In defense of television

By Anne-Marie

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two should watch no television, and older children should watch less than two hours per day. They also say that excessive television makes kids fat, delays literacy, and may lead to aggression and the development of attention problems. If we do have our kids in front of the TV, they should only watch educational shows and videos with no commercials. Better yet, we should watch TV with them and use it to teach life lessons.

I have no problem with those recommendations. I think most children's television is dubious, with the exception of shows on the commercial-free PBS Kids and Noggin channels. There are also some good shows on Nick Jr. and Disney, and educational programming on the National Geographic, PBS, and Discovery channels, among others.

But I confess: as a mom of two children under five, I've needed television. Some days the only way I'm going to get anything done is to sit Nathan and Lucie in front of the tube. I can't call the pediatrician's office or run the vacuum after everyone has gone to bed. Luckily, my kids are restless types who don't just sit there. Instead, the TV serves as background noise while they're playing with their toys, chasing each other around the living room, and climbing on the furniture.

However, it was when my kids were infants that I needed television most. No way could I have kept conscious during those middle-of-the-night feedings without Dave or Conan. There was only so much looking into my child's face (like the parenting books preached) that I could do before falling on my face. TV kept me awake.

It was also there for companionship, since I was by myself most of the time. Reruns of "Law & Order" and home decorating shows helped pass the time while I sat on the couch with a sleeping infant in my arms. How I wish I had TiVo, Netflix and the Internet. It would have been a much easier and less brain-numbing time.

So, my question is: Is it so important that we eliminate TV from our children's lives? Though I was an avid reader and played outdoors a great deal as a child, I couldn't have imagined my childhood without television. I loved everything from the "Electric Company" to old monster movies. Mr. Rogers was as special a TV friend as Mr. Spock. Some of my fondest memories of my father involve watching football on TV with him.

What was your favorite TV show growing up?

Comments

[Elspeth]

I do let my kids watch too much tv, but I rationalize it as they are all in school at least 3 hours a day (two of them 6 hours a day) and after school we always go to the park. The only problem times are weekends or summers/holidays. It's hard being Americans and not watching TV -- it's almost a given.

On the other hand, I was just complaining to my husband today about how my parents let me watch too much TV -- they didn't allow it, but they didn't stop it either and we didn't have anything but black and white TVs with about 6 channels. I feel like I should have been encouraged to do something better with my time.

Now as an adult I am addicted to TV. I watch way more than the kids do. I think we need to have it around kids but we need to control it for our and their sakes.

And have you seen the thousands of commercials (and not just for diapers and McDonald's) on PBS Kids' channel? It's disgusting.

[Robin P]

I grew up watching Bewitched, That Girl, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Odd Couple....you name it and I loved it!! I watched a lot of tv. I wasn't overweight. I got excellent grades. I played outside. I had friends. I was a well rounded kid.

Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with my child watching tv. Lillianna is almost 7 and she watches a good amount of tv but it doesn't take the place of other things. She is an excellent student. She has been reading since she was 3 years old. She goes to dancing school. She plays with her friends. We go to the library. She has a lot of fun in whatever she does.

Some of the shows she watches may be for older kids like Lizzie Maguire or Raven but I watched Bewitched and That Girl. What's the difference?? I usually watch these shows with her because I like them so much.

[lex]

I have to admit. I'm totally guilty of too much tv for my 2 1/2 year old. I've come to depend on it a lot in order to get things done. In the morning while I get ready for work, she's watching Dora or Sesame Street. In the evening while I'm cooking dinner or taking a shower, it's a Dora or Disney DVD. And she does get a lot of ancillary TV if I'm watching one of my shows and it's on when she's in the room with me. And I do my workouts via VHS or DVD, but I don't think that counts as making her sedentary since she likes to jump around and kick with me. I grew up with TV always on in the background, and I'm guilty of always doing the same. You've given me a lot to think about.

