What Do You Think? Nick Jr. or Not?

Updated on November 19, 2010
B.B. asks from Dallas, TX
44 answers

me and my friend were having this conver... just wanted other womens input,,,
kids under 5.... do you let your kids watch tv, or have a tv in their room?
I do, and they watch Nick Jr. None stop they are learning alot. day care + Nick jr
I think the shows are the best, it teaches them to express them self, and learn so much.
Anybody else out there Down with Nick Jr.

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So What Happened?

WOW, what a great topic. I knew there would be many different opinions. Thank you all. My only concern with Nick Jr. Though, as I've been thinking is Max and Ruby... My kids love this show ( idk why, this little bill, and oobie are so boring, but they love it) Where are these rabbits parents at, the sister is raising her little brother... I always wonder.......

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

It works to some extent but it isn't ideal. The best situation is where a child can respond and get feedback. Even if that's a computer where they press a button and get a "RIGHT!" or "TRY AGAIN!" response, that's better.

Plus, too much TV really doesn't help them stay active.

I also do not like all the materialism it creates, when kids watch the commercials in between shows. Plus, commercials for other Nick Shows which are NOT kid friendly. (more aimed for teens).

If my daycare was plopping my child in front of the TV, I would be pissed that I had to pay money for my kids to just sit there and watch TV. I'd be expecting more from a daycare.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

I love Team Omizoomi...kids learn math and patterns. I am also a big fan of Special Agent Oso he teaches kids to tie their shoes...etc

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

My kids used to love nick jr! Now they are a little old for it, but I had no problem letting my kids watch, with in reason.

1 mom found this helpful

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I saw a statistic last week that the average toddler watches 32 hours of TV a week. That's a lot of time they could spend playing with toys (which lets them use their imagination) and playing with each other and you (which lets them practice expressing themselves). They will honestly learn more about expressing themselves and using their imagination when the TV is turned off.

3 moms found this helpful

D.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

My son Jeremy will be 4 in January and LOVES Nick Jr. I personally think its great it keeps him entertained while his learning and having fun. He loves every single show on there ( Blues clues,Ni hao Kai Lan, Dora, Deigo, Max and Ruby, and of course team Umi Zoomi) and has learned so much. Since he was 2 1/2 he's aso liked playing Nick Jr online on our desktop (since I go to school online he sees me on my laptop). So Nick Jr definately has my vote :)

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I like many shows on Nick Jr. My kids are almost 2 and 4.5. They both love Backyardigans as well as some other shows. Otherwise they watch PBS. I tried Sprout and they do watch a few shows but I hate the commercials and the little filler bits between shows get annoying.

I don't like the idea of tv in a kid's bedroom, especially for younger kids. At the moment my kids don't know how to work the remote well enough to get it to do what they want. But later on I want to be able to keep track of what they are watching. I am always trying to cut down the amount of time the tv is on so tv in the bedroom would also make that harder.

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter will watch Nick Jr on the weekends (non-stop if she ahd HER choice!!). She has a TV in her play room. She knows to get her breakfast in the AM on weekends and will watch TV to let us get a little more sleep.
It's funny about about Max and Ruby - there is a 'Like' button on Fackebook -"Where the hell are Max and Ruby's parents"...you're not alone!
TV here and there isn't bad. I think I lived on the Smurfs when I was younger.
When do your kids learn from YOU one person responded - geez - probably the majority of the waking hours as my child is in Montessori (aka day care as she's only 4), watches TV and does have quality family time.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

We love nick jr.! My 3 year old likes Jack's Big Music Show, The Backyardigans, etc.
We usually limit her tv time to the morning while I'm on the computer and she doesn't have a tv in her room.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

my youngest does not have a tv in his room, he is 3. My daughter who is 10 does though. We have no cable. They get to watch PBS and Saturday morning cartoons, but other than that they have their own dvds and we also have netflix streaming that we can watch in the livingroom, but that is limited, maybe a couple of times a week? I do not think Nick jr is probably bad, I am not familiar with what programs they have but even if it is educational it should be limited...kids do not need tv in the background 24/7.

1 mom found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Seattle on

Nick Jr. and Sprout!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Norfolk on

My kids can occasionally watch Nick Jr, but I pick which shows, not all of the shows are appropriate for all ages. Also some versions of Nick Jr have commercials, some do not since Nick actually puts out a number of channels to different markets. I do not think young children should EVER have a TV in thier room, nor should they watch TV non stop,. Some TV is ok, but when they are watching TV they are missing out on lots of other learning opportunities as well as the opportunity to excercise.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

We do NOT have a TV in our DD's bedroom (she is 3) and I doubt we ever will.

