Our little guys have become TV addicts. When the little one wakes up, the first thing he says is "Watch Nemo." We know we are enablers in this, and not without blame. Between work, business, home, business, and friends, it's just so easy to give in and turn on the tube to buy a few minutes without the kids.
After enduring a harrowing, hysterical fit yesterday brought on by turning off the tube in a last-ditch effort to get the littlest one to go to sleep, we both decided NO MORE TV. Seriously, no more, nada, zippo - unless it's educational (read: BBC's Planet Earth series). Since the adults in the house really never watch ANY TV while the kids are awake, this might actually work.
The AAP provides a great set of TV viewing guidelines for parents at http://www.aap.org/family/smarttv.htm. According to the AAP, up to two hours a day of "high quality" programming is okay (e.g., Baby Einstein, etc.). The goal should be to minimize violence, sexual content, and commercials (not to mention bratty kids saying things to their parents that you would never tolerate your little one saying).
For my part, I returned the Thomas the Tank Engine DVD to library yesterday. As I walked to the drop box, I was surprised to find myself feeling like a traitor. I got over it, of course, and handed over the contraband. After all, I'm the adult here, right?
