jennefer harper

Congrats on your 3 week old! And, this being your
third child, you must have gone through something
similar, no? My almost two year old went through the
same tv/video watching as yours starting in my late
pregnancy with my second child. I believe this is a
common occurrance, and there is actually an article
written about it in a past Mothering issue.
Personally, videos can be quite helpful especially
when there is another child who *needs* your
attendance, and also to give mom some time to herself
(teeth brushing, eating, bathroom- wow!). So, I
wouldn't feel too bad about it. As your newborn gets
older, you will figure out what works for your family
and what you all feel good about. You can watch the
program with your child as you nurse your baby! Often
now, my first born will ask to watch a video first
thing in the morning, and I usually try to encourage
playing first thing instead, or at least eating
breakfast before a video. Playgroups are helpful too-
you can host one at your house and have extra help
watching/entertaining your older girls, or perhaps a
friend can take one/both of your girls to a playgroups
thus giving you a little alone time with your newborn.
Trips to the library are also fun, and you can get
some new books/ reading done there, AND check out new
videos/DVDs. It's also a fairly easy outing- if your
children are patient enough to stand in line while
items get checked out.

Good luck with your newly expanded family!
-Jennefer




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Vote for the stars of Yahoo!'s next ad campaign!
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/yahoo/votelifeengine/

Robyn Coburn

<<<Often
now, my first born will ask to watch a video first
thing in the morning, and I usually try to encourage
playing first thing instead, or at least eating
breakfast before a video. >>>

Why? What is wrong with watching a video first or during breakfast? It
sounds like you still have residual anti-video feelings if these other
things have a higher priority.

Jayn almost always wants one of her recorded tv shows first thing after
getting up. I think she uses the familiarity of it as a calm transition from
sleeping to waking. I bring her whatever breakfast she asks for, and after
more or less time, she is on to playing with her dolls or getting dressed.

Robyn L. Coburn




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.721 / Virus Database: 477 - Release Date: 7/16/2004

pam sorooshian

All three of my girls liked to get up and watch tv right away in the
mornings -- they watched Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers a lot, first
thing in the morning, and Rosie watched Arthur at 8:30 am every weekday
for YEARS - and still does, at 13, several days per month. She also
really likes to watch tv right before she goes to sleep - another
transition help. I remember getting up and watching tv in the early
mornings, too, when I was a kid. Captain Kangaroo was my favorite.

They were not damaged by tv watching. They are voracious readers and
extremely literate - they read challenging material and love it. This
week Roxana read "Animal Farm" and looked up stuff about it on the
internet and talked about it off and on throughout the last couple of
days. She has also been reading material by and about Maya Angelou. And
she's just started reading, "Camille," and telling me about it. Roya is
off camping and took a pile of books with her. Rosie read the fourth
Harry Potter book for about the 10th time this week as well as checking
out all of Lois Lowry's books that she could find, from the library,
and reading and rereading those.


On Jul 20, 2004, at 11:27 AM, Robyn Coburn wrote:

> Jayn almost always wants one of her recorded tv shows first thing after
> getting up. I think she uses the familiarity of it as a calm
> transition from
> sleeping to waking.
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.

melissazietlow

--- In [email protected], "Robyn Coburn"
<dezigna@c...> wrote:
> <<<Often
> now, my first born will ask to watch a video first
> thing in the morning, and I usually try to encourage
> playing first thing instead, or at least eating
> breakfast before a video. >>>
>
> Why? What is wrong with watching a video first or during breakfast?
It sounds like you still have residual anti-video feelings if these
other things have a higher priority.

I didn't write this, but could have. Not to start another thread on
unlimited tv (I've read and pondered most of them), but I do feel it
my spiritual parental responsibility to shield the girls from
violence, sexual content, and humor that is excessive/too adult.
But I am not sure why I feel the way I do about time spent on
even "acceptable" shows/videos. I was not limited as a child and no
one in my family limits. I guess it just seems too passive. As in
why read if it can be paraded in front of you? Something else to
ponder...

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/21/2004 6:55:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Zietlowfamily@... writes:

But I am not sure why I feel the way I do about time spent on
even "acceptable" shows/videos. I was not limited as a child and no
one in my family limits. I guess it just seems too passive.
Something else to ponder...<<<<


Watching TV is passive while stringing beads on a wire? Watching TV while
jumping on the mini-trampoline? while putting together a puzzle? while braiding
your brother's hair? while knitting socks? while playing with magnets? while
pulling rubber bands on a geo-board? while brushing the dog? while eating
spaghetti?

All of these things are more passive than reading?

Ya think?

~Kelly <g>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]