Corrupting my child

Apropos the previous post, I was sitting finishing it with Pob cuddled into the corner of the sofa next to me, a few toys arrayed around her. American Idol was on. I'd pretty much given up on American Idol for this season given two important challenges. The first was that itv2's schedule was a bit of a mystery to me and I could never find all the shows in one week, so I kept missing important performances. The second was that all you lovely Americans kept telling me the answer before I saw the relevant episode. So I gave up. But it happened to be on as I had a quiet few minutes on the sofa to finish that post, so I left it on while Pob hung out.

And then I realised how much she was enjoying it. Smiling away at the screen, particularly at that young David guy, waggling her head and hoping he would smile back at her. And occasionally banging my hand or the computer to make her feelings known.

I've turned my child into a telly addict, and there is no point of return.

Comments

[Nina]

Just the other day while nursing I watched reruns of Oprah and after a while I noticed Stella not attached to the boob but her eyes transfixed on the TV screen. Arghhhh. No more TV at our house, at least not until Stella turns like 25.

At least give the poor child something different to watch than American Idol (or Oprah for that matter). :D

[Bittermama]

Television is your friend. I'm skeptical of a lot of the TV studies and I work at a place where many of them are produced.

[Jen]

It's funny, because when I was pregnant with A., whenever I'd watch AI, he'd thump and move so much more. Now, when I turn it on, he freaks out with excitement: "SINGING!" (He even one day looked at one performer and said "That one, un-uh.")

I think if that's the worst POB is watching, you're doing great. :)

[Aurelia]

You'll be grateful for it one day when you need a shower, or when she is having a HUGE tantrum and it's the only thing that will calm her down.

On the other hand, someday she'll want to watch a show that will make you want to stick a fork in your eye, and you'll regret ever plugging it in.

[MsPrufrock]

Oddly enough, we've just come in from a walk, and the first thing P said was "A-bee!" (TV). Sigh. It's not as if she watches a lot of it either, but I will say she has enjoyed American Idol when she's caught a glimpse of a rerun.

[Orodemniades]

I feel so terribly guilty when the Chieftain watches tv. Of course, we don't really have tv any more (4 public tv stations, 1 Spanish channel, then one each of the three major networks - all dependent on the weather, of course), but still, he just stares at it and gets all quiet and all I can think is OMG I'm turning him into a zombie!! Having said that, I do let him watch my bellydance videos, I figure it's motion and color and sound and that's okay, he's learning dance and rhythm, not Bad Social Things.

What's worse, when my 72 year old mother can't deal with him any more, she'll turn him to the tv, which drives me nuts and makes me not want to leave him with her.

Oy. The guilt.

[Abaniko]

At least you have the consolation for watching American Idol that showcases talent and not some stupid noontime show that shamelessly displays gyrating almost naked female dancers.

[Lori]

We had the tv on during the day yesterday for the first time. There was a Red Sox game on. I think there are 2 new members of Red Sox Nation.

[annmarie]

Yes, there's no turning back. My son enjoys music videos in the morning and has favorites.

[Suzanne]

A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that watching videos as a toddler may lead to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, also called ADD in UK) in later life.

TV watching "rewires" an infant’s brain, says Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis lead researcher and director of the Child Health Institute at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Wash. The damage shows up at age 7 when children have difficulty paying attention in school.

[Day]

All three of my kids love AI - I think it's the singing and the lights that keeps them glued.

[Girl Detective]

I find television is a useful item in my parental toolbox, and one that I've used more as my sons (4 & 2) have gotten older. It's a great help when one of us is sick, and it's helped me get some life basics in like showers and writing. Like anything else, extremes aren't good. But for anyone who rolls their eyes at TV, I merely think of the delight my boys show at the monsters on sesame street, and how we all get up and dance during the music over the end credits.

[cass]

The stuff about ADD/ADHD is a concern, sure, but if I'm remembering the details correctly, another factor is the CONTENT of the TV. Fast paced, violent, choppy adult programming creates a different viewing experience from kids' "educational" programming.

American Idol? Not sure how that plays into it!

[cass]

Ugh. I didn't mean that to say that TV watching is bad. Or good. I'm out of practice commenting, clearly, just digging myself out of the hole I've been in.

We had a couple of child development/media researchers as guest speakers at our twins club a couple of months ago, and they said something interesting that I'll try to paraphrase. Basically, people always say "using the TV as a babysitter" as if that's a terrible thing, but if you think of it in the same way as using a babysitter it actually makes a lot of sense: you carefully consider the choice of person/show, you use the babysitter judiciously, and you don't let the babysitter replace you as a parent. And you get a break and an exciting change of pace for your kid.

We'll see if that came out any better.

[Hetty Fauxvert]

Lord, I hope TV doesn't actually corrupt their little brains! I was one of those pre-moms who smugly said my little people would never watch TV, and now look at us -- my little guys (14 mos old now) watched this whole season of AI with me, bouncing up and down and dancing to all the music. (They both adore music. I have no idea if it's genetic or simply because they've heard it from Day 1.) In any case, you're not alone.