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No TV for Children Under 2, Doctors’ Group Urges


Hippa Hippa Hey, one of the many shows directly marketed to toddlers

In the past few years, a new kind of specialty TV channel has been inserted in regular programming: TV for toddlers. Networks such as BabyTV air shows that were devised for and aimed to children under two. Most parents who have watched these strange, hypnotic shows are amazed by how their babies are mesmerized by them. But one cannot help but ask: Is it healthy to place a baby, who is barely aware of its surroundings, in front of an 51″ plasma TV with CGI cartoon characters bouncing around in high definition and chanting strange things? Are these shows “educational” or mind-numbing hypnosis sessions scientifically devised to subliminally capture babies’ attention?

No matter what’s the answer, a group of doctors agree that TV is simply not good for babies. If it already makes fully grown adults dumber, one can only imagine what TV does to baby with soft brains who don’t even have the motor functions to stand up straight. Here’s an article summing up a study by the Journal of Pediatrics.

Kids under 2 should play, not watch TV, doctors say

Children under age 2 should avoid watching TV as much as possible, according to a new policy statement from the nation’s largest group of pediatricians, who suggest the tots should play instead.

The idea that TV programs are beneficial to the learning of children this young has not been proved, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. In addition, TV viewing may lead to sleep problems and a delayed use of speech in young kids, recent research suggests.

Even merely having the TV on in the background may be less than optimal for a child’s development, the AAP says. Background television may distract from playtime activities that benefit children’s learning. And it may distract parents, preventing them from speaking and interacting with their kids, the AAP says.

However, the recommendations run counter to what most parents actually do. About 90 percent of parents say their kids younger than 2 watch some type of media, according to a 2007 study. By the age of 3, nearly one-third of kids have a TV in their bedrooms.

As a compromise, parents should come up with a strategy to manage TV viewing in their young children, the AAP says. Ideally, when kids younger than 2 watch TV, their parents should watch it with them.

The new policy statement was released today (Oct. 18) here at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition. The policy statement specifically addresses the viewing of TV programs and does not comment on the potential benefits or risks of using phone applications, video games or other programs a child may encounter on a screen.

Young kids and TV

The AAP first released guidelines on media use by young kids in 1999, concluding that media use by kids under 2 should be discouraged. Since then, a lot more research has been done on the subject. The AAP reviewed this research for its new policy statement and essentially came to the same conclusion.

That’s not to say that kids can’t benefit from TV. Children older than 2 can improve their language and social skills by watching TV, some studies have shown.

However, in order to gain a benefit from a TV program, kids need to be able to understand and pay attention to it. Young kids may lack the mental ability to comprehend what they are watching. In fact, two studies have found that, for kids 2 and under, watching programs such as “Sesame Street” may have a negative impact on language development, the AAP says.

“There’s a great developmental digital divide,” Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas, and lead author of the new policy statement, said at a news conference. Studies show that children under 11/2 years old have the same reaction to a TV program regardless of whether it’s going forward or backward, Brown said. In contrast, older children prefer to watch the program forward.

All in all, instead of spending time in front of the TV, young kids are likely better off spending that time engaged in unstructured play, which promotes creative thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills.

Setting limits

If parents choose to let their young kids watch TV, they should set limits, the AAP says. They should also avoid placing a TV in the child’s bedroom

Parent should be aware TV programs may affect their child’s development, even if the child cannot understand the program. They should turn the TV off if no one is watching it and try to watch their adult programs when the kids are not around, Brown said.

If parents cannot play with their kids directly, even having the children play with toys by themselves can be beneficial, the AAP says.

The AAP also recommends further research in this area to examine the long-term effects of early TV viewing on toddlers’ development.

The new policy statement will be published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.

- MSNBC, Kids under 2 should play, not watch TV, doctors say

 


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106 Comments to “No TV for Children Under 2, Doctors’ Group Urges”



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  1. Ms George says:

    What about my baby can read??? I didn’t plan on letting him watch anything other than that…

    Thumb up 15

    • Candice says:

      I also have “Your baby can read” & my child is learning very well with it. Im sure it is much better than what is on TV these days for toddlers. Mindless TV, i call it.

      Thumb up 16

      • Silvershell says:

        Well, my niece is allowed to watch Yo Gabba Gabba for thirty minutes when it airs, as well as Ni Hao Kai Lan, and Dora, since she was about seven months. I know it seems like a lot of television, but i’m actually going to say that she’s fine. She’s two now and she began walking at nine months, She talks a few complete sentences, says Thank You and all the works. So i don’t think all television programs for toddlers as evil. The only one i find a little strange is Yo Gabba Gabba, but i’m trying to get her out of that phase. Muno is creepy lol

        So i won’t go as far as saying “DON’T LET YOUR TODDLERS/BABIES WATCH TELEVISION” but limitations are definitively a must.

        Thumb up 19

      • Kimmy says:

        I have never comment on the site before but when I saw the title I was almost certain you would speak on the correlation they are finding between children <3 years watching TV and autism. I am by no means saying that autism is not caused by a majority of factors but why take the chance.

        Thumb up 11

      • Uncool says:

        So uncool.

        Thumb up 5

      • Andie says:

        When I was that age (I’m 13 now) my mom said I watched Oprah (haha) , Preschool Power, Dora and Blues Clues. haha. I never watched Barney.