We do let her watch Nick Jr. quite a bit, along with PBS Kids/Sprout and some Disney shows like Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse (no Hannah Montana, etc.). She does seem to be picking up some positive things from it - she especially likes Dora and Diego and it's funny to be driving somewhere and have her ask. "Which path do we take?" (because that is on Dora all the time!). The other day we were getting ready to head out and she said to me, "Come on Mama! Vamanos! Let's go!" Really?

At the same time, they can't get all their education from TV - there needs to be balance. When you think about it, their whole life is one educational experience after another. DD also does preschool twice a week, a gymnastics class once a week, and swimming once a week (which sounds like a lot but the classes are short and none are on the same day). We go to the library. We have play dates with friends. We go to places like the zoo and apple picking and children's museums and the park. We take the dogs for walks and visit family. We have unstructured play time daily. We read stories before nap time and bed time.

TV can be great, but it can't be a substitute for real life experiences.

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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

yes i like my kid watching nick jr and the channel with seasame street and electric company he like s the construcion workers show. they sing and dance and my 2 yr old loves it. no tv in bedroom I made that mistake with my oldest son never again.

1 mom found this helpful

M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Love it! Also a huge fan of Sesame Street for my little guy.

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

I LOVE Nick jr. and so does my daughter who is one. She also likes the baby einstein DVDs

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

we love Nick Jr, but we dont let the kiddo have a tv in her room. I literally can not fall asleep without the tv, and I dont want to ingrain bad habits in her if I can avoid it. But we love Max and Ruby, Olivia, Miss Spider, and all of those.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

My kids have had a TV in their room since they where very young. Nick Jr. is like any other channel there might be some shows on it that are not appropriate for certain ages. And it all depends on what you allow in your house. Take for instance Spoung Bob I don't allow in my house. I don't know if it's on Nick Jr but I know it's on Nick. You just have to monitor what they watch.

Good luck and God Bless!!!

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S.

answers from Chicago on

We like it here, along with PBS.

It could easily be on non-stop, but I made a conscious effort to turn it off & found my kids playing a lot more!!

No TV in the bedroom, just not needed.

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

Nick Jr is fine for kids under 5 or even older 5. I do, however, think a TV in their room is not a good idea; that may promote solitary time...and you want that time to be with you.

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L.I.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter is 5 and I have no problem letting her watch the Nick Jr and Disney cartoons. There are so many worse things she could be watching, and the majority of the shows are educational. We were in the grocery store line and she actually busted out speaking in Spanish! She had learned in on Dora & Diego! I was shocked! I will say that she doesn't just sit and watch - she does get her toys and play at lot while she is watching - she's kind of a multi-tasker already! I don't believe its bad for them to watch age appropriate TV that is educational - their going to watch it when they grow up anyway. I do think this age is too young to have it in their room though - my daughter would never come out! My daughter also likes to play the Wii games - her current favorite is the Disney Sing a long game. She also likes it when I download educational apps on my iTouch for her - I have a writing one, a math one, a couple of drawing ones, she loves them! I think variety is the key. I would just keep in mind that TV is not evil, as long as you monitor their programing.

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K.M.

answers from New York on

My son is 3 and watches mostly nick jr. Also pbs, mostly Curious George. We don't have a tv in his room. I think that would be trouble, lol.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I think nick jr is good nogging is also good.

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

My DD who is 5 does not have TV in her room, but she wakes up before school for a half hour with a show in our living room. nick jr., The hub (new name for Discovery Kids), and Pbs kids (Sprout-depending on what it's called in your area) are all things she can watch. She has learned quite a bit. Current favorites are Ni-Hao Kai-Lan (teaches emotional issues, plus Chinese words), Animal Mechanicals (thinking around problems, using tools), handy manny (helping others, building things), Angelina Ballerina (friendship concepts, working together, accepting differences), little Bill (Bill Cosby's kid show-good for lots of issues), Backyardigans (complex music structure, puzzle solving). She DID love Hi-5 and Peep and the Big Wide World (science issues) which were cancelled when The Hub took over Discovery Kids. She is allowed limited time for TV watching, as we take her out with us shopping so she learns 'real world' applications for stuff she sees on TV or learns at school. it makes a big difference if you make it relevant to their everyday life.

