the tv is off

Our neighbor recently asked us how much tv the boys watch each day. I said, "about 1 or 2 shows (30 minutes - 1 hour) each week." He was incredulous. He has been trying to cut his child (similar age to ours) back to 2 hours a day. I was kind of surprised that our routine is not normal, but I don't mind being a weird parent. Heck, read what I wrote here about your parenting...

At the time of my neighbor's question, Obi-2 was not yet two. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has many no-nonsense decrees for raising children. They say "no tv prior to age 2." Their other advice includes, "do not sleep with a baby in your bed," and "all children should start full immunizations at age 8 weeks," and "feed your children solid foods at 4 months old," and "pregnant women need the flu vaccine." Similar advice is found here and here, among many places. To argue with these things is to be relegated to the perceived fringe of parenting debates, ridiculed for idiocy or conspiracy theories, and suspect in caring for your child's well-being.

However, apparently it's okay to debate the medical validity of tv advice. A recent parenting website had an article online about the topic, and it drew a lot of reaction from readers. Most parents were commenting about the benefits that their children receive from watching an hour or more a day, even younger than a year old. One parent, in particular, believed a certain tv show is how her child learned the ABC's at 20 months. (I, frankly, thought maybe she has a smart child or perhaps the daughter has a lot of alphabet songs in her environment).

So, I did the horrible, irresponsible, thing: I posted a comment on the site. I basically said that it might be difficult, but not impossible, to shield younger children from tv. I wondered, on that comment board, if we parents should be letting ourselves off the hook on this medical advice. In particular, did anyone think it was as important as AAP recommendations on sleep, food, medical care, etc. I recognized that many things medical experts advise are hard to follow, and some might even - ! - be the wrong choice for certain children. However, most parents choose to follow the norm because we think doctors' advice is valid.

My comment received a lot of response; unfortunately, most of it was blasting me as being unrealistic and judgemental and causing parents to feel bad about themselves. Geesh... how can I possibly be responsible for how somebody else feels about their parenting?! The truly odd thing is, I really didn't mean to cast any judgement. I don't think people are bad parents if their toddler watches Baby Einstein or Sesame Street daily. I don't really have much opinion, in general, of people I don't know. Maybe this is impossible to believe about me - along with how little our kids watch tv - but it is the truth.

So, this week is "Turn off the TV Week," which is widely promoted on the internet and radio. :) We're participating, which is mostly a sacrifice for me & Mr. Kenobi, since we do like to watch the news and Gray's Anatomy, and I like a HGTV ideas-based shows. But we'll turn it off, and we'll talk with each other more, and we might even get a bit more sleep.

p.s. I am not a doctor. Talk to your doctor about specific medical advice.
p.p.s. I am frequently sarcastic. I can also be fiesty.