The Evil Box
Genuine | May 18ZOIKS!
Those of you with children that watch cable television know exactly the character that says this word. My son has been quoting television shows now as often as I quote Monty Python or Caddy Shack. It drives my wife crazy when my brother and I get together and start into our inside jokes about drinking more Ovaltine and other gems from our past.
It made me begin to think whether my son is watching too much television. Good parents would be the first to say that I am turning him into a mind numbing zombie that will acquire ADD and end up in a clocktower with a rifle. I’m not saying that I’m a bad parent but my son really enjoys watching his cartoons. He sits quietly, he is not beating on his siblings, knocking over piles of laundry, or coloring on something he should not be with that indelible marker. I know, you are now thinking that I’m using that as an excuse and instead of doing something more educational I’m letting that box of evil shape the future of my child. Don’t think that I have not also accused myself of this, in fact I have agonized over it for some time now. What amount of videos and television is too much? How many hours a week is the threshold for good parenting versus bad parenting? Certainly there is a chart I can read that acts as a guide for these answers. Not exactly. There have been studies that suggest kids that watch too much television have lower test scores, and that it can cause obesity, and acts of violence as well as desensitization to violence.
We control the shows that our children watch. We have changed some of their viewing habits based on some inner guidelines we have set in our own core values. For instance we don’t let our children say that something is “stupid.” It’s a word we have chosen to be off limits due to its derogatory nature. In turn the show “Two Stupid Dogs” has been blacklisted. Does this shelter our children from the realities of life? I’m not sure, but we try to remain consistent. My son became very aggressive towards friends after watching Power Rangers. Somehow he thought that he was a ninja and it was okay to bust the neighbor boy in the mush all because the Blue Power Ranger did it everyday. We have now put that show on the list of programs that we feel might not be appropriate.
Growing up I watched cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam, and those were considered violent programs that desensitized us to violence. I can remember in High School I did a paper on the number of acts of violence in a Road Runner cartoon. The paper earned me an “A” but it may have warped my sense of goodness according to the “experts.”
Now that the summer months are upon us, our children are spending many more hours out in the fresh air and sunshine than they are inside the house watching television. There won’t be the need to entertain them like before in winter when they could not go out to play. Thank goodness we have never had any video games in the house, but that is another post.
TV, good or evil?
[…] Not to be dissing those of you tv repair persons out there, but today over at The Blogfathers, I discuss the evil being we call the television. What are your thoughts, is the television an evil that should not be part of our children’s lives? Is there a threshold of what is good and what is bad? Should I be teaching them to be bloggers instead? Leave a comment there to let us know your thoughts about the best babysitter in the world! Genuine | 8:56 am | The Genuine Life, Genuine Philosophy « How Wars Get Started […]
The key is maybe letting kids watch kids progs, not stuff for grown ups. Eg - The simpsons is great for adults, a fantastic prog, but it’s not for children.
My wife and I touched on this subject a little bit last night.
Our older daughter is three and a half and enjoys some of the Playhouse Disney offerings, however given our schedules during the week they are at home for all of three or four hours during the evening and it is a rarity if she is allowed to watch something that we have recorded or on DVD for her. If my wife or I were home with the kids all day perhaps it would be different, but as it is there are plenty of other more engaging things that our girls can be doing that camping out on the couch.
My situation growing up makes it more difficult for me to relate to our ideas about raising our kids. I was an only child and lived in a small (pop. 1700) farming town near St. Louis, MO. There wasn’t really that much to do on a school night other than homework, read, or watch TV… the last two of which I did in large amounts. During HS I probably had the TV on from the time I got home from school @ 3:30 until I went to bed @ around 11 - 12 every night. Football, baseball, Discovery Channel, PBS, etc. I still got my homework done and got good grades. So I can’t say that it is definatly bad for everyone, however living in the city now with so many options open to the kids it will be a while before we let either of them start watching much of the “Vast Wasteland” (with respects to Newton Minnow). We want our kids to read the book first, then watch the movie later. We want them to try to play an instrument, not just watch someone on TV do it. Basically, moderation in all things is probably a good rule when it comes to TV or anything else.
I’m no fan of the current reality TV craze nor do I have time to let myself be sucked in to a weekly drama like 24 or Lost. I’ve never seen Survior, American Idol or any of the rest of them. I’d rather read a book or play video games (quite a waste of time there in and of itself). I can honestly say that I think a large amount of the things on TV are not worth my time, but I do enjoy certain things very much. Sports, a lot of PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, TLC and the like are sure to get my interest, but I am often so busy with other things around the house that I don’t watch near as much as I might like. Evidently I can live without it. :P
All in moderation, for one.
