6 Month Old Twins - Television Watching Fears

I still haven't let my 2-year-old watch TV, and I'm totally happy with it. He is curious, intelligent, and active, and totally independent of the television for his amusement. I do not plan to ever let TV become an integral part of his life.

I believe (don't quote me) that there was a study a while ago showing that "educational" TV for kids is pretty much useless - they don't learn like adults do, and they need to be feeling and touching and experiencing things to learn from them - not just passively receiving them from the television. Your little ones will be much better served by personal interaction with you, with pets, with toys, etc. And besides, do you really want kids stuck on TV? What does it lead to eventually, anyway? Sluggishness, dullness of mind, inactivity, obesity, a lack of outside activities, cultural brainwashing, "gimmes" from watching ads, etc. TV does not need to be part of any child's normal development.

i have not heard of any of these things and my children all watch baby einstein and LOVE it!! My youngest is 6 months old and she enjoys a few minutes of it with her older siblings!! it gives me a few minutes of free time...even to unload the dishwasher...

Hi A.,

You are right on and are doing the best thing for your twins.
Good for you! I agree with Diana J.'s response. She discussed all the problems we're seeing in today's children, which we need to just sit back and ask why?? I am a pediatric occupational therapist, and there is more and more evidence of technology causing ADHD, obesity, sleeping disorders, depression... as well as, a "triple disconnect" from self, others, and nature. One website to check out is
www.zonein.ca, as well as many books written on this subject, such as, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder.

As a general rule for parents of my clients, I suggest no more than one hour of "screen time"/day (TV, video games/hand-held..., computer, cell phones...)for children older than 2.
Infants and toddlers should not be watching screens. Children need to move their bodies and play... that is how the brain learns. Give your children lots of tummy time and safe opportunities for movement. Pay attention to the times they are "propped" or "contained".

Glad you asked this question as it is so important for parents to become more aware of the potential harm of technology.

Barb Morris

Hi,
I have done some reading of studies and articles about that subject and they do advise to limit the tv watching. For our kids, limiting the viewing has been fine. I had them watch baby einstein and those are great. Our kids are not 5 & 7 years old and they are fine. We didn't watch it everyday,maybe a few times per week.

I think that there is some validity to this. I, too, was concerned with this and did not let my children watch television very often when they were infants. If they needed to be entertained while I did something we turned on the radio and danced around. My son did not watch tv until he was 19 months old. The reason he did start watching tv was because I had my daughter and this was a good activity for him to do while I breastfed. We still limited the time he watched tv and it wasn't until recently that he actually got 'into' watching tv. My daughter is three and she still does not watch much tv. Don't get me wrong, there are times that they watch tv, but we just try to limit the time they spend doing it.

I have no clue if they will end up with ADD and I know that they don't have autism, but boy are they high energy:) My children have very wild imaginations, love to climb, explore and read. I love this about them and their ability to make anything be something. TV often robs them of that imagination, I have seen it first hand in my nephews. My nephews are very literal, to the point, and a stick is not 'allowed' to be a gun because it is not a 'gun.' I hope that makes sense. Harvest your children's imagination and 'allow' them many opportunities for exploration and creativity. Best wishes!

I have twin boys that are now 6 years old. They have a brother 2 years older, and a sister 3 years younger. There have been times TV has been my saving grace while I am trying to prepare dinner, get them to relax, or just unwind myself. They do not have attn disorders, and I do not believe it has harmed them. If you feel strongly about it, and have the patience and discipline not to have them watch TV, follow your heart in this area. I don't think Baby Einstein would hurt them, and they have a lot of toys that are also on the shows which could make it fun for them to play with. Twins become very good at entertaining themselves and mine have yet to come to me complaining about being bored! Best of luck to you and CONGRATULATIONS on your double blessing!