B.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

My kids 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 Love Nick Jr. At least the youngest one does, the older one has been watching Sprout more.... I know there are a lot of Moms against TV and TV's in the room, but my kids have 1 in the bedroom and 1 in the playarea in the dining area with a TV they watch while they eat at their kids table. We read alot and do alot of outdoor activities so why not?? My 1 year always says 'Thank You' in Chinese, its hilarious! We love it, it teaches them alot.

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J.R.

answers from San Diego on

No TV in any of the bedrooms, including mine. We don't have cable, so no Nick Jr. here. I don't care enough about the PBS shows to keep the schedule straight, and we don't have DVR. We will watch an occasional DVD. My main problem with TV in general is all the ads. My son asks for too many toys as it is just from seeing what his friends have. I can only imagine what he'll be asking for if he is constantly exposed to commercials.

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J.T.

answers from New York on

No TV in her bedroom (nore mine!), but we do watch Nick Jr free on demand. Specifically - Little Bear, Jack's Music Show and Wonder Pets. She loves Wonder Pets and she brings Mommy into a lot of pretend play where we use teamwork to build a flyboat and rescue things around the house. It is really cute!

She also watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins on Disney Free on Demand and has learned a lot from those shows as well as Sesame Street. We also sometimes watch Angelina Ballerina.

A.N.

answers from San Antonio on

I don't think this is a good conversation lol. Everyone is bound to have their own opinions & sometimes you can step on each others toes because each of you think its right. If you think its helping your kids who cares what anyone else thinks! Some people will agree & say it helped their kids (like me!) & others will say negative things & say you should give them a book or something. As long as you believe you are helping your kids & they seem to benefit & are happy you shouldn't worry. As mothers we always question our decisions its normal.

p.s. my daughter has a t.v. in her room but she only watches it in the living room idk why? lol

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I try to limit my son's TV watching, but it varies from day to day how much TV he watches. He does watch Nick Jr., I like the shows, Dora, Diego, Nei-ho Kia Lan is one of his favorites! In my opinion, better than Yo Gabba Gabba! But, none of my children have a TV in their room and won't in the foreseable future. They are 10, 8, and 2. I just want to know what they are watching and when, so no TV's in their bedrooms.

A.S.

answers from Davenport on

My daughter is 3 and she loves Nick, Jr. I don't let her watch it all the time and she does not have a tv in her room, nor will she. I watch the shows with her (lucky me) and ask her questions about them. I am with you on the Max and Ruby parent issue. I also HATE the fresh beat band...those people are my age and act like idiots....I wish they would scrap it.

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A.F.

answers from Columbus on

I like Nick Jr. but we don't let our kids watch a lot of TV. They do have TV’s in their rooms but usually only watch it when we get them a movie on the weekend or my son loves to watch Leap Frog videos.

One show we DO NOT allow is Max and Ruby. I really don't know what the point of the show is. Max is always getting into trouble with no consequences. Then his sister, who is raising him for some reason, is like, ha-ha, Oh, Max! And that's it? What? LOL If that show comes on my kids are like, Mommy!! Max & Ruby is on and they turn it! :)

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E.W.

answers from Dallas on

Purely my opinion and not judging you at all :)

In our house there are no TV's in the room (my daughter is almost 5). I don't think we will ever have TV's in the room, maybe once she is in high school but even then I don't know. My daughter is a big PBS Kids fan and she occasionally watches Nick Jr. there are some educational shows on there but she just prefers PBS for some reason. We do limit TV time as much as possible. If you think your kiddos are benefiting then who is anyone to judge. You have to do what works for your family and who cares what other people think. But I do think it is an interesting conversation.

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

We do more playhouse Disney than Nick Jr. But I would have no problem with Nick Jr

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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

My 1.5 yr old watches Nick Jr. - roughly one 30 minute show a day. She tends to watch one show over and over, then switch to a new show. For example, it used to be Blue's Clues, but now it's Little Bear. We only have one TV in our house - it's in the family room and we don't foresee changing that in the future.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Oh yeah my kids watch NickJr before it was " Nick Jr" before that it was " Noggin"
My two are older and still enjoy it.
My daughter learned spanish from dora on Nick Jr. She was counting in spanish at 3 yrs old

D.M.

answers from Denver on

We do Blue's Clues. It's been very helpful for our son with language delay.

