You know your 2 year old watches too much tv when she turns it on by herself to watch Elmo. You know your 2 year old watched too much tv when she sings along with the commercials. You know your 2 year old watches too much tv when she knows where yo have hidden the remote. You know your 2 year old watches too much tv when you've taken her tv away as punishment when she misbehaves...and she goes crazy that you just did that.
Ever since I could remember, there has been a battle over whether or not children should watch tv, or what their limits should be. You hear how it limits a child's thinking, how it damages their eyesight over time, and how it has the tendecy to shut down the brain while we focus on the moving pictures and sounds. Then there's the side that says that TV, well certain programs, enhance the children's learning capabilities and helps them to connect sounds and pictures. So as you can see, this leaves a first time mother to a toddler very confused about dictating the remote control laws to her eager-to-do-everything daughter.
I'm not quite sure where I stand on our TV rules yet. I think Truly learns about shapes, colors, and numbers from certain programs, but at the same time, she'll sit there mesmerized while a Disney movie is on, not wanting to talk or look at anyone. I've heard the argument that parents use the TV as babysitters for their children, and I will admit that I am guilty of that. I do spend a lot of time with her going over shapes, colors, number, and spend lots of time doing fun learning activiites, art & crafts, you name it. I'm on it. Our room is filled with crayons blocks, and paper. But when I have an assignment due in 2 hours, I know Cinderella will be there for my screaming girl. Not all the time, mind you, but I am guilty of doing that more than once when things get a little hectic. Do you blame me, I mean how can you not give into that sweet little girls face when the only thing that will make her happy is to watch The Little Mermaid for the 5th time in a row that morning!
Sigh.
So my mission this month: No more television! I hope Truly didn't hear that....