        Thumb up 4

    • Skywalker says:

      I agree that some of the toddler geared stuff out there is wierd. We owned a video called “Hot Dog” by Boo-Bah and I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I told my mom it would only make sense on drugs :-P

      Thumb up 6

    • J says:

      Your Baby Can Read is crap. No, really. It will only hurt in the long run. Children should learn how to read with phonics based lessons. Your baby can’t read, it can only memorize the word. Any reading system that is not based on phonics is a detriment to your child and that is a fact. Don’t be fooled and don’t just take my word for it, either. Do some research. Just think about it though. The child isn’t reading, they’re only memorizing and then recognizing familiar words. What happens when the kid comes across an unfamiliar word? Well, they can’t do anything, not even sound it out because they weren’t taught phonics. That is NOT reading.

      High Rated Comment Thumb up 75

      • Lynda says:

        This is not quite accurate – I have many students who are visual learners- and I myself know how to spell mostly through recognising and remembering the visual representation of words. Phonics, of course, is useful – but it is not is an unflawed method for reading and spelling. People who use their visual memory are also able to translate that into learning how to read and spell unfamiliar words.

        Thumb up 8

      • FB says:

        dear J,
        Take a look into http://www.IAHP.org Amazing organization that has been proving your statement above wrong for over 50 years.

        Thumb up 0

      • baccusvd says:

        Ummmm I think no one way of learning is ever correct. There are lots of ways to learn. I agree with parts of the statement about them being made to remember certain words and unable to work out new ones…. and how that could perhaps make other ways of learning difficult but I mean you gotta start somewhere right?

        hooked on fawnics werked 4 me? lol I def think a mix of both is useful for sure. The best way for children or ANYONE for that matter to learn is DIRECTLY from someone else who knows what they are doing ONE ON ONE. Book learnin, and T.V shows can’t replace human contact.

        Thumb up 4

      • NeonAngel says:

        That is so true! I taught my daughter to read when she was for after she leaned the alphabet and the all the sounds. We sounded all the words out, some words arent sounded out the way they are spelled though so they do have to “memorise” those ones. But she could read before school and was at the top of her class in kindy. All it takes is the effort, a lot of parents i think just dont spend the time (or dont have it).

        Thumb up 0

    • Milla says:

      the introduction made me laugh but honestly I believe it is true. And really why would you place a tv in a baby’s bedroom?? Some parents need common sense.

      Thumb up 4

  2. Skegeeace says:

    I don’t think sitting still while looking at a screen is good for anybody- period. Too bad I have to stare at one all day at work. LOL

    I think it’s better for children to learn by reading actual books, playing with actual toys, and experiencing the world outside. If you just stop and LOOK at a kid who’s watching TV or playing some type of video game, it gets disturbing- they’re just SITTING there…like drones…like zombies. Their whole world and mind is contained in a little box.

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 142

    • marie says:

      What’s really disturbing is how powerful of a pacifier these programs are.. It’s an instant soothing for a baby that’s crying or fussy! But if you notice these “baby einstein” generation kids, even as infants, it’s remarkable how instantly they seek, find, and orient themselves toward any TV screen when they are brought into a new room.
      Conditioning? Their eyes follow a screen the way a sunflower seeks out the sun..

      High Rated Comment Thumb up 92

      • baccusvd says:

        I noticed that working retail they go STRAIGHT to the ipads etc and screen and don’t even mill about. I mean when I was a kid I would a least look around at a few things here and there never just ONE THING and NEVER a screen (because I’m in my 20s and there literally wasn’t much of this stuff back then)

        Thumb up 2

    • Ray says:

      adding to your “in the box” comment. that is so true. limiting them from learning and asking the real questions they should be asking. i have witnessed a family based on tv watching since their childhood and they are one mind controlled – in the box family, thinking that life is a movie… when in reality they never lived outside the box to even ask or realize what life is really about.

      High Rated Comment Thumb up 24

    • dustie says:

      You hit the nail right on the head!

      Thumb up 7

    • kiki says:

      And they have their mouths wide open and they don’t even Blink!

      Thumb up 5

  3. lucy says:

    this is good.

    Thumb up 1

    • Revolutionary Arms says:

      I wish I could cite this but I forgot where I read it but I recall reading a study about brainwave activity in adolescents who watched a television program as compared to reading a book. It was stated that the study found that brainwave activity was nearly when reading was nearly 5-fold that of when watching a program. I mean think about it, my hypothesis is that when you read, especially novels, your brain is forced to create the alternate universe with your imagination whereas the television does all the work for you.

      Thumb up 6

  4. Alyssa says:

    it’s a fine line between too much and an “ok” amount of tv. if you need to do homework for 20 minutes or make dinner while your babe watches sesame street.. i don’t feel like that will do too much to harm their development. my son is 18 months and is ahead of his age for speech and imitation skills and unfortunately i have alot to do in one day since i’m a student and a part time worker. we spend alot of time outside and playing games & music.. so i think it’s all about the moderation. people just think that their kids can be babysat by the TV. no good.

    Thumb up 12

    • Voice of Reason says:

      I agree that Sesame Street doesn’t seem so bad. The camera angles remain constant (instead of changing every two seconds); the characters speak in complete sentences, using more or less proper grammar (with the exception of Elmo and his annoying habit of referring to himself in the Third Person); and I think that early exposure to the alpabet and counting, through fun, memorable songs, can help a child learn faster.