[Mieke]

Let me start by saying the rule in this house is NO TV. But already the TV drug has got him hooked. Though he has only watched Sesame Street, and very rarely, its effect is like heroin, he craves it and wants it. I am sure you've all seen your own children watching TV, their mouths agape, their focus so intent that you have to repeat yourself or stand in front of the TV to get their attention, and when you turn it off, the howls of protest.

When I had my first child I got tons of DVDs as baby shower gift; Baby Einstein was the most common. I was baffled. Why does a child, especially an infant, need to watch TV? They are thrilled enough with sitting in the bouncy seat and watching me cook or fold laundry. I feel so strongly about not perpetuating this new trend, that I didn't even "re-gift", I threw them, still in their plastic wrap, away.

I can't tell you how many times I have gone over to my friends' houses for play-dates and the TV is on. Why? Jonas is there to play with Bobby not to sit next to him with his mouth hanging open. I also detest it being on as background noise, why not music instead?

I was just looking at a picture I took of Jonas when he was 13 months old, he had been quiet in his room for a while (I had been on the phone with my sister in the next room) so I peaked in. There he sat "reading" surrounded by his books. He had pulled them of his book basket one by one to enjoy and explore each one. I was thrilled. What a powerful moment for him, to discover the joy of books for himself. It is a habit that continues to this day. He is content to stay in his room and read or play with his toys for long periods of time. Sure, he still follows me around and nags me to play with him all the time, but there are times of respite every morning. He knows when I am on the phone with my sister or best friend back east, I am going to be on for a while so he disappears into his room. I just can't believe it would be the same if I had made television watching a part of his routine.

Check out this week’s Newsweek (you can read it on-line for free) about American children and consumerism and how many commercials they see. I am not totally anti-television, but if Jonas watches anything it is commercial-free PBS or the Olympics (Tivo'd so we can skip the ads).

He has a lifetime of watching ahead; while I can control it -I do.

[Mieke]

Let me start by saying the rule in this house is NO TV. But already the TV drug has got him hooked. Though he has only watched Sesame Street, and very rarely, its effect is like heroin, he craves it and wants it. I am sure you've all seen your own children watching TV, their mouths agape, their focus so intent that you have to repeat yourself or stand in front of the TV to get their attention, and when you turn it off, the howls of protest.

When I had my first child I got tons of DVDs as baby shower gift. Baby Einstein was the most common. I was baffled. Why does a chld, especially an infant, need to watch TV? They are thrilled enough with sitting in the bouncy seat and watching me cook or fold laundry. I feel so strongly about not perpetuating this new trend, that I didn't even "re-gift", I threw them, still in their plastic wrap, away.

I can't tell you how many times I have gone over to my friends' houses for playdates and the TV is on. Why? Jonas is there to play with Bobby not to sit next to him with his mouth hanging open. I also detest it being on as background noise, why not music instead?

I was just looking at a picture I took of Jonas when he was 13 months old, he had been quiet in his room for a while (I had been on the phone with my sister in the next room) so I peaked in. There he sat "reading" surrounded by his books. He had pulled them of his book basket one by one to enjoy and explore each one. I was thrilled. What a powerful moment for him, to discover the joy of books for himself. It is a habit that continues to this day. He is content to stay in his room and read or play with his toys for long periods of time. Sure, he still follows me around and nags me to play with him all the time, but there are times of respite every morning. He knows when I am on the phone with my sister or best friend back east, I am going to be on for a while so he disappears into his room. I just can't believe it would be the same if I had made television watching a part of his routine.

Check out this weeks Newsweek (you can read it on-line for free) about American children and consumerism and how many commercials they see. I am not totally anti-television, but if Jonas watches anything it is commercial-free PBS or the Olympics (Tivo'd so we can skip the ads).

He has a lifetime of watching ahead; while I can control it -I do.

