Too Much TV - Greensboro,NC

get a year pass to a children's discover center/museum/house. Children love it. You can also take her to Chuck E Cheese and let her play (don't have to get anyting-maybe just a drink.

I am the same way, have to have TV on all the time....the best thing if you have a car is to go somewhere when you guys get bored.Even going to an inside playground can be lots of fun:)

My tv is always on. my kids really only watch it when something catches their eye... they play in their play room or in the living room but if sponge bob comes on or elmo they stop for a min and watch. im like you i cant stand a quiet house! i have been like that since i was a child i have always slept with the tv on done home work with the tv on....

A..

Here are a couple links regarding the effects TV has on our children.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_c...

and

http://www.raisesmartkid.com/articles/the-effects-of-tv-o...

Also,
My son is 17 months old this Thursday. Every Sunday afternoon, I take 1 hour to plan out his curriculum for the week. It goes something like this...
Mondays - Cooking *He gets a bowl and helps mommy with whatever we are cooking that day -makes a big mess in the kitchen, but we clean and take bath afterwards*
Tuesdays - Field Trip Day
Every week I pick one place around town to take him to visit. Depending on the weather...some of the places we visit during the winter,,,Cheekwood, Adventure Science Center, Third Coast Clay, Frist Center, to name a few.
Wednesdays - Library Story Time and Crafts in the morning
Afternoon - We make mask of one specific animal and chase each other around the living room. This is the way I am teaching him sign language..for instance, one day was pretending to be a turtle, the turtle eats strawberries and tomatoes, so those were the 3 sign languages for the day, we have had the same four animals for the past 3 weeks on his door *print outs* along with the foods they eat printed below with the mask used taped above. He loves it.
Thursdays - Painting and drawing in the morning
afternoon - we setup a photo shoot and place camera on tripod, set the timer, and start clicking away...he loves this game. pushes the button, runs to have his photo made, and runs back to take a look at the picture.
Fridays - cleaning day.
I am teaching him at a very early age how to be a responsible young man. He earns an allowance and we take that money to the bank once a month to place in his cd savings account.
afternoon - watch a cartoon
I allow 2 hours of TV time a week.
Every morning of every day we read books before the day is started. He has his own library and selects the 5 books we will read that morning. One book is pulled down from his shelf at a time.
All toys that are pulled out that day (never more than 4) are put away at the end of the day. Usually right before Daddy arrives home, as this starts the nightly wind down mode.

I am a complete believer in structure. It helps the kids to feel safe and secure knowing what is to take place every day/week.

It is not easy coming up with new things each week, but here are a few of the activities we have done in the past....

Play a kids cd and dance around together..
Make home made ornaments out of play doh
Use construction paper to cut the ABC's out
Print off pictures of family members and talk about who they are and why we love them
Bake home made cookies and lick the sticks
Color in art books
Hide items in the house and play hide and seek
Pull out the playdoh and use cookie cutters to make different shapes
Align his flash cards along the wall, he picks up one at a time, brings them to me, and I sign and say what it is to him
Make a picture book to send to relatives - he loves to walk to the mail box and place inside the mailbox - always tell him who it is going to and when they will receive it
Play a game of what's on my face - find mommies nose, ears, mouth, tongue,and so on...find babies nose, ears, mouth, tongue, and so on..
Use a shower curtain, place it in the middle of your living room floor, and pull out the finger paint supplies and let them have it. Makes a mess, but boy is it fun. He has the same paint clothes and I just keep washing over and over again.
When the weather warms a little, we play dig the dirt and find something new outside for about 20 minutes during the winter.
Sometimes we go to a local park and feel of the trees and talk about each one, grass, leaves, etc.
Looking for a local farm for him to go see some farm animals...think this is a great learning tool for small children.

Hope this helps...My main suggestion is be as creative as you like....come up with the craziest things for your infant to do each week. They are little explorers wanting to know about everything in our world. Start with the basics and build on them. It is so much fun. Once you get into the swing of it, the time will start flying by..

However, there are days when I want to pull my hair out as too much indoor time can drive anyone crazy!!!

Check out your local library for story time, craft time, and local mommy groups in your area.

Good Luck!

When my 10yo son was little I used letteroftheweek.com to do preschool stuff with him & he LOVED it and so did I. They have a curriculum for your daughter's age as well. It's free, they tell you everything you need to do it. http://letteroftheweek.com/nursery_age_1.html

I would turn on music instead of the TV. She will get use to having that set on & you don't want her hooked on it at this age. Maybe do 1 show on Noggin or 1 hour, then off it goes & music comes on.

Have fun with her, I miss mine being that little. My 19yodd just got married this weekend! It's been a wild ride, but so much fun.