      Unfortunately, Disney bought the rights to the Muppets several years ago, and are trying to get control over the right to the main Sesame Street characters as well. Let’s hope that never happens, because if it does, Sesame Street will soon be spewing the same toxic crap as the majority of children’s shows do.

      High Rated Comment Thumb up 34

  5. Neka says:

    This is true. I let my daughter watch too much TV as a baby thinking some of the baby shows would help her learn, but she is almost two and still is not talking like she should. And my roommates daughter who is a little older than mine, has never liked the tv and she has been talking really well since she was one.

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 20

    • lala says:

      this is so true!
      my 25 month year old can only say
      I pee-pee and thank you
      I feel so sad reading this cause I caused it
      too much Tv
      I dont even know how ILL stop this.

      Thumb up 8

      • robinslight says:

        Lala- is it possible your child has a hearing problem? Sometimes if they cannot hear things clearly then they can develop speech issues and not say a lot of words. My son had some hearing tests done when he was about 1 year old and everything he was hearing was muffled like he was under water. We ended up getting tubes in his ears and now he hears everything clearly and his vocabulary is rapidly growing.

        My pediatrician said by 2 they should be able to say 50 words. Just continue speaking to your child, reading to them and spending as much time engaged in play activities for their age range and they will speak when they are ready. If you are concerned I would bring it up to your pediatricians attention if they haven’t asked you about it at your well baby check ups, and they can refer you to a speech therapist.

        Thumb up 11

  6. unkiwi says:

    Duh.

    Thumb up 11

  7. Like Minds says:

    Flicking through the TV, I sometimes come across children’s TV programmes – here in the UK there’s “Teletubbies” and “Boobah”, and, even as an adult, I was really freaked out by them! They’re both incredibly sadistic and ritualistic yet so widespread. They talk gibberish and walk around doing nonsence acts.. Absolutely nothing beneficial, where’s the education?

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 66

  8. HarmlessDove says:

    By the age of 3, nearly one-third of kids have a TV in their bedrooms??? yikes.

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 23

  9. mamabella says:

    Excellent article!!

    I have a 2 year old who shows no interest in television AT ALL. I will admit, I’ve had mornings where I was so exhausted, I turned on the boob tube to Nick Jr. After reading this though, NEVER AGAIN! I’ll suck it up on those tough mornings.

    My son and I are part of a playgroup as well and it’s a pretty sad trend to see all these children just falling into the abyss of television-brainwashing. With debilitating vaccines, a DE-emphasizes on breastfeeding and the processed food geared towards toddlers, is it any wonder why they children of our nation are, to put it very simply, F*up.

    Thumb up 16

  10. nice guys says:

    Yeah, one of my nieces is so into TV that you have to call her name REPEATEDLY for her to answer you. She literally doesn’t hear you unless you scream at her, it’s extremely scary. She also stands right in front of the TV, watches it right before bed also. it’s freaking sad I blame myself too because it just became easier for her to let her watch TV because it kept her attention longer than toys.

    Whenever she comes over, I’ll make sure to leave the TV off (it’ll be good for me too) and turn on some music and let her play or play with her. The main problem is at home, the family interacts and hangs out in front of the TV (they also let her sit around while they are watching VIOLENT and racy movies/shows, it’s awful!!!)

    Thumb up 17

  11. dustie says:

    TV is evil! Its called a program for a reason ppl! Turn it off & go read your bible! Kjv
    Jesus loves his ppl & wants a lasting relationship with us, yet we are to busy filling our minds with
    Garbage to even realize it! Its a sad and deceptive world we live in:-(

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 27

  12. Angelo says:

    I’m not going to let my kid watch tv. I don’t even let myself watch tv anymore.

    Thumb up 18

  13. WhoSaves=Yahweh says:

    How about NOBODY watch Tv. READ BOOKS

    Thumb up 18

  14. BeBe says:

    recently i find television to be completely boring.. i dont know and how but 85% of the time my television is OFF.. i mean there are maybe 5 shows that i watch regularly but thats it..
    and if that t.v. is on its on mute..
    it fustrates me to no end..

    but anyway.. did anyone see the article about spongbob causing learning problems for 4yr olds.?

    spongebob is very UNREALISTIC…
    a sponge who live is the ocean in a pineapple and works at a
    fastfood joint as a fry cook..
    his best friend is a star fish has a squid for a neighbor
    oh and lets not forget the sceincetist squirl that lives in a glass dome
    that has a tree and grass.. etc etc
    i know everyone on here has seen his irritating self..

    Thumb up 10

    • BeBe says:

      lets not forget the internet either completely bored with it somethimes..

      Thumb up 6

    • be more open minded says:

      I’ve heard about spongebob shows are making kids retarded bc of the way that starfish talks. If kids start to mimic cartoon characters( which happens alot these days) then you know they’re watching too much tv.

      Thumb up 4

  15. crystal says:

    My niece who is 2 has been watching nickjr when she was a baby, now she talks a lot more even has a conversation with us which is pretty cute. But there are some shows I worry about her and my
    nephew watch.

    Thumb up 3

  16. Max Gianni says:

    TV nowadays is not safe, I dont even let my little sister watch Cartoon Network because the shows are just stupid and really make no sense. Its scary what parents let their kids watch, my little brother asked me “Do gay people have buttsex.” I asked him “Where did you hear that from!?!!” and he says Family Guy. Really? Its come to this? Where kids are already cussing and familiar with the word vagina because of shows like South Park and Family Guy? Dont even get me started with that Jersey Shore show…oh god..

