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• They Say: America's Children Actually Not Going to Hell in a Handbasket

  After all the depressing news lately about cellar dads, pre-pubescent brides, and Britney wannabes it's nice to know that someone somewhere is tracking the ways in which American children are living better lives today than they were in 1994. The Foundation for Child Development's Special Focus Report, released last month measured trends in early childhood over a 12 year period (1994-2006).A few ways in which children Birth to 10 are doing better today:   Read More... Posted May 05 2008, 01:28 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: television watching, smoking during pregnancy, children happier and healthier today, childhood well-being report, infant mortality, birth to 10

• Pediatrician Poll: Television

  "Under the right supervision, TV is okay. It really depends on what they watch. In general it's not harmful, but there is a lot of misleading information on TV that kids can't process." — Erik Cohen, MD, FAAP. Greenwich, CT. "TV should never be a babysitter. But if a parent sits down with their 18-month-old and together they watch an educational and stimulating TV show, that can be quite healthy." — John W. Waidner, MD, FAAP. Jacksonville, FL. "We don't know definitely that it is bad, but we do know it has no benefits. That includes videos, DVDs; all screentime." — Kim Gush MD, FAAP. Chapel Hill, NC. To obtain these results, Babble randomly called 300 AAP-approved pediatricians in 50 states, then tallied the answers of the 20 who called back. Pediatrician Poll appears in Strollerderby every Friday. Posted Mar 28 2008, 12:00 PM by editors with | with no comments Filed under: pediatrician poll, television watching

• 80s TV Flashback

  A friendly tipster emailed and asked if anyone remembered an educational segment that ran in the 1980's called "Dear Alex and Andie." I immediately recalled the song, or at least the part with the title in it. Jen Chaney gave the correct title ("Dear Alex and Annie") and the full set of lyrics: "Dear Alex and Annie ... What should I do? ... Dear Alex and Annie ... I'm desperate ... Dear Alex and An-nieee!" So I did a little digging. Here's what I found out: Read More... Posted Mar 04 2008, 10:30 AM by Brett Singer with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: nostalgia, retro, television watching, saturday morning, tip, 80's tv, kids are people too, dear alex and annie

• TV- and Parent-Free Activities For Kids. Help!

  I promise myself every year (every month? every day? every hour?) that I'm going to buck up and quit relying TV to numb the kids' minds and keep them away from me in half-hour increments. But it's hard, so hard. Because sometimes, a mom just wants to sit and email! So I was excited about Parents magazine's 25 TV-Free Activities, which I figured would freshen up some of the options (go outside! draw a picture!).  Problem is ...   Read More... Posted Jan 07 2008, 07:05 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: television, tv, work-life balance, working parents, work at home moms, working moms, TV watching, where are the parents, american academy of pediatrics, work and motherhood, what do you do all day?, TV-Turnoff week, work/family balance, work/life balance, television watching, volunteer, tv commercials, work family balance, working at home, working women, work-at-home parents

• Blank Screen: Kids TV Network Says "Get Out!"

  I’m going to try to not be too cynical about a TV channel's attempt to promote kids’ health. I’ve got to believe the intentions are good and that station officials really do want kids to stop watching (for a bit) and get up off the couch and go play. Or it’s a publicity stunt. In any case, here goes:         Read More... Posted Sep 28 2007, 05:37 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: television, fitness, nickelodeon, F.B.I., kids health, television watching, kids activities

• Crying Newborns as New Prison Torture

  I'm so excited I get to talk about "The Unit" on a parenting blog, because I was watching the season opener last night about the ultra-secret military mod squad -- penned by David Mamet -- and I desperately wanted to tell the world that the new theme song sucks ass. Big time. It used to be so cool -- but now? Now, it's a "Friends" episode. With guns. But how can you possibly use a parenting blog to talk about an undercover military group that travels around the world to kick ass? When said program features a sleep deprivation torture tactic that any parent knows well: crying newborns.   Read More... Posted Sep 26 2007, 02:59 PM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: television, television watching

• Kid Nation, Every Parent’s Dream?

