How much TV?

[LizzieN]

The tv is often on way too much in our house and I know with baby DD it's likely to be excessive soon, but tbh DS watches for a while then wanders off while I sit there watching it......LOL

[clazzat]

We have between 0 and 3 10 min programmes in the morning (depending on a) how quickly we need to get out of the house and b) how chipper I'm feeling!) - I do really need the time while they are distracted to clear up from breakfast etc, but this is the only time of day that I let them watch tv on their own.  We normally have 1 or 2 programmes after nap, as dd1 *needs* 30 mins to wake up otherwise she is just a bear, and then there is tv after supper - 10-20 mins - and 2 programmes after bath.  So on a really bad day, dd1 will watch a couple of hours (which is quite unusual these days as they play more together), but dd2 doesn't really watch it.  I try to make a real point of sitting with them while they watch, though, so that we can talk about what's on and have nice snuggle time.

[MLK]

You know I've often wondered with those studies on TV and ADHD - is it the telly "causing" ADHD or is it desperate Mums using the telly to get some quiet time away from hyper kids?

[Shiv52]

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any tv watching until the age of two, here in the states.

I used to be fanatic about no TV because of this (even though I am in UK!) but I in the end  (as I am really controlling!) did research into the research that made them make that recommendation in the first place and after doing loads of reading I was less convinced at the validity of the recommendation.  I have a link that went through all the info and will post it when i find it. 

DD has been watching much more TV recently than I would like.  I have cut it right back now but when I was having really bad morning sickness she watched a lot more than usual.  More on rainy days than good days etc.

What I learned from the research was it wasn't so much the TV that led to issues but the other lifestyle issues as well and that the lack of brain dev was based on LOs who watched TV all day long every day. THese kids typically had poor diets, poor interaction with parents, poor socialisation opportunities etc as well as watching TV every waking hour.  The other thing they stressed was the age appropriateness of shows was a big factor in TV being an issue vs not being an issue! 

In my mind if DD watches TV for x amount of time every day but the rest of the day she is engaged with me doing puzzles, colouring, games and then just chatting throughout the day during dressing, meals, household chores and then being out and about throughout the week.  She spends time just pottering about and playing by herself too.   I decided to take the pressure off myself.  I engage with M alot of the time.  Most of the day infact.  I know in that time she watches TV is a time for her to chill out and gives me 20 minutes to recharge and sit down and gives me the energy for the next few hours. 

I am learning to give myself a break!!  There are worst things that watching a bit of TV.  Us mummies and our LOs need a break sometimes too! xx

[clazzat]

I am learning to give myself a break!!  There are worst things that watching a bit of TV.  Us mummies and our LOs need a break sometimes too! xx

Absolutely!

[brenda2]

thanks shiv for that post, some good reminders for us to give ourselves a break.  there are too many things to feel guilty about as moms, 30 min of tv a few times a day shouldn't be one of them!!

[hrk]

I know a couple parents that have read quite a bit of research, and they have decided to not have a tv.  It is the conclusion they draw from reading the research, and that is more than fine.  Let's not forget they are educating themselves and coming to a different conclusion, and that is ok.

While it could be true that the kids with high viewing time and an incidence of adhd may have an additional "constellation of factors" that is not measured (affecting the validity), there is still no definitive causation for adhd.  I think it concerns a lot of parents.  And the possible adhd link is only one of a number of concerns/reasons why some parents do not let their children watch tv. 

Hugs to all; it is a decision that every family makes.  Everyone posting has put a bit of time in to considering the level they are comfortable with; that is good.  :-) 

[MLK]

I'll give a "non-scientific" anecdote - my son is very active, probably has quite a few of the criteria for ADHD, has been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder. He pretty much didn't watch any telly until he was 2, mainly because he wouldn't sit still! After age 2 I wouldn't let the Tv go on the in the morning, only for a set amount if time in the late afternoon, when he was most hyper and it calmed him down. And not every day either. So maybe 5/6 hours a week in total?

BUt the thing is, he was hyper from birth, my MIL told me she'd never seen a baby so active, he was always kicking his arms and legs about and walked at 9 months. He was BORN that way.

Now my neighbours kids all watched a LOT of telly from birth, I remember when DS1 was small being shocked that her daughter (the same age) was plopped in  front of the TV watching baby Einstein while her Mum cooked dinner. She had favourite shows before 1! But all 3 of those kids are still placid and good-natured, they were born that way too. Of course they had lots of non-Tv time, and LOTs of social interaction, their Mum is always out or having friends over.

[brenda2]

i agree with MLK.  ADHD was around before tv was around it just wasn't as prevalently diagnosed or treated.  you can draw cause and effect to just about anything if you try hard enough.

[Shiv52]

Yeah agree with Lan too!

My cousin has a diagnosis of autism and ADHD and he showed symptoms from birth too.  I remember having concerns from 6 months with him, long before he looked near a TV.  Same with all the kids I've worked with (I worked with special needs in my past life!).   Its tough.  The sooner they can either prove or more than likely disprove the link between persuasive dev. delays and ADHD the better.  Will give us parents a much better peace of mind with all the other things we beat ourselves up about! 

[MLK]

Read back through my post and realized it seemed like I was saying that any amount of TV is OK - not what I meant at all! I just think there are other reasons that TV viewing and ADHD are linked -  for one thing ADHD kids seem drawn to the extra stimulation it offers.

[Shiv52]

I got what you meant!!!

Here's the link to original article that the AAP based its recommendation on:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/tvapril.pdf

Just in case any one interested!! But in summary (quoted from the article):

Nevertheless, we have not in fact studied or found an
association between television viewing and clinically
diagnosed ADHD.

we cannot draw causal inferences from
these associations. It could be that attentional problems
lead to television viewing rather than vice
versa.

It is also
possible that there are characteristics associated with
parents who allow their children to watch excessive
amounts of television that accounts for the relation-
ship between television viewing and attentional
problems. For example, parents who were distracted,
neglectful, or otherwise preoccupied might have allowed
their children to watch excessive amounts of
television in addition to having created a household
environment that promoted the development of attentional
problems.

Finally, we had no data on the
content of the television being viewed. Some research
indicates that educational television (eg, Sesame
Street) may in fact promote attention and reading
among school-aged children.24 Others have
disagreed and posited that even such programming
can be detrimental.40 If exposure to certain kinds of
programming is beneficial, even at a very young age,
then our results represent conservative estimates of
the risks of television as a medium in general because
some proportion of the programming may
have moderated the detrimental aspects of others
and deviated the results toward the null. However,
more research is needed on the effects of varying
content of television, particularly for children who
are preschool age.

[MLK]

Thanks for that Shiv, clarifies what I suspected.

[babybarr]

Thanks for taking the time to do that Shiv.  Certainly does help to put it all in perspective.

[hrk]

For others reading; don't forget to look at the discussion area of the research.  Every factor cannot be controled for, as Lan said.  Someone with sensory issues would probably show up.  Although our little guy has some mild sensory issues like low tone; he does not present any attentional problems.  Also, not all parents report attentional problems from birth.  So, there are genetics and environmental factors for many kids.  Adhd has been the primary focus, but tv has been cited as an issue in increased violence in children, obesity, and the baby einstien study.  Is it the only factor in all those issues- no.  Could it be a part?  You have to decide.
 
Got to go get H.  ;-)