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 33

    • laurindis says:

      Family Guy and South Park are shows for teenagers and young adults, especially YA, not kids. IMHO if your brother is 14 or above he should know that gay people exist, have sex, etc. I’m 23 and find Family Guy hilarious and I find it appropriate for a more mature audience. I don’t think that just because it’s a cartoon it’s supposed to be educational and/or good for kids, think Simpsons, Futurama, etc.

      Thumb up 15

      • Anon says:

        She’s not really saying Family Guy is awful, just that kids shouldn’t watch it, because it’s TERRIBLE for kids to watch that kind of stuff! And if a 14 year old needs to learn that “gay people exist and have sex” he shouldn’t learn it from a television show.

        Personally, the few times I’ve tried to watch those mature cartoons, I had to turn them off, because I found them mind numbing they were so stupid. I could almost feel my IQ points draining the longer it was on. The things people find humorous nowadays is astounding. Shows like Family Guy are proof that “entertainment,” and society, has lost all class.

        Thumb up 16

      • HappyCynic says:

        ?!?!? I can’t believe people watch Family Guy and all similar shows like that. It blatantly promotes pedo and beastiality. I’ve seen CW commercials with kids on it saying, “my favorite show on CW is Family Guy!”
        WHAT?!?
        Even just a commercial/promo for that show is disturbing. I saw that Family Guy adult/baby get naked and start kissing a grown woman….on the 2 second commercial?!?!?!?!?
        I think it’s bad for kids and adults.
        The last Simpsons episode I saw had Homer lusting after some other man and rejecting his wife the whole time.
        Some of you guys are sick or something..I’m sorry this is just sad.
        Just like Fox says, Animation Domination…of the mind, morals and values.

        Thumb up 17

  17. Vigilant Girl says:

    Before BabyTv came out, I would see the advertisments and feel a little creeped out. I suggest babys/little children watch tv shows with REAL people! A few cartoons are okay.. Dora has improved. I remember the days when she blinked once a minute!(hypnotizing!)

    Boobah, definitely is demonic. The faces ARE scary and so are the bodies. ‘In the night garden’ just feels like a wrong show with influence from ‘the children of God’ group. SICK

    I suggest OLD sesame street, old shows from the kermit channel also..

    My ex friends baby was OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse Club House.. Her face became expressionless and the show had to be on ALL day..regardless of if she was watching it. She would have nightmares about Mickey and withdrawal fits as we tried to wean her off the show… when a misunderstanding happened and our frienship was over, her mother got her back on the show.. Hopefully the daughter outgrew this and is not affected!
    It’s hard for struggling parents not to put the children in front of tv, lets just try with real show.

    Thumb up 11

  18. onemorevoice says:

    the majority of parents these days are too lazy to raise their own children, to teach them other productive or meaningful activities, hence the tv babysitter. look at how our culture has changed since tv watching has become the favorite passtime for the majority. not pretty.

    if you like the way we have turned out, then by all means, let your child be influenced by tv. because, no matter what program it is, there is major influencing that is incorporated by design. you are deceiving yourself if you believe otherwise.

    and he didn’t even mention the commercials.

    i didn’t grow up with a tv, and i can see a great difference in my life, my mindset and my thinking, compared to my contemporaries who did. and i can see a HUGE difference betweeen myself and younger people who have been raised by tv. it is not a good thing to live on a couch staring at a screen. don’t even get me started on the cell phone/texting thing!! :)

    i am soooooo thankful that i have spent my life actually living it and learning.

    Thumb up 17

  19. HellaIsabella says:

    There was a study that showed kids who watched spongebob behaved worse than kids who didnt watch it. Children should be learning, interacting and playing not sitting there with their eyes glued to a tv screen. Lazy kids grow up to be lazy adults

    Thumb up 16

  20. ethel says:

    My family have a TV but we don’t use it much. My mom and dad like theatre better and my sister only even switches it on on saturday to watch Doctor Who.

    Thumb up 7

  21. David says:

    this reminds me of the drunk scene from Dumbo.. Pink elephants. Anyone remember this trippy scene? Frightening!

    Thumb up 14

  22. beberodri says:

    I remember when the whole Guitar Hero was the craze just a couple years ago, and whenever I went to a Best Buy there was always that one kid who would blaze through the entire jam, only problem was that one kid literally never blinked while playing, at first it was funny but now I think back and it’s pretty scary and sad.

    Thumb up 6

  23. German says:

    I am 19 and I have a permanent stuttering problem (or so I believed). I have stopped watching television once I got a real job and a relationship. It’s been three months without television and I hardly stutter. Coincidence?

    Thumb up 15

  24. poopyderp says:

    Don’t use the television as a babysitter!

    Thumb up 9

  25. tiffany says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQPeavc73BE

    Notice the owl on top of the phone and the butterfly symbolism

    Thumb up 2

  26. Keke Bahotislet says:

    I don’t know if this is the cause, but I remember my kids became violent after watching “SpongeBob Squarepants” when they were 4 and 6. My two kids are now 10 and 12. But I remember them fighting with each other for non-sense things, which they actually don’t do prior to watching it regularly. I don’t know. Sorry for my English, I’m French.

    Thumb up 8

  27. Mango says:

    As McLuhan said, the medium is the message. When I think of the image of millions of people sat in their little rooms, a lot of them on their own or, if not physically alone, isolated by their focus on the little box, all watching ONE image from a central source… it’s horrifying. That is infinitely more important than the content of the programme.

