The full story of media abstinence for children

Before our son was born, my husband and I talked about what kind of environment we wanted for him. And one of the areas we agreed on was that we wouldn't expose him to a lot of media. The decision came from information from several sources citing that media use was not good for infants. 

Since that time, more research has been done, and a more complete story has emerged.

This piece from Time gives parents a better overview of what is going on with media and infant development. Like most things in life, it comes down to making good choices and moderation. Is some media use good for toddlers? Yes, as long as parents watch with their children and talk about the things they are watching. Parent interaction is the key.

Once you accept that, then you have to make decisions around which children's television shows you are willing to watch with your child. Sesame Street always ranked high on our list because of our fondness for the Muppets; Thomas the Train, however, bored us to tears. Barney was never going to happen.

It really comes down to your level of tolerance for children's programming.

What shows do you like to watch with your children? Share with me in the comments.