Hey, A.! I see you have gotten a lot of responses and I didn't read them all but wanted to tell you what I thought. I would personally listen to some Christian music or kids music throughout the day. I would also let her learn to play alone and by herself for a couple of hours. They learn so much by playing by themselves. Also, do you have any other mothers of toddlers that you know? We had some moms in our town just start a playgroup. We would meet once a week at a different house from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Fridays. This time worked great for those who had older kids in a preschool program that ran from 8:30 to 11:30 and gave us time to drop off and pick up our kids. That way it wasn't an all day affair and you just served some light snacks. Most moms bring their own snacks for the kids, but we would have a coffee cake or something for the moms to eat. It was great just to get together with other moms and talk about different things and our kids, of course. If you attend a church, ask some other moms of any preschool age kids if they are interested in this and then when you are out at the store or wherever, ask other moms to join you. Our group grew from a few moms to over 20 moms and we eventually started a MOPS type group in our church because of this playgroup! We grew to be such a support for each other and even though our oldest kids are now 11, we still have contact with each other. If you would like more tips on starting one, just contact me.

Defintely turn off the tv. The TV is not the babysitter and children need time to be creative learn to play by themselves. Keep in mind that just because you stay at home, which is fabulous, does not mean you have to entertain her all the time. Teach her to play by herself and then you will be able to get things done during the day that need to be done. Schedule a play date with someone or just get out and go by yourself.A park a jumpy place, any other place that they have children activities (Gymboree) I would allot so much time per day maybe an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. All the other time in between have music playing, do a craft, teach her songs. My best friend started teaching her little ones with flash cards with animals and the word on them and he was reading like a 1st grader by three. There are many things you can do to elevate her learning without spending much. Make your own flash cards, if you don't want to buy them. Playdoh is great for little ones because it helps with the fine motor skills. I know that you will receive more advice on this but hang in there. Being a stay at home mom is not easy!

(I know it shows I am a working mom but I have a degree in early childhood education)

.

A little TV isn't going to hurt. You might actually try going to Noggin.com instead. No overstimulating commercials, and you can listen to the music without being in front of the monitor. I have found that Noggin actually reinforces the concepts we teach him like shapes, music, matching, etc. He gets so excited point these things out to us! Good luck.

I have been reading some of these responses and I must say that I must be a really bad mom because I keep noggin on all day. I watched it with my 18 month so I can see what it was all about. In the past I have noticed some cartoons were a bit suggestive and had adult subjects. Noggin is educational and since he is not in day care and an only child noggin, I have found, has been a Godsend. I was worried because my cousin is only 2 months older than my son and I was told that she was already speaking perfectly in two languages. My son had just started to say some words. Now at 21 months he is counting and applying command words with actions. He will not repeat anything after me, but he will with Moose. Everyone is talking about music, Jack's Big Music show is great and they even have songs that count, show colors, parts of the body, build self esteem, and more. He likes to read and they are always pushing reading. Before Noggin that was what we did, now we do both and I am impressed and glad that I found this program and tell every mom I can about it.
I respect that what works for one mom or child may not work for another. This works for us. I encourage him with interactive activities on noggin when its puzzle time to increase his cognition and am impressed every time he points out the Shape in Outer Space correctly. Children learn through repetition. He sees it all the time remember it and now it is becoming second nature to point out circles anywhere he see it.

Good Luck and God Bless,
P.S. He likes music also, so I will have it playing when we are doing other activities, like finger painting.

Ok...we have several TV's in our home. Most of the time we have at least 1 on. It is just background noise. 95% of the time nobody is watching it. This is wastefull of electricity I know because my husband reminds me constantly. Your right about running out of things to entertain your child with also. You really need to help her learn how to entertain herself. I know my first daughter was 8 yrs by herself playing. I played with her often but I couldnt do it all the time. I am a big fan of crafts for the kids. I now have 4. We paint, make cards, sew, make beaded necklaces, color etc. When she gets older you will be able to do more. Sometimes I enjoy it but sometimes it makes me crazy with the mess. I dont know if you have ever watched John and Kate Plus 8. I feel like Kate. I know I have to let them explore and do things but I am a clean freak and it gets on my nerves sometimes. Also you would be suprised at how much kids pick up at her age. My kids new all their colors, numbers and letters by the age of 3. You can teach them alot by play.

Some will disagree with this, but have you looked into at least a part-time daycare/preschool? Many daycares offer 2 or 3 day a week options, and many churches offer part-time care options. I stayed home with my daugther for 15 months, and we were both so bored. She is the kind of kid who likes constant activity, and I just couldn't provide that. I tried filling up the days without TV, but wow, when you're looking at 8 or 9 hours with a 1 1/2 year old, that's a lot of hours. I have friends who love being a stay-at-home mom, but it is not for me. The day she started daycare and I went back to work, our family changed. Everyone was finally engaged, happy, and so much more content. Now about to enter kindergarten, she is very well-prepared for the school experience, has so many little friends at her school, and has learned much more than I would have thought to teach her at home. This is, of course, a personal opinion and my own experience, but you shouldn't feel guilty if you decide to use some out-of-the-home help.