    I haven’t watched TV for years. It took a long time to detune from it, now I am disconnected from that particular system and whenever I see it in someone else’s house I find it extremely disturbing.

    Thumb up 8

    • HappyCynic says:

      I have heard from people that shut off the tv for good that it took a week or 2 for the ‘head noise clutter’ to go away followed by days of thoughts or nightmares of the most disturbing images seen on the television since a child.
      Images they didn’t remember seeing seemed to be stored in the brain somewhere and would be experienced as it was trying to leave the brain.

      Also, someone can get addicted to the tv physically I mean this lady couldn’t sleep without being close to her tv as it was on as if it gives of vibes you can feel. I don’t know for sure.

      Thumb up 7

  28. HappyCynic says:

    We haven’t had cable TV for a year or 2 but before that we had a DVR.
    The kids could watch anything on the ‘List’.
    I filled the list up with things like
    Little House on the Prairie (the best show on TV IMHO),
    Cosby,
    Brady Bunch (but even that had Marcia looking at fashion magazines with her mom as if they are important)
    those How things work shows,
    international or travel shows for a glimpse into other countries,
    that Earth series with the beautiful photography,
    Mister Rogers.
    Never the ‘kid channels’! They seem like crack for babies plus they look and sound like a migraine.
    I do remember Animal PLanet being the ONLY channel that didn’t have offensive commercials.
    I would spend time at night searching for cool & decent things to add to the DVR for us to watch and they had to skip/mute commercials. We love making fun of the commercials through humor and sarcasm.
    I kinda miss that one show called American Pickers.

    Thumb up 8

  29. Jorgo says:

    My wife is unfortunately brainwashed and no matter how much I stress on this, she doesn’t see it. I’m quite hopeless to be honest.

    Thumb up 5

  30. Madison says:

    My nephew is two and his parents let him watch tv all the time, even when he was little. They didnt have him watch those really weird developmental programs or whatever, but he did (and still does) watch Yo Gabba Gabba. He learns things from that show, and he really likes to dance to the music. I dont think anything is wrong with him, in fact, he’s really smart for his age. He loves to talk and play with his toys, and his mom even taught him how to say some things in sign language. He does have a little speech impediment because when he was born, there was a piece of skin that connected the tip of his tongue to the bottom of his jaw. He’s had that clipped when he was six months old but i think its still a little weird for that. So anyway, i dont think parents should take away TV or anything like that, maybe some parents could use it a little less though. As long as the kid is also learning things and getting exercise, I think they should be able to watch a little TV.

    Thumb up 2

  31. Amy says:

    When I was little, I remember (and get ready to guess my age, because I’m about to date myself) I watched Bill Nye the Science Guy, Blues Clues, Barney, Power Rangers, and The Crocodile hunter. This all happened after the age of two, though. At least I’m pretty sure since I can’t remember before age three. I’m not sure all TV is bad, but watching a lot of it can be. I remember when I was little and I claimed I was bored my mom would just toss me outside. I think it’s fine for parents to let their kids watch some TV but I don’t think they should watch a whole lot of it.

    Thumb up 8

  32. tupavi says:

    this whole article makes me giggle to human stupidity

    i think we all know that only 0,01% of TV can actually be beneficial
    i watch none

    Thumb up 4

  33. Boo_is_me says:

    ”By the age of 3, nearly one-third of kids have a TV in their bedrooms.”
    Shit, that is disgusting.

    Thumb up 9

  34. phuffinkitty says:

    I don’t think it’s so much about the content at this age (but that is also very important and should be looked at critically) but more the habit of viewing t.v. that is being instilled in the child.

    They want everyone focused on their predictive programming, everyone. The younger the better. Since when has t.v. actually served Humankind? It was not invented to help, nurture, and progress us spiritually but rather to lie to us, deceive us, corral us into erroneous beliefs. We are subjected to violence, destruction of our planet and ourselves, debasement, sexualization of children, and now, the Trans-humanism agenda on a continual basis.

    T.v. is the surrogate for the parent. Without t.v. they would have ZERO control over us. ZERO!!!!

    I can’t stand it when parents put on videos in the car for their little ones. All that is beautiful about our planet, animals, and the human race lies beyond those tinted windows. Yet, the children are forced to have tunnel vision and watch mind-controlling DVDs while birds fly, clouds shift and form, the sun shines, and people, all around, people – who we are all connected to, go about life.

    Yet, the child is becoming increasingly disconnected to Humanity through television, distracting music, and other electronic devices (games and texting).

    Think hearing music in restaurants, shops, etc. was all for your benefit and enjoyment? Why are t.v.s everywhere? You can’t even relax in a restaurant without it being on in the background! Why???

    Why were we forced to switch to Digital tv? Why was the government only too happy to help those out with the purchase of the digital box? Know anything about SSSS Waves? Known as Silent Sound Spread Spectrum – all designed to bombard you with Subliminal Messages that is carried over Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) broadcast waves, planting inaudible messages directly into the subconscious human mind.

    Please turn off the Damn TV, and UNPLUG IT!!!! Simply turning off the t.v. will not prevent these inaudible signals from coming through.

    Reconnect with yourself, your children. Do not willingly hand them over to the evil that is television.

    High Rated Comment Thumb up 24

  35. Githe says:

    “soft brains” is funny…though I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be.

