Monday, November 24, 2008

Bad Mama

So we've already determined that I'm a bad mama because I let my almost eighteen-month old watch TV -- just Sesame Street -- but TV nonetheless.

But I've been thinking a lot about the research that says that children shouldn't watch any TV before they're two. What I have noticed is that my daughter's language capabilities have skyrocketed since she started watching it. I don't know if it is the style of talking that is prevalent on the show or her comfort with the characters or just the sheer excitement of the presentation of letters, numbers and words. I haven't noticed that having it on has had any negative impact on my now four-month-old either. If anything, she gurgles and giggles more when she hears her big sister talking. For example, Elmo's World did a segment on bananas, and at the end of it, he sang "The Banana Song" to the tune of "Jingle Bells," and days later, Josephine is still singing it. And every time she does, her little sister cracks up. The day she saw it, Josephine RAN to the kitchen and wanted a banana -- shrieked with perfect diction in perfect rhythm of the song. She learned to count to four in another episode, and now she lines up things and counts them. In fact, I think she may be nursing a major crush on The Count.

So what's so bad about this small TV habit? Are the researchers issuing an overly cautious caution so that dumb parents don't strand their kids in front of COPS or 24 or some other less educational, overly sexual or violent programming? I suppose I should read the research before I go and spout off about it, but done responsibly and in moderation (ummmmmm like everything in life) it seems more than fine to me. Media is a huge part of our culture, and don't we need to show our children how to integrate it into life without becoming a couch potato?

I am an educator, but I can't say that day-to-day life in our home would have taught her the counting -- and certainly not the sheer joy of landing on "FOUR!" the way Sesame Street has. I can't say that I would ever have thought to sing "Jingle Bells" using only the word banana. I'm grateful for the intelligent, timeless programming that is offered by PBS -- it's a great crutch for a Baby Buncher like me -- and it's really fun for my babies.

6 comments:

Anita said...

I totally agree about TV use. Vivian and Gabriel love Noggin! and it's very educational.

Anita said...

and Little Einsteins (on Playhouse Disney) is great too!

Baby Bunching said...

My son was really the TV nut in the house starting at age...oh, 10 months when I was pg and puking. Then when I was nursing my youngest he still latched on to it. It was Baby Einstein and it was more than I would ever admit to ANYONE! Perhaps I scarred him for life....but he can read a little, do 1st grade math, argue his way out of anything and play chess (did I mention he's 4 1/2!!) so I don't feel too bad. The studies they do include people who literally plop their kids in front of TV all day so don't feel bad if they watch it once in a while. What's a Baby Buncher to do?? Back when Irish twins were popular so was having grandparents living next door. I wish I was so lucky!

AudreyO said...

My kids are older now. Both had some t.v. in their young days and guess what? Both kids are perfectly ok today :)

Elizabeth Gallo said...

I'm sure they are more than ok!

Tara said...

We were tv free until we all had a bad stomach flu when Daughter was 22 months old and flipped on the magic box. We have never gone back ... Husband and I even joke and thank the TV when Daughter says something delightfully intelligent that we didn't teach her, after taking credit for it publicly of course -- we aren't fools LOL...