To much fanfare, at least in elementary and grade school circles, TV-turn-off week was broadcast, in papers, magazines and on the Internet.
A number of bloggers have weighed in on TV turnoff week. Insightful posts question the efficacy of a program that suggests turning off the TV for only a week, without a long range plan. Others offer suggestions and commentary.
In our home, TV is less of an issue than in others. In general that is because a combination of philosophy and a fight with the cable company have led to our having no reception – no reception means no programming, means no TV watching by The Hamster. This is, admittedly, the easy way out. We do still need to limit his consumption of videos but, that is somewhat easier, as parental intervention is still somewhat necessary to initiate the activity.
Alternatives to TV could be – videos, computer time and obsessive text messaging on cell phones- but I don’t think that’s the point. What is the point exactly? Well that depends. You fortunately have your choice of reasons to turn –off the TV.
Obesity – As a basically sedentary activity, frequently accompanied by incessant chip eating, too much TV leads to obesity
Advertising – Inappropriate and accompanied by “what’s that mean, Mommy?” or “gimme inducing”, that is, causing incessant whining during shopping trips for the latest hot item, advertising to their kids is something most parents can do
without
Violence – Despite our faith in advertisers and the entertainment industry’s knowledge of what level of violence is appropriate for what age group it is important to realize that this has changed radically in the last 30 years. What is considered OK for today’s 5-year-old would have horrified our parents’ generation. You can make your own decision on this point, actually, it IS a different world we live in…but if you haven’t actually considered this point, please do.
Brain Waves – Because TV is a passive activity, there is some thought that
watching too much TV, or even any, at an early age, permanently alters the brain
waves. This is one of the major reasons that Waldorf schools enforce a no media
ban until the age of nine.
Imagination – Television hinders the development of imagination. The absence of images requires a child to use his or her imagination to create the image . The greater a child’s imagination, the greater his or her ability to undertsnad abstract concepts and develop imaginative solutions in later life.
Pick one or pick several. Deciding to limit TV is the easy part. HOW to limit TV gets tougher.
Limiting media is a lifestyle change which cannot be accomplished in one week. It cannot be accomplished without major changes in lifestyle or living arrangements ranging from throwing out the TVs, to repeatedly saying, “no, no, no.”
However you decide to limit media this week, be prepared for mental anguish. Because the biggest strategy advice we need is:
What to do about the whining?
It’s interesting that many experts give advice on what to do next. What activities should be encouraged? What can children do instead? I find them less than helpful, since, whether a parent gives 20 different suggestions or none, whining and complaining is an integral part of TV turn-off week; better that the effort be put into developing parental mental strategies to deal with the whining.
The kids will figure out WHAT exactly to do with their new free time – parents need to figure out what to do to mentally prepare themselves for complaining children.
Bookmark this post:
A number of bloggers have weighed in on TV turnoff week. Insightful posts question the efficacy of a program that suggests turning off the TV for only a week, without a long range plan. Others offer suggestions and commentary.
In our home, TV is less of an issue than in others. In general that is because a combination of philosophy and a fight with the cable company have led to our having no reception – no reception means no programming, means no TV watching by The Hamster. This is, admittedly, the easy way out. We do still need to limit his consumption of videos but, that is somewhat easier, as parental intervention is still somewhat necessary to initiate the activity.
Alternatives to TV could be – videos, computer time and obsessive text messaging on cell phones- but I don’t think that’s the point. What is the point exactly? Well that depends. You fortunately have your choice of reasons to turn –off the TV.
Obesity – As a basically sedentary activity, frequently accompanied by incessant chip eating, too much TV leads to obesity
Advertising – Inappropriate and accompanied by “what’s that mean, Mommy?” or “gimme inducing”, that is, causing incessant whining during shopping trips for the latest hot item, advertising to their kids is something most parents can do
without
Violence – Despite our faith in advertisers and the entertainment industry’s knowledge of what level of violence is appropriate for what age group it is important to realize that this has changed radically in the last 30 years. What is considered OK for today’s 5-year-old would have horrified our parents’ generation. You can make your own decision on this point, actually, it IS a different world we live in…but if you haven’t actually considered this point, please do.
Brain Waves – Because TV is a passive activity, there is some thought that
watching too much TV, or even any, at an early age, permanently alters the brain
waves. This is one of the major reasons that Waldorf schools enforce a no media
ban until the age of nine.
Imagination – Television hinders the development of imagination. The absence of images requires a child to use his or her imagination to create the image . The greater a child’s imagination, the greater his or her ability to undertsnad abstract concepts and develop imaginative solutions in later life.
Pick one or pick several. Deciding to limit TV is the easy part. HOW to limit TV gets tougher.
Limiting media is a lifestyle change which cannot be accomplished in one week. It cannot be accomplished without major changes in lifestyle or living arrangements ranging from throwing out the TVs, to repeatedly saying, “no, no, no.”
However you decide to limit media this week, be prepared for mental anguish. Because the biggest strategy advice we need is:
What to do about the whining?
It’s interesting that many experts give advice on what to do next. What activities should be encouraged? What can children do instead? I find them less than helpful, since, whether a parent gives 20 different suggestions or none, whining and complaining is an integral part of TV turn-off week; better that the effort be put into developing parental mental strategies to deal with the whining.
The kids will figure out WHAT exactly to do with their new free time – parents need to figure out what to do to mentally prepare themselves for complaining children.
Bookmark this post:
2 comments:
Isn't it hard to just let them be unhappy, especially when they act out that unhappiness in such annoying ways? We work on the whining by telling our kids that when they whine, we can't understand their words very well so we can't help them with what they need. That's been working pretty well!
I am very grateful that we hadn't been watching TV for several years before our kids were born. I'm sure it would be that much harder to shelter them from the TV onslaught if it were something we liked to do.
I agree - it gets harder if children are already heavy TV watchers.
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