  I won’t be watching Kid Nation when it premieres on CBS Wednesday night, but not as a silent protest of the alleged exploitation or broken child labor laws (though I’m certainly opposed to both). No, I watch my daughters go Lord of the Flies about six hundred times a day. I’m not interested in an extra hour of it on TV. But I did read with interest Meghan Daum’s take in the LA Times on the controversy surrounding the show and the question: what kind of parents would willingly turn their children over to producers, writers, directors – and worse, other children -- after signing what amounts to accidental death consent forms? Read More... Posted Sep 17 2007, 11:38 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dreams, Kid Nation, television watching, Meghan Daum, LA Times, celebrity worship

• Geeky Mom Opinion: Nix the Nature Shows

  I'm way out with our family love of Mythbusters and How It's Made. We also watch a lot of Dirty Jobs (is it just me, or is Mike Rowe kinda hot in that rugged-y, self-deprecating way?) So when I was kicked to the ground this weekend by a horrific flu and had some lovey time with the television, I thought I'd see what nature shows we could add to the mix. After all, these programs were a staple of my own childhood viewing, and I figured maybe not all of them are filled with sadness and violence.   Verdict... Read More... Posted Sep 11 2007, 01:49 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: television watching, geek parent, meerkats, shows for kids, nature shows

• Yo Gabba Gabba: Can a Kid's Show Be Good?

  It's coming... The premiere of Yo Gabba Gabba is just around the corner. That's the new kids show that hopes to dispense with annoying characters and insipid songs by featuring some folks with talent (no offense to Steve from Blue's Clues, who I will love eternally.) The line-up is impressive, to say the least: the August 20 - August 30 premiere week stars include Elijah Wood, Mya, Biz Markie, Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo), Hector Jimenez (Nacho Libre) and The Aquabats. Later episodes will have appearances by Laila Ali, Tony Hawk, The Shins, Sean Kingston, Sugarland, Rahzel and Nikki Flores. In other words, "Dang, that sounds good."   Read More... Posted Aug 15 2007, 12:02 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: tv, yo gabba gabba, television watching, kids shows, devo, shins

• Guilty Pleasures of a Housewife: Afternoon TV

  Sometimes while I'm out with my daughter in the middle of the day, I have to stop and pinch myself I'm so giddy. The beach. The zoo. The museum. The park. We do all sorts of things together, and it feels like we're stealing a day, just the two of us. I feel like the luckiest person in the world. And then her nap arrives and it gets even better. Because I get to watch TV. In the afternoon. By myself. Read More... Posted Aug 01 2007, 12:56 PM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: television, television watching

• Wednesday Night is Parental Sex Night

  "Ah yeah, girl -- tonight we're going to make love. You know how I know? Because it's Wednesday, and Wednesday night is the night we make love." If you're a tired parent. If you've had a long, nails-on-chalk-board day watching after an ever-more rambunctious toddler. If you're just looking for a little mid-week lovin'. Trust me, try another line tonight. It might have worked on "Flight of the Conchords" but it doesn't work in real life. Stupid Jemaine. Posted Jul 25 2007, 11:58 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: television, adult children, television watching

• Bookcase, Hat - Best Baby Names Ever

  OK, this is becoming a thing. On Thursday I watch re-runs of "30 Rock" and post videos about it the next morning. But come on! Bookcase. Sandstorm. Hat. Those are awesome baby names! And yes, I'm in love with Tina Fey. Sue me. Twenty six YouTube searches later ... Nerds! I can't find the YouTube clip anywhere, because I guess no one is crazy enough to enjoy this particular part as much as I do. But NBC has a clip of it here, and some web site or other has a quote run-down. Bottom line: My next baby is going to be named Hat. Or maybe Chapeau. I haven't decided. Davenport is pretty good, too. Posted Jul 20 2007, 08:02 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: television, television watching

• German Cartoon Plots Slow Invasion

  A while back I wrote about a wee crocodile that was destined to take over the cartoon airwaves. And while I've seen no evidence of said Schnappi invasion, I can't fathom way. Just take a listen to this theme song and tell me if you wouldn't watch Schnappi every day. And sorry for getting the song stuck in your head for the rest of the day ...  Posted Jul 03 2007, 08:32 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: television, cartoons, cartoon network, television watching