    Thumb up 2

  36. Githe says:

    When you scroll down on the Wikipedia page for Boohba, you’ll see ‘cocaine’ listed as one of the gifts given on the show……..say what?!

    Thumb up 4

    • HappyCynic says:

      This is taken from the Boohbah Wikedpedia page….
      Some examples of presents

      * bell
      * musical pipe
      * stack of blocks
      * hand jobs
      * forklift truck
      * seesaw
      * yellow, woolly sweater
      * cakes

      * bubble-making machine
      * shed
      * cocaine
      * bass drum
      * small couch
      * treasure chest
      * suit of armor
      * swim flippers
      * assorted musical instruments

      * giant camera
      * jack-in-the-box
      * pile of balls
      * play tunnel
      * black people
      * brick wall
      * a giant hotdog
      * a pile of bananas
      * a rocket ship

      ….hand jobs?

      Thumb up 11

    • Nir says:

      boohbah can also mean ‘doll’ in hebrew

      Thumb up 3

  37. prosperous says:

    the only thing that will save your kids is replacing your networks with at least some biblical stories for them to hear. aside from that has anyone seen that new show on cartoon network called “adventure time”? for sure it’s funny and entertaining. but it’s also yet another dumbing down brainwashed demonized art at it’s best with charisma and humor how could it hurt? i’m sad for those who have lost their guilty conscience.

    Thumb up 7

    • Eric says:

      The Bible is not the answer to everything and is certainly not, “The only thing that will save your kids.” Perhaps you have been brainwashed? Ignorance is indeed bliss, I suppose…

      Thumb up 7

  38. freetoday says:

    I think it very sad that the endoctrination now starts so earlier. A lot of children grow up disliking the written word. It’s amazing. I see adolescents I deal with everyday who look at like I am a Martian when I suggest they read everyday.

    Thumb up 6

  39. instrumentality says:

    Do a story on Gadhafi’s death V C..

    Thumb up 3

  40. antimonarch says:

    I had this conversation about illuminati with a few friends of mine two days ago and right now I’m super into it. Anyway today I had another conversation about same topic with one of my friends and she was telling me about this book she read, it was a biography, and it was about this young teenager who meets a friend at church and her friend of hers invite her to a “retreat” when really it was a trap to see who had special witch-like powers. She continues going on about the secrets of the Freemasons and illumaniti clans, to make this storry shirt I was wondering if anyone may know the name of the book,

    Thumb up 0

  41. rrrrrrrrr says:

    i watched about, alot of TV as a child (i’m 17)
    i now, somewhat, stubble over words, and i can feel/know i’m saying or pronouncing it wrong.

    Thumb up 1

  42. Syrus Magistus says:

    This article should be required reading for human beings everywhere- especially those of us who normally don’t or can’t read. For the sake of our children. Half of my generation seems to be composed of basket cases and drug addicts. I’m only 19. I shudder to think of what could happen to the newborns if this crap gets to them.

    Thumb up 6

  43. Daniel says:

    I can attest to this first hand because my sister would do nothing but stay in her room and watch tv with her daughter. Now she’s 18 and she has a significant speech impediment and she is between regular intelligence and mentally retarded not to mention her arrested development and emotional immaturity.

    Thumb up 3

  44. Indy says:

    My cousin, everytime i go to their house, ALWAYS has family guy playing on the computer, and her 2 year old watches it too. Now i always felt this was a bad idea in the back of my mind, but reading all these comments do you think it could have a bad effect in the long run? There is alot of animated puke, blood, guts and violence/sex references in the show, and she gets scared when she sees violence/blood…is this safe for her to watch at such a young age ?! Her grammar and learning are fine though, she can count up to 20!

    Thumb up 0

  45. Jorgo says:

    Well, yesterday I kind of made a stand. I had a good conversation with my wife (I cannot expose her to everything I know at this time, she would think I’m insane). But we agreed that there’s no more TV, except in the weekends an hour a day max. If it was up to me the damn thing would go out period but, I’m afraid that’s impossible currently.

    My little daughter never watches adult programs but a lot of, yes, baby TV. Approximately 30 minutes to an hour a day so, I think this is a good start of reducing it. BTW, anybody knows “mice builders” and noticed the abundant usage of 666-es throughout the sow?

    Thumb up 6

    • Githe says:

      That’s wonderful. You’re the head of the home and it’s right that you lead your family like that. I say chuck the thing and live with the bad attitudes for a week or two. Once they realise how much happens when a t.v is not present, it would have been worth the it.

      Thumb up 5

      • Jorgo says:

        Thanks. You know, the little one asks for baby tv but when I say no, she forgets about it a minute later, of course, I need to keep her busy but let’s face it, that’s wehat parenting is all about, spending time with your kids, trying to teach them a thing or two.

        Oh, and an other blatant display of masonic imagery can be found in the show called “where is grandpa?”, complete with the masonic checkerboard floor and pilars.

        Thumb up 3

  46. wichterich says:

    ”They should turn the TV off if no one is watching it and try to watch their adult programs when the kids are not around, Brown said.” …so the adults can be dumbed down while their trying to keep their children from being dumbed down

    Thumb up 5

  47. Daydreamer says:

    I compared my generation to the young generation today, and I am sorry, but kids are getting more unhealthy and less smart.

    Probably because:

    1. They have less people skills – because they play too much video games.
    2. They have a lot to learn about the world outside – because they watch too much tv.
    3. They have less good manners and right conduct – because information *good or bad* is very accessible and there’s no one to filter out the information they are gathering.

