TV- Part II

OK, so you know how TV was sucking MY life away. Let’s talk about kids. The average baby 6 months - 2 years of age, watches two hours of TV a day. One study reported that North Carolina fourth graders watch an average of 4 hours of TV per day, and 25% of them watch 6 hours or more. We know these numbers can vary depending on the family, but the bottom line is, kids are watching too much TV. Babies/toddlers aren’t supposed to watch it at all. Zilch, says the American Academy of Pediatrics for kids under 2.

Sesame Street has come out with its own version of “Baby Einstein” now. They say parents can feel good about their newborn or toddler parked in front of the TV. Yes, they say, a parent should be watching with them. Fat chance. The parent is making dinner or taking a shower or talking on the phone or just sitting down for the first time all day. I sympathize with that parent. I’m the one who can’t find time to go to the bathroom. But it’s possible to raise your kids without TV, and I’m living proof.

Our family started a no TV policy when my youngest daughter was about 4 months old. I was running on the treadmill and watching a documentary on Osama Bin Laden while my baby played on a blanket. I noticed her eyes lock on Bin Laden’s face on the screen. I was horrified and turned the channel; I didn’t want her staring at that murderer. Soon after, I read The Plug-In Drug, one of the most compelling books I’ve ever picked up. Don’t read it if you’re not ready to be alarmed.

So we don’t turn on the TV when the kids are awake. We don’t watch Sesame Street, or Veggie Tales or any other videos. The kids don’t ask to turn it on, and I don’t have any battles with them. This is because they have never had it on. I say never, but we do make a few exceptions. Historical events like the Inauguration, the State of the Union, and the Pope’s funeral are allowed. Specific sports are allowed like the Olympics, golf tournaments (the kids love Phil and Tiger), and, of course, the Redskins. When we watch football, however, it’s as a family with my husband manning the remote to mute or turn off bad commercials. We make popcorn, the kids wear their Redskins gear, and it’s truly a joyful family event. At least when they win.

Other than that, we don’t think about turning on the TV. The house is blissfully quiet, or rather, noisy, with the sounds of kids playing, dressing up, imagining they’re Aslan and Lucy, reading books, cooking, drawing pictures, building forts with pillows, playing games, building Lego towers, spelunking in our basement with flashlights, gardening, playing outside, climbing the neighbor’s tree, playing soccer, digging up worms. You get the picture.

I’m not a TV nazi. It’s not horrible in and of itself. But when we literally waste years of our lives in front of it… that’s horrible.

Yours,

Lucy

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Comments

[Philomena]

It's interesting that your list of activities for kids doesn't necessarily involve direct parental supervision. It seems that parents often feel that they only have 2 choices: put the kids in front of the TV or entertain them yourself. If the energy to entertain them is lacking, then the TV goes on. Kids are so overstimulated these days (in fact, adults are too) that they get used to being entertained. I think they get better at finding fun things to do the more space and time they're given. Parents shouldn't feel guilty about leaving kids to their own devices occassionally. They are actually helping them to develop their imaginations and probably their social skills too.

[lucy pevensie]

Phil,
You've hit on something very important. We have made an effort not to entertain our kids all the time, but to let them come up with their own creative ideas. At our house, you're not allowed to say, "I'm bored." And I'm amazed at how little I am called upon to generate ideas -- I'm usually just called for supplies and snacks, of course!
Lu-

[Matteo]

I do admit that taking the TV away from children is good... however, I would argue that moderation is better. I have many fond memories of the cartoons I watched as a youngster and the playtime that was inspired directly from these cartoons. I also remember that I found common ground with the other kids at school based on my knowledge of these cartoons. This in turn stimulated friendship and better social skills. And I would argue that this common ground extends all through adolescence. Would it not be better to teach children responsibility with regards to TV, rather then simply not allowing it?

[Joan]

My experience with children who rarely watch tv at home is that they are captivated by one whenever they are somewhere else and it is on. It doesn't matter what's playing on it, they are compelled to watch simply because it's on. I've experienced this myself as a teenager, much to my embarrassment at the time -- I barely had a minute to watch tv, and I'd much rather read, but if I was around a tv, I was sucked into the vortex of mindless entertainment.

Most children easily learn to discern between good tv and bad tv with parental help. There is a lot of good tv, even great tv, out there -- the History Channel is one of my 9-year-old's favorites, it's amazing what they're doing. There is also stuff that's junk and worse than junk, and the discussion of why it's junk and why they can't watch it is incredibly valuable. Even my 5-year-old knows that 98% of Nick and Disney cartoons are off limits here because they portray all adults, parents in particular, as idiots or losers or worse, and I refuse to let such ideas be broadcast through our house.

On the other hand, "Wonder Pets" is completely charming -- even to me, and I'm 43 -- and we all enjoy watching it if we happen to be around when it's on. You don't have to succumb to the completely televised culture, but allowing occasional kid show viewing can be fun -- and very helpful when the little ones are too sick to do anything but lie around.