Too much TV

[ThePhoenix]

Wow, this is a great bit of parenting here. I find most children's programs little more then an excuse to plop the child in front of the TV for half an hour, laden with advertisements for toys that they neither need nor will play with for any length of time, and generally worthless. I watch probably an hour or two of TV a week. Even the so-called news and science programs never seem to contain the level of rigor and factual information I have come to expect from the printed word.

On the Santa Claus issue - well I remember enjoying setting a massive trap for Santa Clause using every piece of string I could find (probably about a hundred feet) and tying every piece of furnature in the room together. That was fun (I was six at the time, ok?). But I don't really remember believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny after that age. The best part of Easter was always the egg hunts, and I participated in those long after I knew the Easter Bunny was fake. I doubt your kids are missing anything.

 

[lookinguptoo]

As far as tv goes, what I meant to say was I don't think kids from the age of 4 and up feel a need to be with their parents 24/7 365 days a year. Children love being with their parents but as they get older they like to have a little space each day and I think a little space is good for their growth and development.
As for Santa Clause, I live in another country and we don't have Santa Clause here and the kids are perfectly happy without him. Many have heard of Santa, but they don't believe in him, but most have never even heard of the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny. Therefore, I don't think it is a great deprivation to a child's happiness to be without these things. Of course, living in a culture where everyone is celebrating these things, parents should provide some alternative otherwise the children will feel they are being left out. There are oodles of fun ways to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. without compromising Christian values. For those who are not Christians you must understand the concern of the mothers who don't want to teach their children about Santa. Santa supposedly sees all and knows all, just like God does. Also, Santa is merely fiction so parents are concerned about teaching their kids there is a Santa and then later saying "there really is not one. We just pretended for fun" because later children might question if their parents played the same game with God. Christian parents don't want their children to ever for one second have to question if their parents did that. Whether you believe in God or not, I am sure you can respect a parent trying to teach his children the right way. Of course, not all Christian parents take this stance. Many Christian parents see no harm in Santa, etc. and still come out with Christian children, and other parents think more deeply into the subject and feel it is their duty to honor God by not teaching such things. So it is not a matter of depriving a child of a privilege, for some Christians the issue is much deeper. Please understand that.
As for tv being an excuse, many parents such as myself are careful about what we allow our children to watch so in my case I have carefully selected videos that I let my son watch or I am aware of a tv show that I think will entertain him and is wholesome. And yes, sometimes the tv can be used as a babysitter for mothers to get dinner ready etc., but that is no different than a parent using a playpen or other things to keep the child from getting underfoot. I am not arguiing for or against tv. I am just saying the way it is.

 

[ThePhoenix]

But any other form of babysitter allows the kid to develope his mind. Why not plop him down with a good book and go make dinner? I spent hours upon hours reading in my childhood (and still do).

 

[lookinguptoo]

I am talking about small children that can not read yet and who have already played with their toys, drawn pictures, etc. From the way you write I am guessing you are not a parent. The fact is some kids are interested in tv more than others. Some kids would be perfectly happy with crayons and a coloring book while a mother cooks dinner and another child would find it totally boring. Some kids would be content with books to look at but at a young age the mother also has to watch that the child does not tear out the pages, eat the crayons, chew on electrical cords, etc. which is why some parents stick their kids in a play pen with a toy as the child cries. Others are strapped to the mothers back so he can not move so his mother can work, and some parents choose a tv show or video and let their child watch that, and other parents do other things with their small children but ultimately it all equals the same thing--a babysitter while the mother gets some chore done. This is not bad but, if overused it is. If a child is just given books and educational material and never the freedom to love and play with their parents and friends, the books are being misused. In this case, it is the same as a parent plopping a child in front of a tv and forgetting about him. If someone wants their child to have a tv free life, there is nothing wrong with that. I am happy for that parents efforts to raise their child in the right way. At the same time, if a parent decides to carefully incorporate tv in a child's life, then I again respect that parent for making an effort to raise their child in the right way. Every child, family, circumstance, and parents are differenct, so what works for one is not always the definitive answer for another. It is always best to support parents in their efforts rather than knowing better than the parent does about how to raise his own children.

 

[armed2010]

Blah, let your kid have some television time. I watched tv all the time as a kid, and now that im 15, im much smarter than most of my peers. Infact, by playing games with lots of reading in them (zelda games mostly) I was able to perfect my reading comprehension, and now when I take tests, I score above college level for reading.

 

[draper]

ThePhoenix-See, most kids/teenagers hate reading and think its nerdy.

Kids want to watch TV. They'll pick to watch it even if you don't 'plop them down in front of it' themselves.

 

[platzapS]

ThePhoenix-See, most kids/teenagers hate reading and think its nerdy.

That's a bit of a broad generality, there, Draper. I loved reading all of my short life!

 

[draper]

That's a bit of a broad generality, there, Draper. I loved reading all of my short life!

Of course there are exceptions, but I am 13 and I know that's how a lot of my friends feel. I'm not saying I feel that way but today many teenagers do.

 

[faith177]

Children would also pick icecream for dinner and pie for breakfast, Do the children run the house or the parent?

 

[draper]

Children would also pick icecream for dinner and pie for breakfast, Do the children run the house or the parent?

