Ren Allen

"So, my 4 y.o. has been doing pretty well
with the self-regulating. He watches on average about
1-2 videos a day. "

I know your question is about the younger child, but this jumped out
at me. You were hoping for a specific result. That isn't trust. If you
approve of his "self-regulating" because it falls into your comfort
zone, that's not really trusting him in regards to television.

If he was reading 1-2 books a day, would you say he's "been doing
pretty well with the self-regulating"?

As to the younger child, if tv has been kept away from them for a
while, or regulated in the past, it will be more fascinating for a
while. Probably not as long as a child that has had it limited for
years (like my oldest child, who spent a year heavily watching) but
he's getting filled up with something that is interesting, that he
didn't have as much of before.

You and the 4y.o. can be doing other things while he watches, isn't
that great?:) And you can sit and watch with him some too. It doesn't
have to be tv or nothing. You can bring toys, games, food into the
room while he's watching and there can be simultaneous activities.

He may not want to do anything other than the tv for a little while,
but eventuall you might find him playing legos while watching, coming
and going from a show or dancing/talking etc...while watching.
Right now, he's just very, very fascinated it sounds like.

Keep lotsa tactile stuff that young children need available, but trust
that tv can only hold power over people if you make it a bigger deal
than it needs to be.

And "self-regulation" isn't the goal. The idea is to trust that any
and all avenues of learning are valid.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

Pamela Sorooshian

On Jul 4, 2006, at 6:01 AM, Ren Allen wrote:

> Keep lotsa tactile stuff that young children need available, but trust
> that tv can only hold power over people if you make it a bigger deal
> than it needs to be.

AND - be sure you are providing a happy stimulating enriched
environment and making it very much available.

I wouldn't be crazy about watching my 2 yo watching hours and hours
of tv, either. I agree that 2 year olds need a lot of activity - lots
of hands-on experience - lots of outdoor play for all that big muscle
stuff and lots of pretend play and lots of opportunity to do things
like sorting and so on.

I wouldn't limit tv, either though. I'd start FROM the tv - I'd add
to it. For example, when my little one was all thrilled with Arthur -
we got every Arthur book, we got Arthur toys, we had an Arthur lunch
box which she loved to pack up with various supplies to go outside on
the patio and have lunch with all her Arthur dolls.

Plus - do things 2 year olds can really get into. Making playdough is
the most wonderful thing - let him choose the colors and the flavors
(try peppermint or pineapple flavoring). Make a HUGE bowl of instant
pudding and put it in the bathtub with him along with a bunch of
paintbrushes or plastic dishes. Don't try to drag him away from the
tv to do these things - offer them during a lull - not when you know
his favorite show is on.

AND - do what Ren said about having things out in the tv area. LOTS
of things. We always had all kinds of things like duplos and building
blocks and stuff like that. Big stuff for a 2 year old, right? Those
cardboard bricks. OR - pull the cushions off the couch and pile them
on the floor with some blankets. He'll play with them. Plastic toy
dishes, pretend play stuff to use as dress-ups, there is an infinite
amount of stuff you could put right out with him. If it isn't there,
he might be too pre-occupied with the tv to think, for himself, of
doing those things.

-pam
Unschooling shirts, cups, bumper stickers, bags...
Live Love Learn
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