May 20th, 2005

My husband and I have been going around lately about the type of shows that are appropriate for our three-year-old to watch. His way of thinking is, “If it’s a cartoon, it must be okay” and while I would prefer to stick to strictly preschooler programming. I don’t have a problem with the occasional Saturday morning viewing of older kid shows like Sponge Bob or Fairly Oddparents, but I’m reluctant to make them a daily habit, especially when I notice Gracie picking up new words like “dumb” and “moron” -- words I know she didn’t pick up from watching Blue’s Clues!

Another argument in our house is about what sort of adult shows she is exposed to when the kiddie shows are over. I try to stick to family-friendly channels like Animal Planet (depending on the show), or the Food Network (Grace is a huge Emeril fan!), whereas my husband sees nothing wrong with flipping to the Sci-Fi channel or the news, which is almost as bad as the sci-fi in terms of witnessing violent scenes.


iVillage offers several links of interest about TV-watching for families:
Television guidelines for young children
Family TV Day-by-Day
TV Substitution Guide
7 Tips for Safe TV Viewing with Your Kids

My husband has finally conceded that Battlestar Gallactica may not be in Grace’s best interest to watch. And we’ve compromised that on the mornings he gets up with her, they can watch whatever cartoons they’d like together. Right now he’s only waking up with her about once a week, so I figure an hour or two per week of Jimmy Neutron isn't going to set my Mommy-radar off. ;)

For kids of all ages - Happy TV Watching!

Amanda
Asst. Community Moderator
Pregnancy & Parenting

• Signature Information!
  Squish that sig, trim the fat!
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pssigshow/?msg=1994.1
  Optimize your graphics tutorials
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pssigshow/?msg=3244.1
  Sig size guidelines
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pssigshow/?msg=3246.1
   

• Be sure to share!
  We’re proud to announce the arrival of a new baby at Pregnancy & Parenting – the Baby Steps: First Year of Life Calendar! Enter baby’s birth date, and you’ll get day-by-day information based on the age and stage of your baby. You'll find out about developmental milestones, learn about games you can play together and get information about common first-year health and safety concerns - plus you'll find "gotta laugh" mom moments that take a fresh and funny look at life with a baby. Plus, you can check out some of the cutest baby pictures around – all courtesy of real iVillage moms (and a few dads).
  http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/calendar
   

• Important Info about Member Websites!
  If you haven't already, please take a moment to review the following important information!
  
  UPDATED INFO:
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-ivparenting&msg=1186.1&ctx=0
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-ivparenting&msg=880.1
  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-ivparenting&msg=891.1
  
  Please note the change in the address for the CL ScooPP as well as the CL Website:
  http://ppcommunityleaders.tripod.com
   

• Express Yourself!
  Snag yourself an Express Yourself Sig Line Graphic and let others know how to express themselves!
  http://www.ivillage.com/ccafe/clupdates/0,,7d5nkbfs,00.html - has all the info, including the HTML code.
   

(please note the change in where to send them!)

Do you have a board or posting milestone?
Have you recently celebrated an anniversary as cl?
Please send an email with your CL name, milestone, board name and board URL to erins@mail.ivillage.com.
Message board milestones will be acknowledged at the following markers:
10,000 / 25,000 / 50,000 / 75,000 / 100,000 / etc.
Personal Milestones will be acknowledged at the following markers: 250 / 500 / 750 / 1,000 / etc.
Anniversaries will be added to the newsletter once per month.

QOTW: Will you check this for me?
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ivconnection/messages/?msg=2188.1

 

Around iVillage
Feel free to promote these on your boards and within your chats!

On Memorial Day and throughout the year, our thoughts and prayers are with the military and its families. Read these http://love.ivillage.com/fnf/0,,7p8pmvcz,00.html heartfelt thank-yous from other iVillagers.
If it inspires you to thank these brave women yourself, please do so on our Military Wives http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-rlmilitarywi and our Guard & Reserve Families http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-rlguardres message boards.

Countdown to the Half-Blood Prince -- May 26th marks 50 days & Counting!
Floo on over and have a butterbeer with us, discuss the Harry Potter series and share your thoughts as we eagerly await the next installment!  http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bcpotter

Weight Gain and Anti-depressants
Gaining weight can be a side-effect of anti-depressants, but it doesn't have to be. Our bevy of experts ‑- from MDs and PhDs to nutrition experts, exercise physiologists, trainers and stress managers ‑- offers up solutions to the dilemma. http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/0,,7lskq86h,00.html

 
Cosmo: White Hot Wedding Dresses
We've found the chicest new gowns -- simple, sleek and totally stunning.
http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmopolitan/style/clothes/photo/0,,671337_671338,00.html