Stay at Home Mom

As parents we all know that it is in our kids best interest to limit their TV time. We also know that it is in our best interest ( and our family’s ) that we take a shower on occassion. When the kids are young that may mean letting them watch some TV while you jump in the shower or start dinner or whatever it is that you need to do.

But we also know that what goes into their young impressionable brains stays there and the old saying “Garbage in – Garbage out” holds true.

If you are letting them watch garbage shows then you know what you can expect. Kids who hear bad language on TV repeat it. Kids who see bad behavior on TV repeat it. If TV were not that impressionable then companies would not spend millions of dollars for 30 second spots of advertising on it.

So, what is a parent to do? The short answer for our family was TIVO. When we got our first TIVO years ago it changed our life. We were able to watch our favorite show when we wanted to and we could watch football games as a family ( the pause feature allowed us to pause the game and only restart it when everyone had had a chance to take a bathroom break or go to the kitchen for a snack ). So, I love TIVO.

But now TIVO is even smarter – if that is possible. It can be managed from the Internet. With a few clicks of the mouse you can program your TIVO online and make sure the kids are catching the programming you want them to watch and not the garbage you don’t.

We recently received info on a new program put together by the Smart Television Alliance that allows you to do just that. Visit their website for more information and there is also a great sweepstakes going on right now ( last day to enter is Dec 25 so check it out now )

ENTER TO WIN

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We have all known this is just entertainment – setting the record straight on Baby Einstein http://bit.ly/yQYjD

That was the headline on Twitter today that got the most attention.

At issue is the video series “Baby Einstein”. I am going to quote from the company because so much of the controversy today stems from misunderstanding.

Baby Einstein products are designed to provide parents with tools that promote interaction and also expose their little ones to the world around them in playful and enriching ways. What started as a “digital board book” has become a broad array of products for infants and their parents.
Baby Einstein has built its reputation on creating developmentally and age appropriate content that parents know they can trust.

This is of course, the product description as of September 2009. When the DVDs first came out they did make some claims that this product would help your childs mental development in one way or another.

The science behind it demonstrates that children under the age of 2 are really better off not watching TV at all.

Now, Disney, who purchased the Baby Einstein company in 2001, is offering a refund to anyone who bought the product between June 5, 2004, and Sept. 4, 2009.

The articles on everything that led up to this refund can be found all over the Internet today and it is really quite remarkable. Some articles are quite reasonable while others are downright irate at the “scam” that was pulled off on the gullible mothers of America.

We agree that the new description of the products and their purpose is improved over unsubstantiated but well meaning claims of brain development. At the same time as Moms we know instinctively that it would be better for a two year old to avoid TV. We know it is better for our kids to eat their vegetables. It is better if we make sure they stay to a strict sleep schedule. Ok ok – we got it.

But if you have just spent a sleepless night and this one little delightful video will calm your child down enough to give us a moment to hop in the shower without having to endure the shrieks and screams of a fussy newborn – I’m going to say “press play”. Is that wrong?

We need a balance. We know intellectually what we need to do to help provide our children with everything they need – that is to sit down with them on the floor and play with them. And that doesn’t cost a thing. But a nice warm shower is really a good good thing every now and then too.

I can appreciate those who want to defend children and prevent them from being over media-ized but at the same time I appreciate the playfulness of the Disney Baby Einstein DVDs.

Is it too late for me to get a refund on all those Barney the purple Dinosaur VHS tapes in my basement?

The movie “Motherhood” opens this weekend and is one mom’s story taking place all in one day. We have had the chance to talk with the stars of the movie and the director over the past few weeks and this is definitely a show you will want to see on the big screen with your friends or even your husband.

Leave your comment here about a favorite moment you have experienced being a mom for a chance to win this adorable leakproof thermos sippy cup.

Join the discussion about the film MOTHERHOOD on their Facebook page

Follow them on Twitter ( tons of fun on facebook and twitter because they are very active – they are posting and tweeting often! )

Exclusive engagements of MOTHERHOOD begin on Friday, October 23

How do we raise respectful, responsible children who know how to practice civility?  One dad’s solution was to turn off the TV.

READ HIS FULL ARTICLE HERE