I have been reading the responses on here. Let me add my two cents and you can take it or leave it.

I am the type of person who pretty much has the TV on all the time. I can study, do college work, housework, etc. with it on. My husband, on the other hand, can't concentrate on anything else if the tv is on and he is in the room.

Our kids (now ages 19, 17, 13 and 12) pretty much grew up with me at home with them and the tv on. This didn't mean they (or I) was sitting in front of it all day long, but it was on. I have two with ADHD and two without. Both with have learned how to deal with it and are no longer on medication.

None of my children are at all over weight. They are all very active in school and sports and church. They all have good grades.

I don't think it's good to have your kids sitting in front of it all day everyday, but I also don't think it's bad to have it on all day.

You are right, you may be sowing the seeds of future family conflicts by leaving the TV on all day. Not to mention the developmental issues too much TV can cause- whether it's Noggin and PBS or soaps with commercials, all TV causes changes in brain waves and the mental state of those watching. TV has been shown to cause language development delays in small children. But you are human, it's cold, and let's face it, a 17 month old as your sole companion during the day gets boring!! You need community- mamasource in real life. A mommy friend or two that you can get out of the house with, or have over for a chat. Someone you can fold laundry with while your kids play. Getting outdoors regularly is important if you can- even in the cold, young children love to be outside for short periods, and everything is exciting- the postal service, the garbage pick up, the neighbors whirligig, a squirrel in the yard, a roly-poly in the crack- endless amusement! You also need adult stimulation, and it's hard to get that time when the only child in the house is that small- another idea is to make your house a fun place for older children to visit. Are there any older kids near you that you wouldn't mind having over to play with your child for an hour or so? Don't feel down on yourself about some TV use, just find some creative and positive things to do with the rest of your time. Hope that helps!

I also am a stay at home mom. I really think as long as you guys are doing different stuff through the day it really does not matter if the TV is on. It is very hard to find things to do all day long. As she gets older you will be able to let her help with the house cleaning and and other stuff that you do. She will find things on her own that will catch her attention.
So don't worry about the TV. It has alot of educational shows on to watch for her age. You only have to pay attention to make sure she is not sitting infront of it for long periods of time and doing nothing else. If that ends up happening just turn it off. Other than that it is a hard job staying at home with your children all day long. A very special job, but still its hard. So don't sweat the TV. Just enjoy what you do!

I was the same way. I liked the noise because I didn't feel so isolated. WHat I did was to leave on the food network. It is safe as it is only food, no sex, violence, etc. The TV was on but she didn't watch it because it wasen't anything interesting. It worked really well. Today she is not a big TV watcher but she does love the food channel!

Turn on the radio or put in a CD and dance! My boys love this and it is quite hysterical!
Also, see about joining a play group/Moms group to get out on a play date.
Hope that helps -

Hi A.,

You are very right to be concerned about too much TV. In fact, it has been recommended that children under the age of 2 watch NO TV. It will affect them, and probably adversely. That said 17mo. old is a hard age because they still need more attention than older children who can play on their own. Can you get involved in a Mom's group (Mom and me)? Make a playdate as often as possible. Also, local churches sometimes have cheap or free programs during the day. Or go to a local museum. Or farm. We tried all sorts of things to keep our little guy occupied on the weekends - I can imagine 7days/week must be tough.

Cold or not, going outside and moving around is so important to your child's health. I grew up in the frigid North and cold and lots of snow were no excuse for not going outside. Kids don't really mind so much - it is the parents who are so picky. A simple 15-20 minute walk would be good for both of you.

Others on the forum have posted great ideas for home curriculum. Read books to your daughter. And keep the TV to a minimum and move around more and your child should do great! It is wonderful that you are concerned enough about this to post a question. I wish you the best of luck!

S.

A.,
Turn off the tv, please! My kids like to listen to music, so I've bought CDs that are made just for kids. There are all kinds to choose from. Once I bought a CD from a vendor that programmed songs with her name in it. She adored that one. I'm sure you can find some really good CDs out there now. Good luck!

Everyone has given wonderful advice and good things to do. I won't repeat what they said, but I will say that I can totally relate. I think that's one of the hardest things about having a little one. It's so worth the effort, though. Try to make a calendar and get out and do something every day. Join a mom's club for playdates.
It's great that you are honest with yourself.
Good luck to you!
A.

try having a play hour a couple of times a week with other moms and babies. it will help your babie learn to interact and give you some one to bounce your thoughts around with! i have raised 5 and now have 4 grand children. moms need support from other moms who believe me have some of the same concerns as you! good luck.

gigi

When I worked at a daycare and had the 12-24mos group one of the favorite things to do was the water table. You could get an under the bed style container and fill it with water. I would put down some towels with a plastic table cloth underneath for safer playtime and easier cleanup. You can also put other things in instead of water. You can use dry beans, smaller wooden blocks, uncooked rice or pudding. You can use measuring cups,plastic cars and trucks. The larger ones are easier to clean up. The pudding can be messy but was fun. We would just buy the industrial size cans at Sams Wholesale and usually did vanilla. You could also do dry cereal or crackers like goldfish. We also would have CD's playing with childrens music. You could try that instead of the TV. The music will also help her with her speech and language development. Another activity that the kids liked to do was to look at a color and then find the color throughout the room. We also did objects but that was more difficult and sometimes we would have to put pics around the room for them to find. Good Luck!

