No TV Before 2-Years-Old?
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By Lyz Lenz
I begin my days between five and six in the morning. I get up, run, shower and pump the old boobs (if I have time before the baby gets up). Then, while I feed her, we watch the Today Show. It’s a little tradition I started six months ago, when I was up early and feeling a little depressed about constantly seeing the sun rise. A little smattering of news is a nice way to start the day and it keeps me up-to-date on world events, before we head out the door to the baby sitter’s and I start work.
I never thought twice about this routine, until I noticed that my baby was watching the news too. Now, I see her little blue eyes soak in every image. When I put her in her high chair, she cranes her neck to stare at the television. She knows what’s going on and it’s a little terrifying.
I grew up in a strictly no-TV environment. Neither of my parents watched the morning news and, if they watched the evening news, it was after we went to bed. Only on rare occasion (like my mom was too sick to crawl out of bed) were my siblings and I allowed to watch cartoons or PBS. And despite how culturally disconnected it made me feel in high school, I love that one of the gifts my parents gave me was a life free of the looming specter of the television. And I want the same for my daughter.
But here I am, every morning, raising my baby on the dulcet tones of Matt Lauer and it’s making me feel guilty.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a warning that has parents everywhere up in arms. The recommendation asserts that parents should limit the amount of screen time that children under the age of two are exposed to. This recommendation is actually a softening of their earlier position which advised a strict no-television diet. According to The New York Times, “The pediatricians’ group softened its stance not because of new research or an actual change in thinking, but because of pressure from parents and fellow physicians who simply found the earlier recommendations to be so unrealistic as to have no value.”
I understand the desire to put the baby in front of the TV. On the mornings when my baby is up at 5am with me and I don’t get my run in, or I have to bring her into the bathroom with me while I jump in the shower, it’s tempting just to put her in her jumper and turn on “Wonder Pets” and do my hair. It’s easier. But I wonder if that’s a cop out. My mom raised eight kids without the assistance of the television in the morning and her hair always looked great. I only have one. So, what’s my problem?
And to be fair, I don’t judge people for using the TV as an aide to get some time to themselves. But I do wonder if having children who need to be entertained is a problem that our society has created. By using the TV in the morning am I creating a child who can only be distracted by the TV? If I don’t do the hard thing and insist that she play independently now, am I raising a child who will be incapable of playing independently later on?
I don’t know the answers. But I do know that I’m going to turn on NPR in the mornings instead of the Today Show. No offense to Matt Lauer.
What’s your stance on TV before two?
About the Author:
Lyz Lenz is a writer, a mom and a midwesterner. Although, not in that order. She lives in Iowa and on the web at LyzLenz.com
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Comment by warren on Oct 21 2011 04:32:42:
This is is not the 70′s, 80′s, or even the 90′s we live in a media driven age. A child 18 months can look at “Barney” big deal. My 13 year old looked at tv as a child who cares. I think you are doing more harm if you raise a kid to ignore the world around them.
Comment by Kim Marshall on Oct 21 2011 09:21:58:
I think kids shouldn't be sitting in front of the TV for long periods of time at such a young age, but little bits of it here and there I think are fine as long as it's kid friendly.
Comment by Karen on Oct 21 2011 05:33:17:
I don’t think t.v. is a requirement to life. My family growing up was a t.v. family. When I moved out, I was happy to give mine to goodwill and never look back. The point of why it was even suggested no t.v. had nothing to do with the content of what was being watched – it had to do with the impact any type or quantity of t.v. viewing has on toddlers. I think it sent the wrong message caving into parents who didn’t want to have to stop watching t.v. in front of their kids. That change was not made on any facts and it is your choice whether or not to follow the recommendation in the first place.
My one year old brings her toys in the bathroom while I take a shower. I work from home, and when I’m working, she sits on the floor beside me with her (old defunct) laptop and hammers away, just like mommy. When I cook, she has her pan and spoon and “cooks” too. I get all the things I need to get done because I’ve given her tools to entertain herself while I do them. She can learn to read one day and educate/entertain herself that way. I don’t think not having t.v. in the home is going to ruin her life or disconnect her from society.
Comment by Buhl Dio on Oct 21 2011 09:48:33:
My daughter has been watching Disney channel since she was in the womb it does not have a negative effect she learns from watching tv when I am making dinner or breakfast and we talk about what she sees.
Comment by Corro’lland Angie Driskell on Oct 21 2011 11:46:57:
Literally unrealistic and offers no emperical evidence….
Comment by Jenny Bosteder on Oct 22 2011 01:16:21:
I let my daughter watch some educational cartoons while I get my breakfast after feeding her. She loves watching them but then goes straight to playing after and does not care if the t.v. is on or not. I believe in limiting them but letting them watch a little is okay I believe.
