The incredible talking television

I don’t remember being able to “talk” to the television as a child.
This is the strangest phenomenon: talking televisions, that is. It is kind of uncomfortable when I’m watching Dora or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Kate and all of a sudden a big, animated cartoon head is staring blankly into my eyes waiting for us to repeat something. Weird!
I didn’t notice it at first, but my husband pointed it out and now I am ever on the search for a show in which the main characters aren’t pretending they can hear us. Is this the next generation of reality television? Or has this been around for awhile?
I didn’t watch much children’s programming at all before we had Kate. And until Hannah came along, it was very limited what we watched. Kate is more of a book reader than a television watcher, and I wanted to keep it that way. She didn’t even care much for television unless it was Baby Einstein or music DVDs. Then, Hannah was born and Kate discovered Disney Princesses. Oh my… now we’re hooked! I don’t know what would be tougher on this family. Losing the DVD player or the food processor!
I always stood firmly on the principle that I would not plant my child in front of the “electric babysitter” unless absolutely necessary, meaning so I could prepare meals or grab a shower. I didn’t get much television as a kid, why would my children need it? Plus, we live in the country, where there is so much to explore and a gorgeous yard outside to enjoy.
Then, while pregnant, I discovered I could catch 30 to 45 minutes of extra “snooze time” in the morning by bringing Kate into bed with me and popping on Playhouse Disney. Sure, my sleep was pretty restless, interrupted by shouts of “Blast off, mommy!!!!” at the top of her lungs. And what happened to the anti-television, super-principled mommy? I slept! All while my daughter dearest was (most of the time!) sweetly and safely entertained, snuggled up in my arms. Those mornings were pretty special and, looking back, I’m glad I broke my own rules in the name of sleepy snuggle time. Too bad she’s potty trained now. Our sweet snuggles have been exchanged for speedy trips to the potty at 6:30 a.m. Instead of begging to go back to my bed for some mom-time, she begs for v-fusion juice and alpha-bits cereal. Oh, they grow up so quickly!
I don’t care as much anymore if Kate gets a little bit of screen time. It used to really bother me, but one day I realized that Dora the Explorer and Handy Manny have taught her how to count in Spanish, something that wouldn’t have occurred to me. Laurie Berkner and Jack’s Music Show gave us songs to dance crazily to when it was too cold to leave the house. And if it weren’t for PBS Kids, Hannah would starve. When Kate is tuned in to Caillou or WordWorld, she is quiet; and quiet Kate equals peacefully nursing Hannah. Otherwise, forget it!
I realize now, there are many worse things than a kid watching television. Like everything else in life, moderation is the key on this one. Talking to the television is another story though, something I have yet to make peace with! Maybe someday I will “get it,” but for now we’ll stick to talking with each other, and let the television do the entertaining.