• Family Surfing: A Site We Like

  There's debate over the benefits of family video game playing and T.V. watching, but around our house, we surf together. The internets. You know, we use the Google to find stuff we like, and then gather around the monitor as a snuggly family, screen light reflecting off our pasty faces, and we laugh. I think I've seen almost every wacky kitten video ever posted on Youtube. The current favorite is Cute Overload. Lots of baby animals, pets wearing clothes, strange interspecies co-mingling, and so on. We wuv the widdle animals, oh yes we do. In fact, every time I try to sneak off to fold laundry or make dinner, I hear, "Mom! C'mere!" or "Sweetie, you've got to see this kitten and turtle. Awwwwww."  Someday I may actually get my laptop back to do actual work. And since many of these things have no audio, there's real human interactions happening too. How 1900's! I doubt this is messing with our child's social skills, unless people actually expect her to make eye contact. Posted Jun 27 2007, 11:05 AM by Kelly Mills with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: video games, internet safety, family activities, television watching, kid activities

• Kids Need the Outdoors

  Wondering why so many kids nowadays are obese, play video games nonstop, and squint when every time they get in real sunlight? According to Richard Louv, we are cloistering our children inside, robbing them of communion with nature. The pressure to get kids to succeed academically so they can get into Hah-vard, lack of big fields and other spaces for kids to run around, and to a certain extent T.V. and iPods are all fingered in his book, Last Child in the Woods. And he also looks at the way we parent today. "'The underbelly of this issue is that parents are scared to death,' Louv said. 'Parents are terrified that some stranger is going to take their kids at the corner.' He blamed the national media for taking a handful of terrible crimes against children, magnifying and repeating them over and over, to create a national state of fear." Amen to that! So many of us are completely freaked about "stranger danger" and restrict our kids' freedom. I know I was allowed to walk the few blocks to the store by the time I was seven, and I still can't imagine my child doing the same, even though I grew up in an urban environment too. As for camping, hiking, and fishing...Well, with so much of our beautiful outdoor space being destroyed, we'll be lucky if we can take the kids to a crowded campsite in a few years. Louv has some great thoughts on all these issues. It's hard to let your kid roam freely when you know he or she will be the only kid out there without a grown-up following right behind, chattering about adult supervision and the next scheduled activity. Posted Jun 26 2007, 03:24 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: obesity, television watching, camping, nature

• Best Family Show on TV: Dog the Bounty Hunter

  When the Gilmore Girls flew off to TV Valhalla, I searched and searched for a new parenting show -- one that pulled at the same sentimental heartstrings, touched the same familial quick and tapped into the same pop culture zeitgeist. Thankfully, there's Dog the Bounty Hunter. I kid you not. I admit I came late to this conclusion. It wasn't I saw Dog apprehending Joy on "My Name Is Earl" that I knew I was missing something great. Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman is joined by his wife, Beth; daughter, Baby Lyssa; sons, Leland and Duane Lee; and his brother, Tim, as they travel around Hawaii kicking ass and taking names. Read More... Posted Jun 20 2007, 10:01 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: television, "gilmore girls", television watching

• Does YouTube Count as TV for Kids Under Two?

  Here's the moronic question of the day: Does YouTube count as TV? The American Pediatrics People Who Don't Enjoy Fun, or whatever the acronym is, say kids shouldn't watch any TV until they're two. But how about an occasional YouTube clip? Dana was sick this morning, and Emmeline was bouncing off the walls, so I sat her on my lap and forced her to watch two clips or Bert and Ernie. She was mesmerized. But then I started to feel guilty. We don't let her watch TV at all, but there she was -- watching what amounted to TV, albeit a smaller version that is more personalized and contains no commercials. So what's the answer -- and please, please, please don't get me "anything in moderation." Posted Jun 14 2007, 02:08 PM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: television, you tube, television watching

• Mothers Fess Up About TV as Babysitter

  Mothers. Those layabout ne'er-do-wells.  Always with the complaining about being "tired" and not feeling "in the mood."  Come on!! Women (especially strong righteous pioneer women) used to make their own butter, for chrissakes!  And we're not even talking about the women who used to work in kitchens of harvest golds and yellows. Seriously.  What is UP with modern mamas?  If you read the likes of Silicon Valley Moms Blog, where they have the nerve to discuss the freewheeling unapologetic use of "screen" time to do things like cook dinner, shower, and read books, you'd think raising children was indentured servitude. And you'd be RIGHT!  Right?  Raising kids is  a tough business in a day and age when "go outside and play" might as well be "go find the freak neighbor who likes to touch little people!" I think the mamas in the Silicon Valley have it right. Sometimes, screen time is a perfectly acceptable babysitter.  Cause even mommies have to go potty once in awhile. Posted May 23 2007, 08:38 AM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: computers, Motherhood, kids and television, television watching, momblogging