I do not think you are wrong. Pay attention to your daughter's behavior concerning the TV, if she is glued nonstop, then turn on the radio or put in a CD. If she tends to do other things while watching then she is fine.
My opinion surely! We have the TV on non-stop, we cannot take the quiet either. My daughter is 4 doesn't watch non-stop (unless it is a FAV show) and she is not lazy, overweight or bad mannered. Sometimes it is their way of relaxing (just like us!!). Don't let everyone get to you...I went to school with kids that had everything structured and they ended up being the problem kids in school and not being very successfull in life. I'm not saying TV put me at the fore-front, but I never gorged on TV, sweets and chips whenever I could and I didn't sneak them either like my friends did, because those things were always available in sensible limits. We do the same with our daughter and when she goes to a friends house she PLAYS and has fun, when a few come over to our house, they don't play much, want to soak up as much TV as possible and eat junk. You decide.

HI,
Just a word of advice from a mom of 4...with ages from 20-7 years old....stop the TV! It will steal away precious time that you and your child could be spending together. Turn on the radio to K-love...good music...kids music...read her stories and buy stories on Cd with a book to follow with...become crafty with simple things...anything but letting that Tv take away time....slowly but surely it steals famimly's valuable time together and becomes the idol in the home...so sad really....trust me, there are so many other things you could be doing...don't live to regret it.
M.
Jer. 29:11

www.amothershope.webs.com
(Hope for Mothers of troubled teens)

I am a work at home mother of a 26 month old girl. I had felt the same way as you do about how much TV she watches and since I work from home she I keep it on all day. She does not constantly watch it but she does watch a decent amount. Quite honestly she has learned so much through watching the TV and I just reinforce things through reading with her. I keep it on Noggin all day long as well. She is a little sponge and picks up on everything. She talks a lot for a child her age. She speaks in almost complete sentences for the most part and is very clear with what she is saying. I think a big part of it is becuase of watching the shows that she watches because they get her to interact with them. I also am involved with our local library story time which she absolutly loves. We go once a week to the library and listen to a story and do some kind of craft.

Personally, at that age I would say about an hour of TV would be fine, and on a PBS station (Barney, Sesame Street) with you beside her helping her learn what is being taught. Noggin is fun, and can be used on special occassions.

If you can, get out. Go to a library for story time, find a local mom's group, or even go a mall that has an indoor play area for little ones. You'll probably find some moms in your same situation.

I know it's hard, but it's worth it.

Yes! Too much television isn't any good for you or your child. As for it being too cold... I (as well as my 4 daughters) grew up in Chicago and that's cold. But, layering clothing works for taking children out at anytime. Take walks in the yard, show them whats out there and teach them about what Spring will bring. If you need to have television, try the Learning Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet or History. Better yet, turn on the radio and dance to some normal songs, ones she can understand without learning inproper language.

Hi there,

I just wanted to let you know that as a mother of a 13 year old boy and 5 year old boy and a mother who has had the opportunity to be a stay at home mother and a working mother you are not quite doing anything wrong, but too much television can lead to problems down the road. Sort of a dependence on it. Children start to act as if it is more a necessity than what it really is - another activity.

I know with the cold weather it is very hard to engage in interesting things, but there are several online sites that can guide you to fun and interactive activities to do indoors with your daughter. Try these out: www.essortment.com/family/indooractivitie_sumz.htm, www.fun.familyeducation.com, www.geocities.com/toddlermoms/.

Have fun and I hope these help!!!!

The American Acadamy of Pediatrics recommends NO TV UNDER AGE TWO. There is a reason for this, this is a sensitive time in a childs cognative development. Please, please shut of that TV. It may be an adjustment now but you will be so glad you did later. Studies have shown that for every hour of TV a child watches, their chances of being diagnosed with ADD go up 10%. So if your child watches 3 hours of TV a day, his or her chance of being diagnosed with ADD go up 30%. Other studies have shown that childen have a much harder time concentrating at any task when the TV is on in the backround.Ask yourself if you would rather teach her now how to play and concentrate, or later deal with an ADD child for the rest of your life. Right around age two children start to be able to play independently for longer periods of time, so hang in there, she will require less attention soon.

Turn the tv off and see if she will play by herself for a while. Maybe bake cookies together, excercise together (my daughter always liked my workout videos). I would get bored to. I put my child in day care at three and work full time. I know some people may disagree but I like working. It makes me a better mother. I am not saying that is for everyone but I just don't like being home all day. If I was super rich I would love to stay home because my daughter and I would hang out at the spa. Oh yeah that is another one my daughter and I do spa day at home. Yours may be a little to young but I started with her at about two.