    Thumb up 7

  48. yen says:

    I have a 2 year old nephew and he loves watching youtube vids that his parents downloaded to ipad. I am not comfortable with the idea that he is spending so much time watching vids and not playing and exploring physically. From what I observe, adults love that kids are able to imitate what they see. They confuse that with intelligence. If you believe watching tv is helping your kids to learn, you are not entirely wrong, but please watch with them, talk to them about it, and encourage them to question everything. If you have no time to do that, you will have harder time to repair the damage you may cause.

    Thumb up 4

  49. HateThis... says:

    well I’m 15, even before I could even comprehend it,as an infant my father would plop me in front of the tv, hand me the remote and just sit and watch me (he worked from home and so did my mum) apparently I was around the age of 1, and I’d always end up picking the animal planet or the travel shows, I detested barney, tom and jerry and never really understood teletubbies, but I did watch a lot of pokemon and Spongebob, I also have this weird ass quirk, as a child I’d watch a lot of horror, darcula, you know, bloody and gorey stuff, and I never had fits or anything, but now, even though it is quite subtle, I cannot stand violence and i hate blood and gore, eg- super fly video on youtube, the ending made me flinch O-o

    also I dont know if this has anything to do with TV but Micheal Jackson was a big part of my childhood, all I actually remember listing/watching, but I never noticed he would switch from BLACK TO WHITE in certain videos, I never acknowledged it, I dont know if I noticed it or that I just didnt care but… its slightly unnerving that I never asked my parents about it till I was 8 (dad introduced me to his music as an infant)

    Thumb up 0

  50. thetruthonly says:

    Look at this Baby TV

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz1FYPrF12A

    Notice the Owl and the Eyes painted on the egg who figures out the one outcast egg is now an owl?

    Those of you who are well read should get it.

    This is really scary shit.

    Thumb up 1

  51. X says:

    I dont have kids yet but at one point a coworker of mine who has a toddler would continuously tell me that the uber popular PBS Sprout show ‘Kipper’ was a depiction of what it’s like to be high. I kid you not she says that she has no idea why kids and parents love it some much seeing as all Kipper ever does is a bunch of nonsensical foolery that brings to mind her youth days as a pot smoking hippie. I watched Kipper because she wouldnt stop talking about it, and it’s so true. I don’t see how that show would benefit anyone’s development let alone a toddlers.

    Thumb up 2

  52. Honii says:

    I don’t agree totally with this post VC. I have a 6 month old baby and I allow him to watch Baby TV. Hippa Hippa Hey focuses on matching sounds to visuals, what’s so wrong in that? Also, it is proven that repetition increases learning. I sit and watch these programmes with my baby for up to 20-30mins daily. He loves Hippa Hippa Hey, Tullie and Charlie and the numbers. When he sees Tullie, he laughs. And when Charlie comes on I sing along. Even when we’re out, I sing the song Charlie sings (counting from 1 to 10 for those who don’t know). Whether he understands or not, he responds.

    And after 20 or 30 mins, I change the channel to watch my programmes. I also read alot to him from bedtime rhymes, to Peepo to Bible stories. I am very animated so he responds and pays attention right to the end of each story. At his age there’s only so much playing he can do. Everything in moderation, if parents know how to that, their kids will be fine. What about parents who allow their kids to watch Soaps? Young & Restless, Bold & Beautiful, East Enders?

    I don’t see anything wrong in trying to stimulate your baby with programmes suited for them….and better yet if parents play a part in it… I strongly DO NOT believe in putting tv in kids rooms until they’ve moved out of my house!!!! Why can’t they watch the tv in the lounge/living room????

    Thumb up 1

    • Jorgo says:

      You know Honii, you can actually stimulate your kid yourself, you don’t need TV for that. The advantage of doing it yourself is that, in that case, you’re 100% sure your kid is not being used for somebody else’s agenda.

      That being said, TV can actually be beneficial, I mean, I could speak English when I was about 9 years old just by watching shows in English and reading the subtitles. But if you want to form your own opinion and not somebody elses, it really is best to put a limit on it or to be very critical about the information you receive through that media.

      Thumb up 2

      • Honii says:

        Hi Jorgo, I did not particurlarly mean that I use only TV to stimulate my child. Which was why I added that I take him to Baby Sensory, I read for him, we go to play groups, swimming and soon Gymbabes. So my baby is in fact very stimulated and he is allowed to watch Baby TV for only half hour a day, which is short if we are to compare other parents who allow theirs to do far more. But thanks for your comments….

        Thumb up 0

  53. Honii says:

    Just to add to my last comment, I also take my baby to Baby Sensory classes once a week; play groups every other week; swimming and play alot of music for him from Simply Red, Rod Stewart, Motown, The Overtones; a bit of MJ, bit of Maroon 5 and Green Day. It’s not all tv for him.

    Thumb up 0

  54. sad violin says:

    My mom and dad told me to stop watching too much tv and start reading more
    so I turned on the subtitles

    Thumb up 3

  55. Emily Paton says:

    HappyCynic: You might want to revisit the Wiki site you quote, as there is no mention of ‘hand job’ in the text you quote.

    It always pays to confirm sources!

    Thumb up 0

  56. alicia says:

    I have two cousins who are brilliant and they watch TV minimally , but i have another cousin who is 3 now and since he was 6months TV has been babysitting him , sadly he cannot speak properly , he runs and hides from everyone , he has violent outbursts . I am not sure if TV is the reason for this but it worries me .

