We ALWAYS have the TV on in our home and my kids probably watch about 20 mins a day. And thats adding up all the little moments that they look over to it because they hear a song they like. They don't pay much attention to it maybe because its always been background noise. Maybe she is super interested in it because its very new to her.

robynlesley · May 2011

One hour? That's it? You're fine.

Says the bad parent (according to the Bump) who lets my DS watch much more TV than he should. In my DS's case, it's a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse obsession.

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