I am a great-grandmother now and I worry that some of the little ones see and hear too much TV. When my own children were small, I missed a lot of TV myself as I was NOT going to let them get addicted! I kept radio on most of every day,or played my old records! Classical,hymns,chilren's music. My youngest daughter was exposed to a lot of music before birth and thru all her years in our home. She was a piano teacher for years,music teacher in grade school. (Sorry to say her piano is neglected now and she is addicted to cmputer!!) But I am still glad she was a misical little one!
H.

I wouldn't worry a whole lot, however too much TV can affect children's attention spans. I was raised with the TV always on in the background and it was not something I wanted for my children. I have found that the radio helps fill the quiet and you can even get CD's with stories or one's that have your child's favorite characters. My children get really excited when they get to play their Backyardigans CD. They listen to their music while playing. Hope this helps.

I'm a stay at home mom of two boys (4 1/2 and almost 3), and it is not wrong to get bored. It's completely natural since kids' worlds are not as stimulating for adults. That said, there are things you can do to help both you and your daughter out.

First of all, it's not recommended that kids under two watch TV, and after two, it should be limited to a half hour a day. My kids do watch TV, but not every day and only for 30-60 minutes. It's not part of their daily routine though, and it doesn't need to be part of yours either, but if you're at your whits' end, then a half hour a day isn't the worst thing in the world.

So, if the house gets too quiet, put on some music. WCPE (http://theclassicalstation.org/) is a great local classical station, and it's perfect background music for playing and reading. You can also put on your own favorite music. Sure, kids like kid music, and if you can find some you can stand, great, but if not, play your favorite bands and dance. Buy or make maracas, drums, horns, tambourines, bells, recorders (usually at the dollar store!). Loosely tie long ribbons around your wrists and dance around (put them up when not supervised).

Get out of the house. Join a playgroup. Go to story time at the library. Go hang out at the kids' section of a Barnes & Noble. Visit a Pottery Barn Kids. Find a mall with an indoor play area. In the winter, fill the tub and just let her play for a bit (put on her bathing suit if she wants!) while you sit there and read a magazine or talk on the phone. And even when it's cold, go outside. You don't have to stay out for more than ten minutes, but the time it takes to get them bundled and unbundled could wipe out half your day! :) Plus even a little fresh air does you both good. Take a quick walk around the yard or down the street. Come up with a mission like looking for birds, cars, clouds, flowers.

As your daughter gets older she'll play more and more on her own, but you need to set that up now. If she never has to get used to playing on her own (you're always doing something with her or she's always entertained by the tv), she'll have a harder time when she's older. If you have things you need/want to do around the house, do them, and if she wants your attention, tell her you'll be there in a couple of minutes. Set a timer if that will help so she'll know when her waiting time is over--but remember that at her age a minute or two is about all she can manage. Or when you're in the middle of something and she's been playing nicely on her own and all of a sudden wants you again, take five minutes to play with her and you'll probably be able to get back to your own stuff for a bit longer. Like any other skill, the more she plays on her own, the better she'll be at doing it.

Rotate toys. Put some of her things away and then bring them out and put others away every 3-4 weeks. Toys kids haven't seen in a while are almost like new toys.

And one last thing: since my boys play with pretty much the same things I was able to coordinate a lot of joint gifts for them this Christmas, and now we don't have as many things to switch out as before, and I caught myself wondering if they were going to get bored. But then I thought about how my parents really only got one gift at Christmas way back when :) and they didn't watch a lot of television, and my grandmothers would never have tolerated them complaining about being bored. So I realized that my kids will be fine. If left alone (with a little guidance now and then) they'll find something to do, it just takes practice--something they won't get if the tv is always on. Hope you find some of this helpful. Good luck!

You can play music in the background while you are playing. I, too, like the tv on all day. I make myself keep it off unless there are shows that I want to see or listen to. They get to watch tv at certain times but I make them play at certain times too. I have my talk radio on during the day and play a CD in their room while they play. I give them a specific time when the tv can be turned on. I would also try to not play with her ALL the time, let her learn to play alone too. It gets her mind working and her imagination working. You are doing great playing with her, I wish I did more of that! :O)

A.,
when my son was younger he watched tv but hes 3 now and i cant keep him still long enogh to watch even a commercial so no tv for him ive tried everything but my 1 yr old on the otherhand loves it now my 10 yr old niece lives by the tv and pitches a fit if she cant watch it i personally think as long as its educational its fine but just make sure she dont sit there all day glued to make sure she gets plenty of exercise thats also important for the brain to grow. we play with blocks puzzles balls there favorites are trucks and pretend play good luck
tear