    Thumb up 0

  57. galactic avenger says:

    Thank you, I will not on the tv for my baby

    Thumb up 1

  58. NeonAngel says:

    i have 3 kids aged 1 4 and 7….i recently stopped letting them watch tv and movies….i never let them watch Disney. They are kids and they lack so much imagination. If they arent watching something or playing with the iPad they are ‘bored’ and dont know what to so. Its my fault for getting them used to it. I wont be making that mistake anymore….its unplugged and staying that way! My daughter could read and write before going to school coz i sat with her everyday and taught her, not because of Sesame Street (which is a pathetic show!)….those puppets talk with bad grammer and have anger management issues! Too much singing and music in the shows too which is of no use to my kids….

    From now on I plan to get the kids into more educational hands on games and interactions

    This article was great. Just found this site today and im really enjoying it.

    Thumb up 1

  59. miss_b says:

    Research has already confirmed that children who watch TV under the age of two have a higher risk of having attention deficit disorders as older children. I see it all the time as a third grade teacher. These kid’s reading abilities are poor, they have low muscle tone, struggle to write for long periods of time, can’t sit up straight, struggle to follow through on instructions because the TV has made them lazy, and dumbed them down. At that age the neuropaths are being laid for future learning, and these cannot be laid down by a TV. The neuro-paths must be developed through hands on real-life learning, and children learn through play. Play is very important for developmental milestones, and is beneficial to the child’s OVERALL development. Yes, perhaps some children can speak or walk when they should, but I’m curious to hear from those parents in a few years time to see how many of them are performing well in school, have good social behaviour, are not overweight, and are able to concentrate on tasks for longer than 8 minutes (the amount of time a TV show is on between adverts.) My kids won’t watch TV.

    Thumb up 2

  60. Liz says:

    I think it’s funny how Disney channel shows such as ‘Jesse’ can still make their way on to your website to advertise.

    Thumb up 0

  61. Cassidy says:

    I have a few experiences with TV as a child:

    First, I was a 90′s child, so I definetly watched Rocko and Ren and Stimpy and all of that fun stuff… but then I saw it come on Nickelodeon’s “90′s are all that” and their humor is VULGAR! Not to mention the creepy hypnotic drawings.. have you seen the title scene for Rocko’s modern life? They are definetly NOT children’s shows!

    And when I was a little older, spongebob came out and for about 4 years I watched it a TON! But then I developed this violent alter-persona that was uncontrollable and frightened everyone, and that definetly made watching spongebob out of the question for me! Oh, and I used to be like a young einstein too, but after watching spongebob so much I developed ADHD and it’s hard to control since I’m super anti-medication.

    And then TV can do some good, too. When I was younger my mom hired a babysitter for me that didn’t speak very good english and with a few months of hearing only spanish-especially from Plaza Sesamo! I became fluent in spanish in my only-english speaking house. And TV can show you to stand for what you believe in, like how a lot of people that are so anti-family guy, well I’m all for it because it makes you think about how idiotic and brainwashed pop culture can be.. I’m pretty much the opposite of my family: They’re conservative, I’m liberal, They like country, I like reggae, They’re overweight, I’m thin, They’re carnivorous, I’m vegan, I even look the opposite from any other girl that was raised in a southern family.. they’re orthodox baptist, I’m rastafarian… and everything on this website sickens me and I want nothing to do with this disgusting entertainment culture and all of the other useless stuff.
    Have you noticed how much sexism is in TV too? Like the “Rose Petal Cottage” where a girl can “Nurture her dreams” Yeah.. If girls dream about doing laundry and cooking! Or the motorized “Tough Guy” trucks. UGH!

    Thumb up 1

  62. Tiffaine says:

    @ silvershell / comment #1 :

    Totally agree about Muno, it’s creepy! And it has ONE EYE only… humain being, fishes, animal etc… everything has 2 eyes. What does this freaking thing want to teach our kids? isn’t it weird? Maybe he wanna say : “hi children! focus on the single eye because you’re groing up in a world controlled by the Illuminati!”

    Thumb up 0

  63. Ebonique says:

    My mother cannot even sleep with the tv off. If the tv were to go off while she’s sleeping and she wakes up, she would have a cussing fit. When she’s home, the tv always has to be on. I always try to tell her that normal people sleep in the dark, but she still insists on keeping the tv on at night. I’ve even suggested using a night light, but to no avail.

    Thumb up 0

  64. Ebonique says:

    Another thing I wanted to add is that I once saw this CHILDREN’S! cartoon on tv and on that show I noticed that the characters were too sexually developed. This was a CHILDREN’S cartoon. They were literally sexy! The female characters were full chested with cleavage and curves! I was disturbed by this because when I was a child, cartoon character’s were never drawn like this. They were cute, not sexy. Also, the characters in this show are teenagers who lead teenage lives. How can children relate to teen characters? It seems like the agenda here is to make children grow up much quicker than they should.

    Thumb up 3

  65. lauren says:

    my bfs nephew is gonna be 2 in march and ever since he was a baby has been planted in front of a TV.
    he can barely speak and cant make simple sentences or asks a questions. he speaks in single words and doesnt respond to questions. now correct me if im wrong but shouldn’t he be at least saying more than one word at a time now? my bf yells at me when i bring it up and says his nephews fine. but i dont think he is.

    Thumb up 0