For two, make sure you know what your kid is watching and how they are acting because of the shows—which you already do. For instance, SpongeBob Square Pants says Stupid ALL THE TIME. He calls his best friend an idiot. You tell me if that’s a good role model.
Three, give yourself a break. You can only do so much to protect your kids from what they see on TV. But imagine what they are learning from other school kids. That could be even worse.
I do think that too much TV and video games can definately lead to bad behavior because more then anything, your kids want to spend time with you. If they are constantly plopped in front of the tube, that could be sending the wrong message. But again, everything in moderation and you’ll be fine.
A little TV, a bit of playing outside, a game with the family, eating together for dinner and actually talking to each other—it’s all good.
I grew up watching Bugs and Road Runner and I never once tried to drop an Anvil on someones head.
There are a zillion things that my kids can be doing besides watching TV. I control the programs and the amount of time spent watching them. We have DVD’s which I find to be a great way to end the tv session. The shows last about 30 minutes and when its over, they find ME. No accidentally-leaving-the-tv-on type of crap. But we are TV and movie freaks, so its hard to say NO TV EVER.
I used to be pretty darn casual about televsion. My view was if they turned down something fun or active for TV, only then was there a problem. But if they only watched it as a last resort, it was OK. After all, I watched it growing up and I turned out OK (shut-up!).
However, I’ve recently come to realize that while I won’t go over to the “TV is Evil” team, I’m not as liberal about its use as I once was. I think there are VAST differences between now and when I was a kid. There is now the availability of children’s programming 24/7. That wasn’t the case when I was a kid. There were morning cartoons and some stuff in the after-school slot but, come on - we watched Wrestling at the Chase on Sundays and (shudder) TARZAN with Johnny Weismeuller! THAT was TV desparation back then, my friend.
Now? You can get Sponge Bob at 3AM. No lie. It’s just TOO MUCH. And since there aren’t natural breaks that force kids to do something else, I feel like I gotta create those breaks. So, while TV is still something we enjoy, I often say “TV off, it’s quiet time.” My four year old tells me “Mommy, turn it back on, I want LOUD time.” haha But I do find that when it’s off, they find something active to do. I’m happy about that.
Jinkies, that’s a long post (hey, if you can say Zoiks, I can say Jinkies).
Well Gosh, JustLinda just about covered everything I wanted to say.
So, then to summarize:
Too Much - Evil
Moderation - Good
disclaimer: with the moderation is the common sense of knowing what you children watch. (as you seem to be already doing).
Side Note: For us, with the coming of our Tivo, I also benefit since she fast forwards through the commercials, I get far less of the “I want that” syndrome.
Since my two-year-old has a strong aggressive streak, my husband actually wondered aloud if the amount of TV she was watching could be making her more violent.
I said, “Uhh, only if you think Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers are teaching her that hitting other kids is okay.”
We were very careful to limit the amount of TV that she was exposed to as a baby. She never got to watch Baby Einstein videos or anything like that (I have friends who used them like crack. Honest. Their kid barely moved when that crap was on). When she got older, she was introduced to Sesame Street, and eventually Between the Lions and Mr. Rogers. The only show that she watches on Disney Channel is Lilo & Stitch (she loves the movies, and so do I). My goal is to limit the amount of commercials she sees during “her” TV time (I can’t help the commercials that come on during baseball games), and to restrict the amount of pop culture that she digests. But she is more than happy to have a book read to her instead of watching TV. It’s just that TV is so darn convienent for us parents to get some freakin’ things done while the kids are distracted! So long as we don’t abuse it, and monitor carefully what they are watching, and kick ‘em outside to play often, I’m not too worried.
And I just got her hooked on Star Wars. So far, no demands for a lightsaber or attempts to slice her baby brother in half. :)
Not evil. But we only watch videos (Sesame Street) or DVDs (Signing Times or Baby Einstein). We have just started making sure that she’s sleeping when we watch adult things because of the violence (like ER reruns on DVD). I would say that my daughter watches an hour to an hour and a half per day. But we are always sitting there with her.
I could so live without a TV if it wasn’t for the NFL.
Oh, and for an autistic daughter who feels centered from having Madame Blueberry play in the background for the 39th time.
