Your Toddler This Month

Sunday, April 4, 2021
20 Months Edit Child's Info You & Your Toddler
The Truth About TV When you were growing up, maybe you rarely watched TV and were outdoors more -- playing in the dirt, making forts, and just running around barefoot outside. A bright sunny day presented endless possibilities and adventures. Nowadays, lifestyles are different. It's far more common for children to watch TV on a regular basis. But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV or entertainment media before age 2 and limiting them to no more than 2 hours a day for older children. Here are some suggestions to regulate TV watching in your household. 1. Set the timer. Decide how much TV your child will be allowed to watch on a daily/weekly basis and stick to it. Perhaps, they are allowed to watch a few minutes after they have finished their chores, or maybe they are rewarded a movie at the end of a good week. You set the ground rules. Also, don't be afraid to take these rules on the road with you. Let relatives and even the parents of play dates know that you prefer they don't just plunk down in front of the TV. 2. Preview the shows. Just because a program says it is age-appropriate does not always mean it adheres to what you deem acceptable viewing material. If you get the chance, be sure to watch a show or two before you let your child, just in case. 3. Peering eyes and ears. Be certain that your child is not exposed to what you have on in the background. Because they are not glued to the TV screen, it's easy to assume they don't hear or understand what's going on, but they DO. They pick up quite a bit, so be certain to censor the adult shows that are on while kids are roaming about, or you could be in for some interesting dinner conversations. Next Month: Your Toddler's Exploding Vocabulary Toddler Tips •  The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages any media use in children under 2. There's no benefit and some evidence of harm for viewing in this age group. •  For children over 2 select high-quality educational programs and watch with them to maximize the experience. (Of course, it's tempting to park your kid in front of the tube to catch a shower or cook dinner.) •  All TV is "educational," it just depends what you want your child to learn. Think about it. •  Don't leave the TV on as "background" noise or watch your shows when your child is around. Background TV is a distraction for your child's play (which is how they learn). Parenting Tips •  Child Care Dilemmas: When Your Toddler Is Sick •  Pictures: Common Kids' Skin Problems •  Potty-Training: 7 Surprising Facts •  10 Ways to Manage a Meltdown Connect •  Parenting 1-Year-Olds Community •  Parenting 2-Year-Olds Community •  Children's Health Center •  Raising Fit Kids Home  |  Conditions A to Z  |  Community  |   Parenting Don't miss an issue of this newsletter. Add WebMD to your email's safe sender list -- get instructions here. You are subscribed as asaislam93.parent@blogger.com. To unsubscribe from this email, or manage your individual email/newsletter preferences, click here. Please note that you may be asked to sign in to your account. To unsubscribe from all emails from WebMD, click here. WebMD Privacy Policy WebMD Office of Privacy 1201 Peachtree Street, NE 400 Colony Square, Suite 2100, Atlanta, GA 30361 © 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.