Other historic faves have been Toot & Puddle, The Fresh Beat Band (our 6 year old), Go Diego Go...um, some others. We TiVo and control time on the tube.

No TVs in bedrooms. That's just asking for trouble at our house. : )

p.s. My kids also are allowed to watch Dinosaur Train & Thomas (PBS) but there are commercials now, no matter what PBS calls them, in between all of the PBS shows. There's less advertising on Nick Jr (formerly, Noggin). We do NOT do the channel that is just called "Nick."

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

We love Disney and I let them watch just about aything on it, round the clock. We don't turn on Nick Jr. because I don't want the kids acting like the cast of I Carly, Sam is so rude and selfish.

I let each of the kids have a TV in their rooms and they can watch disney at will, they als o have DVD players on top of the TV and their movies are out of reach so I know what they are watching. Even when a movie or TV show is on the are up running around and watching TV too.

J is 3 11/12 and K is 7.

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P.D.

answers from Corpus Christi on

My daughter is 4 months old and if she is in her exersaucer or playing on the floor I have Nick Jr on! I would rather her listen to educational things geared towards her age than some horrible stuff on the news or on the Today show! I love Nick Jr! I learn a lot too! LOL! I am so DOWN with Nick Jr!

I wonder about Max and Ruby too! The only character that seems to have both parents is Little Bear, and Little Bill! Whats up with the little people!

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Nick Jr was the best channgel, though I would have loved to have no tv.
It never had scary shows. We can't do the Disney movies because my child is sensitive. Personally, I don't allow tvs or anything in the room except a cd player. That is a place for us to sleep.

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C.G.

answers from Davenport on

I refuse to let my son have a tv in his room. We even took the tv out of our room (he was refusing to leave our bed!). He watches nick.jr. I don't have a problem with it. I think everything in moderation is okay. There are a few shows that really get on my nerves, but I haven't seen a show on that channel that I wouldn't approve of.

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H.A.

answers from Dallas on

I guess I am weird. I don't let my kids watch a lot of TV. We don't have cable anymore. Definitely no TVs in their rooms. Our kids are 6, 3.5y, 20 months and a newborn. We have Netflix - so if I want to let them watch something I can like "on demand"... my kids watch *maybe* 1-3 hours of TV a week. I like PBS shows, personally. (Sid the Science Kid, Word World, Super Readers). I also have several of the Leap Frog DVDs that are cartoons but teach phonics and words.

I have a friend that her TV is never turned off... seriously ALWAYS on. That's just not for me.

C.F.

answers from Boston on

We LOVE Sprout in our house! Nick Jr is watched only once in a while

J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

We aren't huge fans of Nick Jr. The only show on there that I allow my son to watch is Olivia. He loves it. I have a friend who's son the same age as mine watches Nick Jr all day.
My son's 2.5 yrs old and he watches (not all in one day):
Super Why (PBS)
Dinosaur Train (PBS)
Between the Lions (PBS)
Garfield (? I don't remember)
Olivia (NickJr)
Tom & Jerry (?)

We also watch eduational videos we rent for free from the library (Meet the Letters, Meet the Numbers, etc).

My concern with your post is that you said they watch nick jr non-stop, yet your kids are in day care too. WHEN do they learn from YOU??

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

I've always been down with Nick Jr. My girls are 8 and do not watch it as much anymore. PBS is fantastic at any age. I disagree with a TV in the bedroom though. Personally, I was not allowed to have one in my room until I was 15. Although I'm not saying your child has to be that old, I haveseen many studies that show the negative effects to children having TVs in their bedrooms, specifically leaving them on overnight.

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

I hate a two year old who watches nick jr and he can now sing almost all his abc's he can count to 10 (sometimes 12 sometimes 8) lol depends on his mood. He knows some shapes triangle circle square and octagon (we're working on the rest) he has also learned (above next to over inside behind under) and now uses them when looking for something or can follow a command such as (parker pick up that toy that in the bucket please) or (Bring that over and put it ontop of the table) Yes I also work with my son on these things but nick jr has introduced him to the topics then when he shows interest i teach him more about it. WE LOVE NICK JR. Altho I do limit his time and wich shows. And on the other hand my son also watches shows that are out of him age range (spongebob) I didn't like this but my sister and her 6 and 7 year old kids live here and they watch it so he does see it. He also likes way older shows like ICARLY and to me hey if he likes it why not.... But as long I teach him right from wrong I shouldn't have anything to worry about.

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