Trying to follow the American Pediatric Association's guidelines for media and toddlers? (It boils down to "None zero nada media for your toddler, okay? Okay.") Well, I wish you a hearty good-luck-with-that. Thanks to the wonders of technology screen-time is harder to avoid than ever before. Here's a headline that might make you cringe: Today's electronics ensure toddlers won't be media-free.
In the olden days, "media" was just that big box in the living room, the TV. Now media is everywhere -- most households have TV sets in several rooms so watching has become a more solitary activity. But TV-SchmeeVee. Now the iPhones, iPads, video players in the minivan, and portable this-n-thats are raining down upon us. What's a parent to do?
Build a freakin' moat. I know a few parents who try really hard to keep their kids media free for the most part -- but it means going to extremes. For starters, there's no TV anywhere in the house. If the parents want to watch a movie, they watch it on their laptop -- after the kids have gone to bed.
My media-free parent friends also try to find other media-free families to hang out with. They'll still hang out with me (we're a little more media-friendly) -- and they've had a positive influence on me. I'll bend to peer-pressure sometimes, I admit, especially when I feel like it's in my son's best interest. But it really helps to find other playmates who can support their screen-free choices.
And here's the really tough part: Money. My screen-free parenting friends all happen to also be relatively well off. They buy amazing creative toys hand-made by German elves (just kidding about the elves). If they work full time, they hire creative, thoughtful sitters who play with their kids. Their kids go to preschools that offer creative storytelling, small classes, wet felting for crying out loud. Going screen-free in this modern world can be super expensive. Unless, of course, you live off the grid. Which is another option.
Oh I know, it doesn't have to be expensive. In the olden days, kids used to just run outside and play with sticks. But then, in the olden days sticks had no competition. A stick vs. "Dinosaur Train"? The stick loses every time. Unless your toddler never, ever learns what "Dinosaur Train" is.
Are you trying to raise a screen-free toddler? What are your strategies?
Image via Scott & Elaine van der Chijs/Flickr
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Comments 35
children are loosing their imaginations because of media. I raised my oldest media-free and she is able to find something to amuse herself with, my little twins were raised with more media and i can say that they DO NOT know how to amuse themselves, without the media aspect. i have taken the media aspects away from them and they are slowly learning how to play without them but it has been a fight tooth and nail.
Living off the grid is not inexpensive, at least initially. It is one of those investments that can pay off in the long run, though.
I just have times where he can watch TV and times when he can't. He'd choose outside over Dinosaur Train every time (unless he's been outside all day and is exhausted). Our rule is no TV before 3, and he can watch 3 episodes or 1 movie, and we have no TV family days on the weekends... but I see nothing wrong with him watching GOOD QUALITY TV (not garbage or violence or sex) at the end of the day when he's been busy and engaged all day and I've been working all day, everyone needs a mental break.
I let my daughter watch Dinosaur Train while I get ready for work. other than that, she doesnt have the attention span for electronics.
Before I was a parent, I was an idealist and thought my child/children would never watch TV. Now I am a parent, and a realist... and honestly, I need/needed a little down time for myself, as a stay-at-home mom. So, my child watches shows that I have hand-picked mostly, but sometimes has been introduced to others that I wouldn't have picked myself, and well, she loves them so it is hard to say NO every time, like Dora. I know that I spend a lot of quality time with her, she has friends that she has know since she was a few months old, and we have lots of great activites that we do at home and out, we also spend a lot of time outside... so, although I wish it were easier to be that idealist and stick to my guns, I try not to feel to guilty about the small amount of time she spends looking at screens.
I'm assuming you mean under age 2, since you cited the AAP recomendation. Yeah, not that hard to accomplish, even with 2 TVs and older siblings who are allowed to watch. Actually, the second TV made it easier for me. Older siblings could go in the back room to watch TV, which was off limits to the little ones.