Thats not relevant. People are saying that by plopping kids in front of the TV its neglecting them but what I (and a few other logical posters) are trying to say that children PICK to watch TV and don't feel neglected at all.

 

[faith177]

ok while I do see that with my older child if he is bored he wants to watch tv, but if I sit down to play a game with him or offer to go to the park he would choose those in a heart beat. My point was that young people do not always choose what is best for them and tv can be a dangerous tool.

 

[Fritz_pw]

Here's my short answer to a long beginning. *smiles*

We limit how much TV our children watch and we avoid buying basic cable TV. That helps to limit the options as well as the abuse of watching to much.

 

[armed2010]

ok while I do see that with my older child if he is bored he wants to watch tv, but if I sit down to play a game with him or offer to go to the park he would choose those in a heart beat. My point was that young people do not always choose what is best for them and tv can be a dangerous tool.

How can TV be a dangerous tool? Ive watched TV all my life and im very intelligent compared to many of my peers.

 

[Fritz_pw]

I think it can be dangerous if not viewed responsibly.

If my kid were to turn on the cable TV and be exposed to inappropriate content then it would in that sense be a dangerous tool.

I think it all depends on what shows you let your kids watch and how much TV you expose them to.

 

[armed2010]

I probably watch some of the worse content on TV, the news Real life blood, fighting, violence, hardships, etc. And I do watch things like The Simpsons, Family Guy, violent movies, etc. It is in no way harmful. I think its more or less based on the person, rather than what they are watching.

 

[Faith65]

Hi Brittany all



Well, I just joined this message board because coincidentally I was searching on the web and just reading on teens and TV. I was just curious, you can say and see what I would find so I can show my 13 yr old. I do not disagree with you - there has to be more unity in the family where it does not mean watching TV. We can watch as a family some of the time, obviously but yes there are more things out there we can find for us to do esp when school is out. Parents as myself are way too busy and tired that we tend to neglect our children in some ways where one day leads to 100 days. Well, I'm sure you understand. I am not perfect but seeking better ways then I was raised. I spent my summer days in Sunday school on the topic: children and boundaries. and reading the book with it. It was a big help but now putting it to action. Just like everything though there has to be a balance for everything.

Good luck. Prayers up.

 

[Bible Addict]

Yo, if it weren't for TV, I wouldn't know about half the stuff I know about now, I don't have a library right next to my house, and my school's newest books are either 50 years old or fiction, yes I watch movies etc... too, but I also watch the news, local events, documentaries etc... and yes, kids a lot younger than me watch Disney... it's GOOD for them! I've never met a witch, wiccan or pagan who was "converted" through watching Disney movies at the age of 5 (and yes, I have met many of the aforementioned)... I mean come on! Disney movies are a source of stimulation and of learning about morality! I REALLY feel sorry for your kids, there aren't even words to describe how deep that feeling goes... honestly! Oh, and about your little "series"... please don't! Keep it to yourself, the only reason I would read through your next posts in the "series" would be for entertainment purposes.

 

[9-iron]

Brittney Moody,

Great post and I agree with every bit of it.


Draper, you seem to present a good case for the OP!!!

 

[NoneyaBiznezz]

My wife and I recently removed the television from our home. I'd have to say that it has been the single best improvement we have ever made to our house hold. I agree with Draper in that, given the choice, many childen will choose the TV over interaction with family, reading etc.. I am one for making the CHOICE for my children. I protect them when they CHOOSE to make the wrong decisions. Thats why we call them CHILDREN. I don't believe that all television is evil but most of the shows on today really trash a persons perception of morality. Some of the most violent childrens films I have ever watched are produced by Disney.

I don't believe that a parent can completely control what their children "witness" on the television. Shortly before yanking the televison out of our home I experienced this in spades. I was cooking dinner, waiting on my wife to get home from work. The kids were watching Sesame Street on PBS (Wonderful show). I wasn't paying attenstion to the time and before you know it my 3 and 5 year old are watching a suicide bombing in Israel. The show immediately following Sesame Street is the News Hour with Jim Leher.

Even with the best of intentions, we cannot control what comes out of the TV into our family rooms. I once read an Article by a Jewish Rabi. He equated the televison with a sewer being pumped right into the middle of our homes...I tend to agree.

If my children hate the fact they don't have a TV then so be it. I made the choice for their sake, someday they will have to make the choice themselves. I personally, am to lazy to monitor every single little thing my children watch on the television. This being the case, it was easier to remove the problem from the house than to let them watch the dozen or so videos we approve of over and over again.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I respect the choice that other parents have made in keeping the TV in the home. Their are a lot of "good" videos out there that aide in the developement of children.

 

[Bible Addict]

I personally, am to lazy to monitor every single little thing my children watch on the television. This being the case, it was easier to remove the problem from the house than to let them watch the dozen or so videos we approve of over and over again.

So you took the TV out of your home because you decided keeping up your laziness was more importnant than the educational value of shows like Sesame Street and the teachings of morality and other positive qualities that come from similar TV shows... if you're too lazy to watch what they see on TV, then does that mean now that the TV is gone, you're also too lazy to spend enough time with them to make up for the loss of these eductional programs? Or will you now be spending the time they would otherwise have been watching TV, with them reading, playing games etc...?