Going parental: It’s ok, Noggin is good for your kids
I grew up in a house where TV was a non-issue. If we wanted to watch TV, we watched. If we wanted to go outside and try to light ants on fire with a magnifying glass, then we did that instead.
I find that the more parents I speak to, the more I realize how obsessed people are with how much television their kids are watching. Simmer down people. Whether you put the TV on or not is really, in my opinion, not going to be the deciding factor between becoming a Mensa member or riding the short bus.
I went back to work when my daughter was 10 weeks old. I worked from home every Friday and as she grew older, it became increasingly difficult to actually get work done. She would be crawling up my leg and trying to pound on the keyboard. So what did I do? I popped on Noggin and let those overpaid television executives do their job: entertain my kid so I can get my work done.
After all “It’s like preschool on TV.” I’m sold. The coolest part about Noggin is that before each show, a screen comes up with the name of the show that’s about to come on and a soothing voice-over telling you what the show your child is about to watch is going to teach them. Something along the lines of, “Yo Gabba Gabba enhances preschoolers understanding of Inter- and Intra-personal dynamics.” Really? That’s fucking awesome. I definitely feel like way less of a douche bag for plopping my kid down in front of the TV now. Thanks Noggin.
The reality is if they didn’t come on and explain to me why exactly its a good idea for me to let my daughter sit and watch a skinny black dude in an orange unitard play with alien-like figurines that come out of a tricked out boom-box and spring to life, I’m not sure I’d go for it. I especially love it when Biz Markie makes an appearance to teach the kids how to beat box. Nothing like having a guy with a lateral lisp on the show to teach the kids how to use their mouths to make music. It’s genius.
If nothing else Oobi, that weird talking hand with no parents and a lack of word conjunctions, got my daughter to eat as a baby. See for yourself.
Television is not always the answer, it definitely shouldn’t be over-used (whatever your definition of over-used is), but for God’s sake, don’t be a tight ass with your kids when it comes to letting them watch TV. In my experience, the kids that are very limited in how much TV they can watch are completely mesmerized by it when it’s on and will do nothing else but sit and watch. While my daughter, on the other hand, will watch for a few minutes, but in the end is begging the other kids to play with her. She couldn’t care less whether the TV is on or not. So there. Having the TV on in a non-monitored fashion has actually yielded positive results in my daughter. Eat it babycenter.
Going Parental appears every Thursday. Yo Gabba Gabba appears far too often if you ask me.
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Something along the lines of, “Yo Gabba Gabba enhances preschoolers understanding of Inter- and Intra-personal dynamics.” Really? That’s fucking awesome. L.O.F.L.!
Fabulous… TV makes the world go round!
This post is absolutely hilarious! Love It! Love it! Love it! And I couldn’t help laughing out loud at the Oobi feeds my kid video. Best blog yet!
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY AMY… BEST BLOG YET, JACK.. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS JUST MONITOR CHILDRENS CONTENT AND SUBJECT MATTER AND FOCUS ON THINGS THAT WON’T NECESSARILY DISRUPT THEIR MENTAL DEVELOPMENT… HIDE YOUR PORN, PARENTS!!!
I think that your blog is funny, especially the bit about yo gabba gabba. My friends who don’t have kids & see it are just befuddled at my son’s unbridled enthusiasm for it. I spent the first 18 months of my son’s life as a stay at home mom trying not to lose my mind (I went from having hundreds of people report to me to reporting to this one little person) and I struggled with wanting him to watch the damn TV and chill for a few. But I also wanted so much not to fry his brain (yet- he can work on that solo later I imagine). When I was a kid my mom wasn’t thrilled with me watching TV, but the kid’s shows were only on on the AM before school, and then for a couple of hours after school, then on Saturday morning & Sunday early evening. There was no 24 hour noggin, so not much to worry about, brain fry-wise. I doubt that your daughter’s one day a week noggin film fest is that big of a deal. But, I think the TV warnings are there because some less educated parents truly would not know they shouldn’t leave a child in front of the TV all day every day if someone didn’t tell them. I grew up in a very very poor area with a single, but educated, mom. I was the only kid on the block whose mom would spend some of the food money on books & music & who knew where the library was. But the other kids ran around outside all day in between their favorite shows. That isn’t the case anymore because there is no end to shows. And that is pretty sad.
Me- you are absolutely right.. it’s all about being well rounded. A little TV, a snack, play outside, some reading.. maybe a tape to get them sleepy..and goodnight… Repeat…
Jaclyn, your blog completely cracked me up!! I agree with everything you said 100%. I have always allowed my daughter (now almost 3) to watch TV (within reason of course ;-) and she is so not interested in it anymore . . . as opposed to the no-TV kids who come to my house and are hypnotized by it! To be honest, she would prefer to play school for 10 hours a day but sometimes *I* need the TV so I can cook dinner (or send an email) . . . she usually could care less it’s even on . . . except for Wubbzy . . . oh boy! Another one that allegedly teaches something about intra and interpersonal skills ;-) Anywho, thanks for the laugh!!!
Jack, I couldn’t have said it better, your right on the money. My kids look at the tv and then walk away asking “what are we doing today?”
Let them watch the damn tv.. gheezz… people should worry more about the more important things in this world. Love you.
I am really glad i decided to read this, i will have to check out your other stuff. I thought this was great
Thanks you guys. I do try to keep it light and funny. Stick around, I promise to keep you laughing. Christian – welcome to the madness that is Going Parental.