From what I think I remember of my education, TV sends the viewer’s brain into a alpha wave state, sometimes referred to as the super learning state, but more commonly known as a light hypnotic state; your computer would feel exactly like this if you put it into hibernate mode. At any rate, as we tell The Voice (TV, appropriately), TV makes your brain slow, so you can’t watch it right now (unless we’re talking about Sponge Bob). On the other hand, sometimes it seems like it would be a welcome relief if we were actually able to slow his brain down a little.
Here’s an unvetted quasi article on the subject (of brainwashing via TV): http://dieoff.org/page24.htm
Well all things in moderation as they say. Spring has sprung and that means a lot less time in front of the TV at our house. There are way too many fun things to do outside. Too many neighbourhood kids to play with. Even in the winter we made sure the limit the amount of time she spent watching TV and playing her computer games. Both would be shut off and she would be sent to her toy room to play or we’d read some books or colour.
We’re lucky that we have Treehouse TV. It’s a channel dedicated to the pre-school set. That means no commercials and child friendly programs with a learning slant like Dora and Blues Clues and shows designed to get her up and moving like Four Square. You’ll find no Spongebob there. I also make sure that I can check in with her and what she’s watching. Many times I’ll sit and watch the shows with her so we can discuss what she’s watching as she’s watching it.
She also doesn’t and will not have a TV in her bedroom. She does have a small TV in her playroom, but it only works with the DVD player that my husband or myself must get started for her. That’s a benefit of DVD technology over the VCR. My daughter can put a tape in the VCR and start it herself, but the DVD’s are way too complicated for her. So we can be in complete control over that as well.
All I have to say on this is that my kids knew their ABCs and all thier numbers shortly after they could talk, and that wasn’t all me. Thanks Barney (you ass) and Sesame Street for helping my kids to learn. (and for giving me a few minutes of zoned out peace and quiet!)
My husband and I were just talking about this with the introduction of the 24 hour infant television station. They say kids under 2 should not watch tv AT ALL. Please . . . what 2 year old can say they’ve NEVER watched tv? What happens when you go to a friend or relative’s home and the tv is on? I say it’s okay if it’s in moderation and parents monitor what the child is watching. My daughter could recite and recognize the entire alphabet by 18 months. Although I’d like to take credit for this, I know I should be thanking Sesame Street.
Our boys are 10 and 12. Since their preschool years, we’ve had the rule that — except for family movie night — they have to earn their E-time (electronic time — used for TV, DVDs and computer games). Fifteen minutes of good hard work at chores earns one point, redeemable for $0.25 or 15 minutes of e-time. Basically, one hour of work equals one hour of e-time or one dollar cash.
We use poker chips as points tokens, letting the boys turn them in to do things like play online games at WebKinz or watch Shrek or cartoons. No points may be used during the school week, but they do get an allowance of four points (or $1) at the beginning of every weekend.
The system works really well for us. They earn points all week, cleaning their room, putting away groceries, taking out the garbage, mowing the lawn, and so on. And there have been some weekends that we’ve gotten a spotless house and run out of chores for them to do, because they have spent two days alternating between earning points and spending them.
More often than not, however, they turn the points in for money, buying their own Pokemon cards, white board markers, or school book fair books. As long as you are prudent about what they watch or play, this WORK = E-TIME formula is a very effective way to limit kids’ time in front of the screen. Our sons spend the majority of their free time reading, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and playing with toys.
(Incidentally, removing the privilege of using e-time can be an effective punishment for older children. We do still allow them to turn them in for money, though.)
Not evil. Just something you need to use in moderation. In hte other hand, I’m one of those crazy people who thinks kids (and adults!) should be allowed to have fun sometimes. Not everything hsa to be a meaningful educational experience. :D Kids need to relax too. Would I rather he relax over a show about nature or something? Sure. Am I going to always make him? Nah.
My son probably watches more than I’m happy with right now — but I’m pregnant, and my husband’s trying to go to classes, and sometimes the TV ends up on more than we intend. On the other hand, The Boy often has the TV on while he’s only half paying attention and he’s building something with blocks or playing trains or something. I think he just likes noise. :D
My son is 26 months old and so far hasnt watched a TV, we don’t have one at home and when we visit friends that have them we request that they keep it off. We are going to try and introduce it gradually, but for now we think he is too young and don’t want him ending up like so many of our friends kids that sit in front of the TV all day.
Sean
http://www.toyboxlearning.com
Webkins virtual pets are cool — and the king of them all is the clydesdale webkinz!