A., too much tv is not good for the developement of your child. Children over 2 should get 2 hours or less of tv time a day. Don't feel you have to entertain her 24/7. Teach her to entertain herself. As she grows older you will be thankful you did. It is hard being the only child when they are little (no one but you to entertain), but you can't be her playmate forever. If you need something on, try music. Kids love music and it does help fill that empty space...Good luck to you. I
I have an only child and I am so proud how he has learned to entertain himself. We do alot of things together too, but he is very self sufficient. Hope this helps! J.-Baby 2B Nashville.com

My kids are older now, but I can relate to the quiet driving you crazy. =0) I know what you mean. Disney and Noggin are great and have many really educational shows, but it shouldn't be on all day long. One solution is to turn the TV off and turn your radio on. Your cds, children cds, radio stations....anything! My kids are now 5 and 2 1/2 and they ask me all the time to turn on the "Kidz Only" music channel so that they can dance and be silly. We clean the house to music, cook dinner to music, and sometimes we like to just sit down and watch our kids dance out all that energy! =0)

Do you know any other moms of toddlers? You could get together for play-dates. Also, check your local library or parks & rec department to see if there's a "toddler time" playgroup. My community has a free toddler time once a week and it's a lot of fun for the kids. And my daughter loves to be around other children.

Sometimes when I'm working in the kitchen I give my 16-month old a bowl with just a little bit of flour and measuring spoons and cups. She loves playing with it. I put a little apron on her, so that makes clean-up a lot easier.

I haven't read other responses so I apologize if this is a repeat.

I too am a stay at home mom and struggle with the no noise (well, as little noise as you can have with a toddler around). We watch the news in the morning and then turn the radio on for the rest of the day.

I had to find something to do everyday otherwise I'd go crazy! Monday is errands, Tuesday we go to story time, Wednesday's we have a standing play date, Thursday we go to a kids/toddler hiking program, and Friday we try and find another friend to play with.

I've also started doing more arts/crafts with her. We pick a theme for the week and read books about that theme, do crafts, and other things that relate. This week was birds, next week we're doing fruits.

Good luck and have fun!

Get Play Doh, puzzles, beads to string, musical instruments like shakers to play along to music with, and dance to the music too. Make games out of whatever you are doing.

I have had the same problem in the past. You'll find that it is much easier to do more with the tv off and the radio on! You can find all kinds of fun play while having the radio playing in the back ground. You can be silly and dance. Another idea is to build something, like a tent with sheets and chairs. I remember when I was little, I loved crawling on my fours like one of the ponies from my little pony's! You can also buy some cookie dough and have her put the dough in the pan to bake. Sometimes it is hard to come up with suff on the top of my head, so I write a list of ideas that I can pull out when I need them!

A. it is hard!
Dont beat yourself up.

Toddlers that age cant focus for more than 15 minutes & it gets really challenging as a mom.

As long as you are breaking it up with activities & spending one on one time with her then dont be so worried. Most of us foi it at some point. Balance is the key.

Try turning on the radio for background noise some days & keeping the tv off. Hang in there,

P

Aw A., it touched me when you asked if being bored was "wrong". No I don't believe it is. Do you have anyone you could invite over that has a child her age or older? I bet if you check around you wouldn't be the only mom that is bored and doesn't know exactly what else to do during the winter. Maybe you've met women that you've sold a house to and would love a get together with their child, even if it was just an hour.
I always tell my daughter that has two children that sometimes being bored is good....when you get older you realize that sometimes the alternative isn't always positive. Enjoy your boredom, sounds like you are planning for more children then you may just look back and remember how sweet it was to be bored. Good luck and have fun with her.

As you can readily see from the responses you have received, some people believe you should restrict the amount of television your little one is exposed to daily while others rely heavily on it for entertaining their children. As you might guess, the truth lies somewhere in-between. (A friend of my sister's, a nurse, would not feed her toddlers potato chips because the sharp edges might poke the insides of their mouths and injure them, but she had no problem with perching one of her youngsters in her lap and lighting up a cigarette!)

Obviously, you need to be aware of the amount of television your child is viewing but, more than the quantity, you need to be aware of the quality of her viewing. I remember when I was pre-school, my favorite tv shows were Winky-Dink and Captain Kangaroo. Both were what would now be considered educational programming. Kids learned about reading, writing, sharing, and caring, and a lot of other 'good stuff', too. Then, one night a week, I got to watch Mickey Mouse Club. Supposedly that was pure entertainment and fluff - of course that one was full of 'good stuff' as well. Programming has gotten a lot more sophisticated since the days of Mickey and the Captain and much of the educational aspect of television is far more overt and lacking in the subtleties of television shows of old but the learning concept (though it had to be forced back into children's programming) is back and there is a lot of really positive programming for children now.
Por ejemplo. Si usted quisiera que sus niños aprendieran los españoles intentan 'Dora the Explorer'. If you tune that one in for your 17 month old, you would be amazed at how quickly and easily she picks up the language. And you might even learn some, too! In other words, choose carefully what you allow her to watch. And, just as importantly, you don't want to get in the habit of keeping the telly on just for white noise. (A color television is one of the biggest energy users in your home.) Keeping it on all day is not only a waste of energy, it can be a waste of brain power, too. Studies show that, with few exceptions, when you watch television, your brain waves are identical to those produced during sleep. The exceptions being a very few interactive programs (i.e. SOME game shows such as "Jeopardy!" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" and "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" (Does that suggest game shows with punctuation?) that invite you to 'play along' and try to answer the questions along with the contestants.)

