Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Taboo

So the Capt. watches TV.  There.  I said it.  He's 3 and he watches an average of 2 hours a day.  I don't feel guilty and I'm not ashamed.  He started watching the Sprout channel when he was about 2.  Since it was at this time that he stopped taking naps and I couldn't fight the battle any longer AND I was pregnant, I decided this was a simple way to have quiet time together.  He would lay on my bed for about 45 min. and I could take a nap.  I knew what he was watching and he was actually learning some stuff.  Most of it animal related since he could watch Zaboomafoo over and over again.  When The Kid came along TV became a helpful and safe way to keep him in one spot while I nursed or tended to the baby.  Although there were days that trouble still occured, 99% of th time he'd watch a show for 15 or 30 min. and be done.  These days we have a routine.  He watches about an hour or so in the morning while I get ready and get morning things done.  He doesn't even sit for a full hour but filters in and out of our bedroom to watch here and there.  Most days he's at school or we are busy and when we get home in the afternoons he needs some quiet time.  He will go lay on my bed and watch shows for about an hour.  We have now branched out to the Noggin channel.  Sometimes I watch with him.  Other times I don't.  At night before bed he gets to watch one show with Dada.  That's their little time together.  Sometimes Dada even finds an old school cartoon on youtube.  The Capt. doesn't watch movies very often.  We own maybe 2.  We rent maybe 1 or 2 a month.  Then we have family movie night with popcorn and The Capt stays up late.  (Oooh til 8!) So there.  It's out in the universe now.  

3 comments:

shamrockgrl74 said...

Abby loves her TV & movies. I try very hard to limit to 2 hours or less per day. When logan was born she often watched more than i preferred. These days i use it as punishment. She gets it taken away routinely for bad behavior. I guess that is one way to curb the amount she watches.

Mike G. said...

Count us in too. Most times I just keep my mouth shut when this subject comes up, especially when I hear someone say "Sally only gets to watch 30 minutes a day" and I immediately feel like we're doing something wrong. We've limited the kids viewing to Noggin only, I like the fact that there are no commercials. Although right before christmas another kids channel was on, which has commercials. Caroline(3 yrs) was beside herself as she saw all the toys that were being shown to her to which she responded to every one, "Can I have that?"

DMomster said...

I'm sure as kids we sat glued in front of the TV for more than 2 hours a day. I'm okay and so are you! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Noggin and Sprout have some really good stuff. It's not like he's watching Sponge Bob right? You are a good mom and Jack is a very active little boy. I'd be worried if he only wanted to watch TV but he loves so many different kinds of activities that I think he's gonna be fine duder!