www.Gurgle.com has this to say about Month 19: It probably doesn’t seem that long ago that you were feeding your baby with pureed carrot, but these days he’s making a mess and desperate to feed himself! He is now able to use his hands to complete fairly complicated tasks and is probably ready to try a spoon and fork. Make sure you sit as a family during mealtimes so he knows what spoons and forks are used for, cover the floor with something food-proof and definitely don’t serve peas! Your toddler should get the hang of cutlery in time and will probably mean normality returns to your mealtimes again. Mealtimes are very messy with Jamie as he does love to feed himself, but a lot of the time he prefers to use his hands and when he has had enough he usually tips the bowl over himself; that’s unless he has already tipped everything out already onto his tray! Saying that we have been out a number of times and he always behaves when we go out. At Nanna’s 90th he did spend some time under the table but he actually ate what we did while sat at the table instead of a high chair. He has learnt to ‘help himself’ from the fridge in a morning when he wants a yogurt or fruit snack and he does eat most things we give him.
This month your toddler seems to have the energy of a bull (albeit in a china shop) as he tears around, aching to be let outof the house so he can run free in the park. However, the weather generally dictates your toddlers day-to-day activities and when it rains, you are stuck inside. Instead of putting on the television, try putting on some music and dancing with your toddler. Choose songs that direct your child to do something (head, shoulders, knees and toes), or that speed up each verse so your toddler has to speed up his actions. Alternatively you can try a copycat game, where he has to copy your dance moves. (It’s a good workout for you too). Jamie certainly loves dancing and turns the stereo on whenever he wants – which is often just as we are trying to get him into bed. Of course the weather has been terrible over the last week – mi8nus 12 on Monday so we have not gone out as much as we usually do. This has placed a bit of a strain on what we do but I have tried to keep away from the TV – although Jamie does love it!
Here is what Gurgle.com has to say about Television Viewing
Although it is well documented that too much TV is bad for any child, don’t beat yourself up about your toddler’s TV watching if it is a short burst once a day and does not become a habit. Try to engage your toddler in conversation about the programme he was watching, so he thinks about what he has seen. Try not to make watching television an activity in itself. Topics and activities from programmes can be used as “springboards” for other activities – if your child has shown an interest in something she has watched, try and extend that activity or topic into something that you can do together. Children are often thrilled if they can manage to make something they’ve seen made on television, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Other than that make it clear to your toddler that he can only watch one television programme a day. Don't use television as a fall back
It’s important not to fall back on television when you’re too tired to do anything active or creative with him, or as a “babysitter” for him when you have other things to be getting on with such as work or household chores. Try where you can to watch programmes together, and take the time to explain things to him as you watch. This helps make watching television less passive and more of an interactive experience for your child.
How much television should my child be allowed to watch?
Experts generally tend to agree that television is not suitable at all for small babies. Up to the age of two, it’s recommended that you limit your child’s television watching to short periods at a time – 10-15 minute chunks are ideal. Between the ages of 2 and 3 the general recommendation is for no more than 1 hour a day.
What should I let my child watch?
Many parents set limits on television, either by restricting the choice of programmes to one or two “approved” programmes a day, or setting a limit on the amount of time their children spend watching television, or limiting viewing to a certain time of day. The key is really to make sure that they are watching programming which is good quality. This could be by promoting some kind of constructive activity – getting them up and about dancing or showing them how to make something simple – or through an educational focus, such as by exposing them to a different culture, or getting them involved in a story which helps develop their imagination and their concentration skills. Try to watch programmes yourself for the first time to check if you think they are suitable. Some programming, even if ostensibly aimed at children, is poor quality and contains unsuitable subject matter for young children, and commercial channels often carry advertisements for unhealthy food or products which you may not want to expose your children to. If you decide your child is allowed to watch a programme, turn the programme off when it has finished, rather than letting your child watch the television mindlessly for hours.
Television pace
There has been extensive research into the pace of what children see on television and how they absorb it. Slower-paced television is much better for children especially if it is in the evening and they need winding down for bed. Fast action, changing colours and loud music etc will make your child zone out rather than engage with what he is watching.
Watch television with your child
A recent study found that children whose parents watched television with them and engaged them in conversation about what they watched scored significantly higher in tests than those children who watched television mindlessly on their own. Of course there will be times when you are exhausted or need to put the shopping away when you are grateful for the television, but if you can make it more of a social, family event rather than a solitary activity, your child will benefit.
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