Lately, there has also been some suggestion that too much tv viewing might contribute to hyperactivity, additionally there is the well-known connection between sedentary tv watching and obesity in children (adults, too). Do you consciously choose the shows you watch or do you "choose" them out of habit? Do you watch re-runs just because you are comfortable with the program? It might be a good idea to learn how to turn off the tv more even for yourself. You will be helping your daughter develop her habits and attitudes about television and its place in her life just by how you realate to it and how much you allow her to view it.

You can see there is a lot to consider when putting your baby in front of the television.

And while the house may seem too quiet with the television off, there is something to be said for the psychological calm you derive from the relative quiet.

Since at least the early the 20th century, generally speaking, people in 'civilized' nations have not EVER been exposed to total quiet. Even when you turn everything off at night, there are the ambient noises of the refrigerator humming, cars out in the street, water running through pipes, the heater (or A.C.) kicking on. But periods of relative quiet are also known to improve our self-esteem and sense of well-being. It even helps the brain to work better. When we go somewhere on vacation, we don't usually sit and watch the television. We find other things to do, even if that just means basking in the sun on the beach. While the brain is active at all times, it needs quiet time, too. The bombardment of the senses with continuous noise does not allow the brain to 'relax' but it needs vacations sometimes, too. We fill our lives with so much technology to improve our physical comfort but at a certain cost to our psychological comfort. And there is something to be said for learning to be comfortable with one's own self. Most of us never learn how to do that ... how to BE alone. You might want to try that sometimes, turning off the tv and radio/stereo and just get to know your 'inner self'. You might discover you really like the you that's hiding in there.

It is really good that you are reading with your daughter. this is not only an excellent teaching tool, but the togetherness you gain from these moments will help you both in years to come. Someone suggested outings to the library - a great idea. Get her accustomed to going there and being there and finding a sense of peace and comfort there. Let her pick out books to take home that you can read together. And, as she gets older, you can help her pick out books that are, essentially, pre-readers to help her start learning to read. Adding to that, you can buy a box of magnetic, brightly colored plastic alphabet and numbers to stick on the fridge. You can use them to teach her about the alphabet and her numbers starting with helping her to learn the sounds of the letters. Then show her various things around the house that begin with this or that letter. On her birthday, show her the "2" so she can connect the word "two" as her age with something concrete. She can learn about '1' refrigerator; '2' pieces of bread on her sandwich; '3' in the family; etc. (That reminds me of the Schoolhouse Rock which is available of VHS and DVD. These wonderful vignettes from ABC Saturday morning commercial breaks have always been a favorite of mine and I bought them for my grandson, nieces, and others. They are one learning tool that will last a lifetime, literally.)

Mom's day out programs are a great way to get your little one out in groups to play with other kids and allow you to meet other moms, even - perhaps especially - in cold weather. And don't be afraid to get her out in colder weather, either. As any Inuit will tell you, the trick is simply to dress warmly. I used to take my little ones to the park in the winter where we would stage fantastic snow ball fights and make wonderful snow men. When I was a kid, my father - an electrician by trade but an incredibly gifted artist, as well - took a snow fort we had made and, with the help of a butter knife, turned our front yard in Mount Rushmore, carving the walls of our "fort" into amazing likenesses of the presidents thereon. Obviously, you would not want to take her tender little skin outside in sub-zero wind-chills but, barring some health disorder which might prohibit her, or you, from being outside, the cold can actually be beneficial. Enjoy it!

Lastly, one of the greatest gifts you can give your daughter is to help her learn to be alone, too. Make sure she has safe toys that she can play with by herself. Let her sit by herself and play with her toys alone. You might want to put her on the living room floor with a Leap Frog and program cards designed for teeny-weeny ones like your 17 month old while you grab a good book and curl up in the corner of the sofa and read. I would suggest, if you have not yet read it, Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture". It is one I believe everyone should read at least once. (I gave copies to everyone for Christmas last year.)

Learn to enjoy your daughter and your own quiet time as well. Do it now or, when the next one comes along, or the next, you will find yourself frazzled and, at some point, resenting being 'tied down' to your children and mourning your loss of freedom.

Whew! Sorry. Didn't mean to make this so long.

