Absolutely, Laure68! I think some people take “no TV” to literally mean no television, not no viewing of media, shows, or movies, which is what I believe the pediatricians are saying. I seriously doubt that watching a little television, even as a baby, does any lasting harm. I could imagine that being plunked in front of a tv for hours upon hours upon hours a day, every day, would probably not be a very good thing to do. But there is obviously a happy medium in there!

We generally don’t have our kid watch broadcast TV unless its PBS…we just don’t have cable. We do, however, let her watch Dora and Curious George DVDs and on the DVR, which are both educational, IMO. She does not watch all day long. 1-2 hours per day. She has learned alot from these shows.

I read O’Hehir’s piece over the weekend and while I don’t give a rat’s ass what he chooses to show his kids (why, oh why do I read this stuff??), his tone is so smug, so self-satisfied, so dripping in condescension I’m not at all surprised he brought out a lot of commenters. I actually gave up reading before I got to the end and thought he should have just titled the damn piece “Why I’m Better Than You”

OK…just read his piece. Didn’t strike me as snobby. The fact that some think it is explains ALOT about why many opinions expressed on MANY things are always taken as some kind of affront. His line about “Why say yes to the Pixar films and the Disney classics, but no to ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Shrek’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda’? Because we think those movies suck, and because one of the short-lived privileges of parenting young children is arbitrary aesthetic totalitarianism” is true for me, too, I guess. I just don’t happen to think Dora and Curious George or Martha Speaks suck. I think they are nice, relatively quiet, interesting shows. I like the idea of young children watching short programs way more than a 3 year old watching a 2 hour movie. Other than that, it’s all a matter of taste. I think alot of those Pixar movies are dumb.

You know what? My kid watches TV and at 2 years old he speaks more fluently than some 3 year-olds. He’s got a great imagination, he loves to play dress-up and run around outside. I think he’s a well rounded kid who deserves to watch a TV show now and then if he wants to.

I think it’s the act of talking about it that makes it seem snobby. We don’t have TV at our house, for grownups or children, but I only mention it when somebody asks me if I watch a certain show or whatever. Once or twice, people have told me that I NEEED TV if I want to take a shower or wash the dishes in peace, and I respond with a dull smile because that’s not true at all. I shower at night, when the solar panels have.. um… been working hard all day.
.
Okay, okay, we have solar panels but no TV. I’m digging myself into a hole here, aren’t I? We eat processed food, though. Is that bad enough to redeem me?
.
Anyway, my point is that I think differing lifestyles are okay if you don’t make a big deal out of it. Very few people get on my case about things I do ‘better’ than them if they were the ones who asked me about it in the first place. But internet bloggers and journalists need something to write about, so unless they’re being self-deprecatingly humble (which can be annoying as well), they may seem to be boasting – and by extension, judging. At least, that’s how the readers tend to perceive things. We could stop doing that if we become aware of the phenomenon.

My son has watched TV ever since I can remember. I just make sure it is NickJr (former know as Noggin) because they have no commercials and they teach kids different things. Besides, I make sure is that while he is watching I am with there interacting with him and the show. If they ask colors, I make sure he answers and sometimes I answer. I think is a great way to spend time with him without the pressure of creating a whole game.
On the other hand, I do not think the author was trying to belittle anybody, he was just explaining his choices for his twin girls. I agree with the comment that when parents critize other parents’ choices is because the do not feel so sure about their own choices. Well, I think in parenting you are never sure of what is going to work for our kids. We just make the best decision we possibly can make with the best of our knowledge and hope it works, but guess what, our choices do not always work for others so it is their own business what they decide for their kids.

I really liked his piece and didn’t think it was snobby. People who got offended need to get a grip — these are insecure people who think any parent who dares to share their own experience is by definition automatically looking down on other parents. Anyway, I thought the article was really more about the inconsistencies we all are guilty of as parents, and the clash between our parenting ideals and the messy reality. Yes, as parents we monitor the quality and quantity of TV viewing, but I also think the kind of parent you are in general has a bigger impact on kids than how many hours a week you let them watch TV.

I didn’t read the article. However, I do have friends who don’t want their kids to watch any TV. Including one family who got rid of their TV who watch movies and shows online (incidentally they are the most smug over my TV-phobic friends with kids). I don’t let it bother me what other parents decide. I couldn’t have made it without Yo Gabba Gabba and I do not believe that TV is evil or destructive. I think it’s like science…it can be used for good or evil, but the thing itself is not evil. My brothers and I watched a lot of TV as kids, and read a lot and played family games..and well, we’re grown-ups now, and we still read a lot, watch TV and play family games. I don’t think TV stole my childhood, and I don’t think it will harm my boys.

I grew up with no TV in the house and would constantly try to get permission to play at my best friend’s home across the street where she had cable TV waiting. At around age 6 we finally got a TV and probably until college so much of my time was spent in front of that screen, I couldn’t get enough even if I didn’t really enjoy the show I was watching. I think it’s like parents who deny kids all sweets – once they’re finally allowed to have them, there’s a big chance they’ll over-indulge. I let my 2 year-old watch Dora and then when the show is over it’s over, sometimes she throws a small fit, sometimes she just accepts it, but she moves on and plays with her toys. I don’t ever want her to think she’s missing out on something but I think it involves balance and knowing it’s a treat she can have sometimes.