Search Results for: blog parental no no bedtime tv for kids

The Preschool TV Battle is Heating Up

Your preschooler may be more powerful than you think. At least when it comes to watching television. According to Nielsen Media Research, children ages 2 to 5 spend an average of 32 hours in front of a TV each week. For cable networks this means big business.  In the past five years, a slew of channels dedicated to preschool programming have inundated the market.  Since 2000, Nick Jr. has continually garnered the highest Nielsen ratings.  The Viacom-owned channel is dedicated solely to preschool children and is home of the mega-hit show “Dora the Explorer.” Riding the wave of popularity with … Continue reading →

Bedtime for Devices

I was always one of those parents who had a bag full of “nevers.”  You know what I mean.  “I will never allow my child to…”  Fill in the blank. It’s so easy before you have children to say what you will never do.  And it’s just as easy when they are young to say what you will never do when they get older. Sure, some of my “nevers” I have stuck to.  But there have been a few I tossed to the side.  And in all honesty, at times it was a matter of not wanting to battle. One … Continue reading →

The Bedroom TV

My father just offered to purchase a television for my daughter’s bedroom. I’m still waiting for John Quiñones to pop out of my hall closet because there’s no way my dad’s proposition can be legit. He’s testing me right? Like Quiñones does to all those unsuspecting individuals on “What Would You Do?” A new flat screen TV for my 8-year-old’s bedroom… riiiiight. From a guy who refused to allow me to touch our family’s TV, which didn’t move from its spot in the living room.  The same dad who mandated that an egg timer be set each time me and … Continue reading →

The Reason Your Kid is Cranky

Forget about sex or sleep; for many parents it’s more like sleep or sanity. If your kid is not getting enough sleep, your sanity suffers. According to new research, a good night’s sleep is essential to keeping children on track. That may be the understatement of the year. For decades researchers having been touting studies that show well-rested children do better on standardized tests, get better grades and are better equipped to rationalize and control impulses. However, a new study, set to be published in next month’s issue of Pediatrics, takes the theory a step further by detailing what happened … Continue reading →

Branded Kids

Last week: “Mommy, life is a fajita.” Last night: “Actually, Mommy, life is not a fajita; it’s a pulled pork sandwich.” Thanks, McCormick. My 8-year-old is not allowed to watch more than an hour of TV per day, but clearly that hasn’t stopped her from being sucked in by marketers hawking prepackaged spice mixtures. In fact, I’m starting to wonder if my child’s habit of integrating commercial content into her everyday life is triggered by the fact that she is limited to just 60 minutes of TV viewing a day. That hour is precious to her and she spends it … Continue reading →

Does Your Child Snore?

It may be funny when Big Bird does it, but if your child snores all night, health experts say you should be concerned rather than amused. According to a new study, children who are chronic snorers are more likely to have behavioral problems such as aggression and hyperactivity. Researchers studied nearly 250 children who snored at both age 2 and age 3. Of those kids, 35 percent showed signs of behavioral problems, while only 10 percent of non-snorers exhibited signs of behavioral issues. The study also found that 12 percent of kids who snored for one year showed such signs. … Continue reading →

When Make-Believe is Better Than Reality

You can’t turn on the television these days without wondering how it is that some things make it on air. And I’m not just referring to Honey Boo Boo. Even the commercials make me wonder if I am living in an alternate universe. Case in point: Motts for Tots. The TV ad features an adorable little boy innocently drinking his Motts for Tots juice box when all of a sudden his mom (let’s hope it’s his “mom”) comes up from behind and starts to squeeze and tickle him. While he is sucking on his juice box! What parent in her … Continue reading →

Do You Allow Your Kids to Watch TV News?

After reporting and anchoring local TV news for more than decade, I never considered tuning out the events of the day after giving birth. I’ve watched the evening news religiously since I was in high school and never dreamed there would come a day when I would be forced to wean myself from my 6 o’clock fix. However, that day has come. A few weeks ago, I was in the kitchen making dinner with the TV news on in the background when my 7-year-old came waltzing in. Typically, she’ll sit on a stool at the counter and try to snag … Continue reading →

Parents Busy Getting Busy During the Holidays

We’re all busy during the holiday season. There are parties to host and attend, presents to wrap and unwrap, shopping, cooking, cleaning and procreating. Yes, you read correctly. According to a new study, a large number of parents are busy getting busy between the sheets during the height of the holiday season. Researchers at the University of Texas found that most babies born in the United States are conceived between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Do the math and you’ll discover what the study’s authors did: The most popular birthday in America is September 16th. September 16th! That’s my brother’s … Continue reading →

Too Much TV

How much TV do your kids watch? What do they watch? I remember when I was first divorced, sometimes the TV was my lifesaver. Being the only parent of an only child meant that not only was I the only one doing housework and laundry, cooking and paying bills, I was also the only other person in the house to entertain her. I hate to admit it but many times I parked Hailey in front of the TV when she wanted me to play a game with her or read a book with her, anything, she just wanted my time … Continue reading →