Studies are showing that many children spend up to eight hours a day watching TV. This contributes to lower grades in school, less time spent in physical activity, higher rates of childhood obesity, and less time spent interacting with friends and family in a social setting. Many experts feel that the answer to this is to completely eliminate the TV in the home.
In my opinion, that’s going from one extreme to another, saying, “Johnny watches way too much TV, so now he can’t have any.” I’d like to suggest a middle-of-the-road approach.
At our house, the TV is on periodically throughout the day. My children have to ask permission before they can turn it on, and there is often a chore that needs to be done first. Then, the programming is carefully evaluated, using my three-point scale:
1. Is the show educational? Will my children gain something from watching it?
2. Do the characters on the show demonstrate good values? Do they treat each other with respect? Do they cooperate with each other and lend each other a hand?
3. Is the show going to annoy the bejeebers out of me?
I don’t believe in letting our children watch hour after hour of television, mindlessly viewing whatever comes on without regard for content. The television should not be a child’s main contact with the outside world. He should not learn his values or gain his self esteem from the television. He should by no means neglect his chores, his exercise, his homework or his quality family time for the television.
On the other hand, we have found many shows to be worthwhile additions to our family routine. We watch Sesame Street, Between the Lions, Reading Rainbow, and Cyber Chase regularly as part of our homeschooling routine, and find that these shows help our children understand concepts in ways we might not be able to teach them on our own. Their vocabularies grow and their understanding of nature and science broadens when they watch Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel. When used properly, TV can be a tool.
As I write my blogs over the next couple of months, I will be evaluating the television programming that currently exists for our children, using my 1-2-3 scale mentioned above. You will want to create your own scale to determine what will and won’t work for your family. My reviews will be provided to give you a base to work from, some general information to help you in your search for appropriate programming. If there is a specific show you would like me to evaluate, please leave me a comment and I’ll put it on my list.
Let’s work together to control our children’s television habits so that when the set is on, they are watching the most positive shows available and gaining knowledge, not just flat fannies.