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January 2013 Moms
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Accidental screen time

ReeceFamilyReeceFamily member
in January 2013 Moms
We've decided to avoid screen time for LO for the recommended 2 years, but it won't be easy. We generally don't have the tv on but she is fascinated by tv, computer screens, and iPhone screens when she sees them. I showed her a video of herself chatting and she was rapt. And I watch tv when she is BFing occasionally. She got a good accidental dose of Mad Men yesterday, and apparently she is a big Jon Hamm fan just like me.

I am taking studies seriously showing negative neurological effects of screen time, but it is going to be like keeping our wiener dog from begging for snacks :.
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Re: Accidental screen time

  • raraavis28raraavis28 member
    Similar situation over here......DH and pretty much never watch TV, but we are on our computers and phones probably more often than I'd like....and LOs are definitely fascinated by the bright screens. Honestly I'm not going to sweat it. I don't sit my kids down in front of the TV for hours (or ever, really), I have no plans to deliberately occupy them with electronics, they get tons of interactions with people....if they happen to catch a few glances of a screen I really don't think it's going to do any damage. I'm not going to make myself all guilty over it anyway.
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  • ReeceFamilyReeceFamily member
    imagemarchesa28:
    Similar situation over here......DH and pretty much never watch TV, but we are on our computers and phones probably more often than I'd like....and LOs are definitely fascinated by the bright screens. Honestly I'm not going to sweat it. I don't sit my kids down in front of the TV for hours or ever, really, I have no plans to deliberately occupy them with electronics, they get tons of interactions with people....if they happen to catch a few glances of a screen I really don't think it's going to do any damage. I'm not going to make myself all guilty over it anyway.


    I totally agree, not going to start her on video games but I'm guessing even Amish parents would have a tough time completely avoiding screens these days.
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  • OakTreeMommyOakTreeMommy member
    I'm also trying to limit my LO from watching screens. Defiantly no TV but I admit we do play on the computer. My only brother lives on the other side of the country so we Skype with him and for those of you with Mac's we play with Photo Booth making and sending funny videos. I haven't read the studies regarding screen time but I believe there are negative effects, mostly I just don't want him growing up watching too much TV. I already have fears about my LO growing up in a generation of techies, what I really want for him is to spend time outside using his imagination.
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  • Mason&MamaMason&Mama member

    I give props to anyone that can avoid all screen time, but it's just something that I don't worry about too much for my kids.

    I do not sit my kids in front of the TV, but it is sometimes on in the background. My toddler has been introduced to some childrens programs, but he doesn't pay much attention. At almost 2 years old, he still has no interest in sitting and watching a show. The only one that seems to really entertain him is Fresh Beat Band which is basiclly just singing and dancing. 

    In general, I just feel like all other aspects of my parenting will outweigh a little bit of screen time here and there. We spend most of every day outdoors, we read tons of books, we play with all sorts of puzzles and toys. If he wants to dance to the TV for 15 minutes while I make dinner, I am okay with that. 

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  • rockyrollgirlrockyrollgirl member
    I think as long as little Sally or Johnny are not parked right in front of the screen watching hours of Say Yes to the Dress.... then its fine.
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  • karen_loykaren_loy member

    imageamnat84:
    I wouldn't sweat it too much. You can't totally avoid it. As long as you are spending plenty of time talking and interacting she'll be fine.

    totally this 

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  • luvindanimalsluvindanimals member
    My MIL lets DS watch tv and it drives me crazy! I come home and when I turn the tv on I find cartoons! I am like are you kidding me?!? I will say DS is a huge Elmo fan though and I have been known to play "Elmo and I Know it" on my phone. I know it's not the best thing to do but he seriously loves Elmo!
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  • janecanadianjanecanadian member

    My philosophy is that "kids want most what they can't have" so if you totally ban tv, eventually they are really going to want it.  But if its something that is on once in a while and they are able to learn moderation from the start then you are teaching them healthy life habits.  DD is just over 2 and she will sometimes ask for "choo choo show" meaning she wants to watch Thomas the train.  We"ll put in on occasionally and then within minutes she's back to her or some other activity.  There's no television at daycare so if she watches a few minutes at the end of the day, so be it!

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  • Chappy_jrChappy_jr member
    Screens are not inherently bad and it is unrealistic to believe you can completely keep LOs away from them if you live a modern life.  There is no added benefit to babies watching anything on a screen and the major negative effects are when screens take away from caregiver interaction.  As an educational psychologist, I interpret the recommendation much like the recommendation for limiting alcohol in pregnancy: we know that too much is harmful and that a small amount is okay but since we do not know where the line is, we recommend none.  That said, my DS does get a small amount of screen time daily but it is interactive (he plays on a piano app and loves to scroll through photos on my iPhone as I say the names of the people and tell stories of the photos).  
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  • OhioLadyOhioLady member

    I agree with everyone.  I don't sit DS in front of cartoons for hours a day, but in this day and age, it is nearly impossible to avoid screens completely.  A friend of a friend has been known to put her hands over her DS's eyes when near screens... it's a bit much IMO.  

    On the other end, my cousin's little girl is about 3 and has had what seems to be plenty of screen time already (cousin works at home, so I think it can become a bit of a sitter sometimes).  When her DD was singing a commercial song word for word at 2.5, I was quite judge-y at first.  But then as I interacted with her a bit more, I realized that she is crazy smart and interactive and communicative/social with others for a LO her age.  

    I'm not saying that screens made her this smart, nor do I know if there are any negative issues going on because of screens, but she does get a decent amount of screen time, and appears to me to be exceptionally bright at the same time.  

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