Comment by Jennifer on Oct 21 2011 10:23:46:
It has nothing to do with WHAT they are watching and everything to do with the fact it over-stimulates their tiny brains. They can’t interpret tv, they just see flashy lights, colors and shapes and hear sounds. It would be stupid to think it’s okay to let an infant watch tv. Yeah we live in a world of technology but that doesn’t mean, plop your child in front of the tv because it’s a substitute for being a parent and teaching them! With that being said, when the child is no longer a BABY, then yes, in moderation.
Comment by Lucy T Bourque on Oct 22 2011 02:42:38:
This is impossible! So what do you do? Turn them around when you are catching up with a show or watch TV when they are a-sleep? I do not love watching TV but I do enjoy certain shows, which I do not watch with him around… He plays and plays hard! Active and motor skills are out if the scale! I do not leave alone so my husband watches crap I do not like the kids watching! My family is full of visual learners… I homeschool one of my children so it is up to me to make it a tool or a useless piece of screen and lights with damaging messages. My 17 months old learned sign language from Baby Einstein videos. My 11 year old doesn't let the baby watch the 15 year old gaming. A 11 year old can understand this! "Your baby can read" helps him identify words and was developed by a psychiatrist so even between doctors you will have conflicting opinions. You have to factor when, where and what is playing. I had the high chair in the bathroom while doing quick touch up on my hair… He was eating bananas no TV? Can't do the obvious unsupervised non-educational crap; I agree with that! I recently purchased "baby TV" on dish network. He enjoys it! we watch it together, not just to leave him with up to no good. Have control over what you want in your child's brain. He does play mornings, little gym. Who is wrong! I was at the developmental pediatric last week with the baby spelling in her office, she was amazed. I get ignorant remarks every now and then but they stop and gather around the baby in admiration when he is spelling…
Comment by Stephanie on Oct 21 2011 11:37:27:
We have been abiding by the “no screens before two” rule since our baby was born. He is only four months old, but we now only watch TV after he goes to bed at eight. In the morning if we feel the need to watch the news, we put him facing us in his swing. For now it works. It has also made us watch far less TV which is an added bonus. Granted, I have less of an idea of what is going on in the world, but since I work in the media I’m sure I’ll catch up when I go back to work.
Comment by Lucy on Oct 22 2011 12:05:44:
I do have a husband that is in harms way when he is away so I do not watch the news. Anyways I do not agree with the statement that it does not matter what is on, because my son learned sign language and how to dance, how to play with a toy and banging on a pot that he just watched on the television and laughs when there is a puppet doing something silly, he is 17 months old, If anyone believes a child sees lights and colors only they are clearly mistaken not at 8months and up! roughly…
Comment by Stephanie on Oct 24 2011 09:53:24:
I have a 14 month old daughter who loves cartoons. Especially Dora and Kai-lan. She learns from these tv shows. We have Nick JR on our tv and it’s just like preschool on tv. It teaches kids how to count and learn their letters as well as colors and shapes. My daughter acts just fine and she watches tv. If anything, it has made her the smart little girl that she is today. We work with her but so does the tv. So she is learning twice as much.
Comment by Tammy at Safe Start Baby on Oct 24 2011 02:53:00:
Research has shown that its not only the content of the shows that impacts little minds – its also the speed of frames per second. Faster shows send the immature brain signals into a spin, and children become more distracted. This negatively impacts their memories. The recent research that claimed Spongebob was bad for children cites this reason. If young children are going to watch TV, lets try choose shows that are slow enough for them to follow and limit the time spent sitting in front of TV.
Comment by Lyz on Oct 24 2011 03:17:35:
I think it’s one thing to say, “oh well my baby watches TV and it’s not going to hurt them too much.” But those of you arguing that watching TV makes your baby smarter? That’s just silly.
Comment by Lyz on Oct 24 2011 03:24:27:
Also, @Carroll’and check out the link to the APP’s recommendations if you want evidence.
Comment by Alysha on Oct 25 2011 02:52:11:
To be honest my husband and I do watch alot of TV, but we do try to limit the little one, but I’ve found that during tummy time the only way to get my boy to look up is to put on a bright and colorful show, otherwise he’s just too interested in sucking on his fingers.
Comment by Caitlin on Oct 29 2011 01:33:01:
I limit my son as mch as I can, but unfortunately we live in a house where he is outnumbered by adults 4:1 so he does get some tv exposure. I try to keep tv regulated to nights, after he is asleep but occasionally we can curl up on the couch and watch a show like dinosaur train or all about. However, I think it is important to note that just because we may watch tv now and then (educational only please! NO disney channel), my son is expected to play independently more often than not. He is taught to be apart of life in general and act as appropriately as a 14-month-old can. For his age, he is extremely well-behaved and communicative so I am not worried about a little tv here and there. I think every parent should judge based on their child and just make sure what they are watching (if they do) is age appropriate and educational.
Comment by Concerned Parent on Dec 09 2011 12:03:48:
The time you spend watching television, or allowing your child to watch television, is taking time away from human interaction- THE learning tool. Babies don’t learn from television screens- there IS evidence of this. Instead, they need face time with caring individuals to learn about the world around them. A flashing flat panel just won’t do.
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