Some quiet time is good as that is the way the school day will be. Children need stimulation of noise, etc but they also need to learn to function in a quiet atmosphere as schoolwork is often done in quiet. If you have children's museums, art museums, zoos etc nearby I highly recommend it. Where I live there are parts of certain days every month that admission is free at the zoo, museums and some historical sites. Playgroups are a great way to help build social skills in children, check for a MOPS group, New Neighbors, church playgroup, etc. Often they meet at parks or in gyms at churches so there is a place to play when it rains. Your daughter is getting to the age when manipulatives are very good to start, larger lego type blocks, large plastic beads and string, etc. I helps build not only cognitive skills but motor skills. You can start working on colors and counting using the blocks. Talk, talk, talk to her about the world around her as you are out and about, blue bird, red bird, etc. She has so many brain synapses forming right now.

A., some TV.. now some depends on what you believe to be some. Yes, Noggin is great BUT with that I must caution you to be aware that your little 17 month old will soon develop character traits of what she sees and hears.... that can be hard thing to deal with when the time comes.

I would suggest turning OFF the TV and put some music on.. maybe classical or Christian (if you share those beliefs) you can have her start gluing, yes, that is what I said, with stick glue... of course you should supervise her at all times no matter what she is doing. finger painting, watercolors... you might need to do some research for Daycare and TODDLER activities. It also isn't too early to be teaching her little things, like allowing her to find things to keep herself busy/occupied. Join a Playgroup this will help her learn many things and give you some time to socialize with other moms. What about a MOPS group?

You also could be doing things with letters, colors, shapes.. seriously... you can make it FUN like a game.

Don't forget if she is taking a nap that helps too.

Remember to do what is best for YOU and YOUR family.

You are right; TV is sooooo bad for small children. It breeds ADD and doesn't give her the opportunity to develop her creativity. Not to say that she is terrible by any means, but my favorite parenting author has a lot to say on the subject in his book Making the Terrible Twos Terrific (John Rosemond - www.rosemond.com). It would be a good idea for you to develop some hobbies or interests outside your daughter to give you more to do. I agree with turning the radio on for something to listen to, or even a book on CD (check out the library). Good luck!

It's hard to be home with a child. There are a lot of people that won't admit it but being a stay at home mom sucks sometimes. Having to live your adult life on the mental level of a 17 month old all day is hard!
First don't be too h*** o* yourself. Do your best to get out of the house each day. Story time at the library, day trips, playgroups (find a local moms group and get out) or even just to Walmart or Target to walk around a bit. As you walk around talk about colors and shapes. Make it interactive as best you can. Try to fill as much time as possible with things other than TV. Go online and look for ideas and projects you can do with her.
When you find you have simply run out of ideas or run out of steam don't beat yourself up over letting her watch some TV. As long as she isn't sitting in front of it all day long every day it's fine. Everything in moderation!

Try finding some good kids music to play part of the time. Also, the local library is a good place to hang out for a little while. Ours has a great kid's section, even for kids as young as your daughter. Remember, you do not have to entertain her all the time, she should be able to keep herself occupied for awhile. Another thing to consider is a play group for young children. That way you meet other moms and she has other kids to play with sometimes. Just try to enjoy this stage as much as possible, it will soon pass!

TV will not be your friend as your child grows older. Morals and ideas will come through the tube that will mold her little mind. Better to have music on all day.
Allow her to learn to fill her own time through her creativity through creating and playing.
Rather than feeling like you have to entertain her provide her with stimulating toys--not too many at once. Rotate them so that they stay engaging. Allow her to develop the skill of entertaining herself.
Visit a Montessori school and analyze the approach of the teacher. The school does not have to know that you do not plan on enrolling your child. See how the teacher introduces toys in a stimulating way and then allows the child's creativity to take over.
We gave our son Leggos. He is now a senior and going to an excellent college next year. His 3-D intelligence is high and he wants to be an engineer. I know it is from the early Leggo experience. Our daughter played with cash registers and mechanincal things and now does well in computers.
I know that TV can be a great babysitter and offer you a break, but you can find the same break after the child learns to entertain herself.
Best of luck. L. D.
Long-term TV is a hard habit to break. The morals your child develops should come from you. At this point you can easily control the shows she watches, but that will become more difficult and lead to arguments between the two of you.
A little about me. I have been teaching for 30 years, have a master's in counseling and love children. Your daughter will grow increasing independent. Appreciate these years. You will miss them. Do not give them away to TV--they are precious moments that will soon be gone.

Dear A.,
I know it's hard to keep a 17 month old entertained but there are a lot of really good studies out there that say exposure to a lot of television early changes the brains of young children. Your child's brain is developing at an incredible pace and the constantly changing picture on the television is helping shape your child's ability to process information and how long of an attention span she will develop. Doing physical activity in the house such as playing catch with a nerf ball or using one of those big exercise balls can add to your day. Also, age appropriate puzzles, color games, etc can help her get a head start on learning. It's also okay for her to entertain herself. Have a drawer in the kitchen with things she can play with while you're cooking or doing other chores. Hope this helps.

Good luck,
L. D.