weighing in

It is no secret that TV before age two is not good for your kids. All those baby learning programs and such is really a bunch of bunk marketed at parents who don't feel comfortable teaching their children every waking moment of the day. Infants and toddlers learn by modeling behavior, and they aren't wired to learn from household appliances and electronics. The bright lights and over-stimulation get in the way of information retention. Scientists have known it since we were kids. The media is all over some "new" study that just came out telling us that putting your kid in front of a show is detrimental to his health and brain functioning and language development. Of course it is. It does the same for adults. I know this because my brain rotted away in college from too much TV. And poor nutrition and too much fun, but TV definitely played a part.

Does Jake watch television? Hells yes he does. Teletubbies, Curious George, Bob the Builder, Sesame Street, and Boohbahs. I try to keep him way from anything else, especially since he just picked up that little mimicking habit. He watches a half hour or so in the mornings to keep him occupied while we get ready for work. Then sometimes I put a babyshow on if I have something to do around the house. It helps me stay sane. Believe it or not, life goes on after baby. As much as I would like to say I was one of those crunchy moms that sacrifices her own personal hygiene and schedule and chores for a brat, I'm not. I'm still really into myself and my level of cleanliness and my own personal business. Sometimes a mom needs a break.

Usually the television is just on near Jake when I do this. He plays with his toys or eats the (healthy) snack I give him and he only looks up when he hears Elmo or Ernie if Sesame Street is on. Boohbahs put him in a trance-like state, so I am trying to ween him from them. Bob the Builder and all the trucks excite him to no end. I think he is a little creeped out by the Teletubbies too but he loves the sunbaby. George is Jake's main shiz, but I can't be in the same room as that show. George does a lot of really annoying stuff, and the Yellow Hat Man lets that monkey do whatever he wants. He is the worst dad since Al Bundy. Since Jake seems to be developing okay and his language is freakishly advanced, and since I need a break from being a mom for about an hour a day (time at work not withstanding) I'm going to continue ignoring the Surgeon General or whatever office is trying to make me feel like I may as well be putting tacks in my kid's food because he knows who Big Bird is.