[Mieke]

Let me start by saying the rule in this house is NO TV. But already the TV drug has got him hooked. Though he has only watched Sesame Street, and very rarely, its effect is like heroin, he craves it and wants it. I am sure you've all seen your own children watching TV, their mouths agape, their focus so intent that you have to repeat yourself or stand in front of the TV to get their attention, and when you turn it off, the howls of protest.

When I had my first child I got tons of DVDs as baby shower gift. Baby Einstein was the most common. I was baffled. Why does a chld, especially an infant, need to watch TV? They are thrilled enough with sitting in the bouncy seat and watching me cook or fold laundry. I feel so strongly about not perpetuating this new trend, that I didn't even "re-gift", I threw them, still in their plastic wrap, away.

I can't tell you how many times I have gone over to my friends' houses for playdates and the TV is on. Why? Jonas is there to play with Bobby not to sit next to him with his mouth hanging open. I also detest it being on as background noise, why not music instead?

I was just looking at a picture I took of Jonas when he was 13 months old, he had been quiet in his room for a while (I had been on the phone with my sister in the next room) so I peaked in. There he sat "reading" surrounded by his books. He had pulled them of his book basket one by one to enjoy and explore each one. I was thrilled. What a powerful moment for him, to discover the joy of books for himself. It is a habit that continues to this day. He is content to stay in his room and read or play with his toys for long periods of time. Sure, he still follows me around and nags me to play with him all the time, but there are times of respite every morning. He knows when I am on the phone with my sister or best friend back east, I am going to be on for a while so he disappears into his room. I just can't believe it would be the same if I had made television watching a part of his routine.

Check out this weeks Newsweek (you can read it on-line for free) about American children and consumerism and how many commercials they see. I am not totally anti-television, but if Jonas watches anything it is commercial-free PBS or the Olympics (Tivo'd so we can skip the ads).

He has a lifetime of watching ahead; while I can control it -I do.

[Leah]

I just blogged about this as well. I have a love/hate relationship with the TV in regards to my 2yo son. Some days, I feel guilty about it. Mostly, I'm thankful. My son is so very active that this is one of the few ways he will settle down long enough to take a breath. He watches PBS intermittently in the morning. Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Arthur, and Clifford. He will watch for a while, we'll play outside, he'll watch a little more, we'll go eat in the kitchen, he'll watch a little more, etc. I turn it off after Clifford. In the afternoon, he will usually ask to watch part of "Pete's Dragon" or "Snow White" or "Maisy" on DVD/video. He will sit and watch for about 45 mins. at the most, and this is usually when I start cooking dinner.

[andrea]

I have two kids under 5.5, and I've needed television too. As a WAHM sometimes the only way I can talk to a client on the phone is if the TV is on. But I always shut it off after breakfast, and it stays off the rest of the day.

My girls only watch commercial-free/educational programs of my choosing. I feel strongly against marketing towards young children and won't let them watch any commercial television.

My faves (for them) include Arthur, Nanalan, Magic School Bus and Between the Lions. Although TV can be educational, and kids can learn positive things from it, I think it probably contributes to attention-span problems and may actually damage the way kids learn. This is why I try to limit how much they watch.

Most importantly, I think it's important to teach your kids *how* to watch TV in a critical way, and teach them to ask questions about what they're watching.

If anyone is interested in more information about managing television viewing habits and media literacy in general ... an excellent website can be found here: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/index.cfm.

Ok. Climbing off the soapbox now. :) :)

[Goldberry]

I didn't watch much tv as a child and I am overweight. What does that mean?

My first favorite show that I can remember was Jem, the cartoon. We used to sit in front of the TV and record the music with our Fisher Price tape recorders. lol.

[Melanie]

Interesting recommendation when you realize that almost every pediatrician's waiting room has a tv in it.

[daddydaycare]

Guilty. My Mom threw away the TV when I was two. My kids have never watched TV, unless they "pick it up" casually in a restaurant or mall. They do however watch all kinds of the usual kids movies -- Dora, Baby Einstein, Disney, etc. Even that purple freak isn't off limits -- if it's a movie, it's OK. No more than 1 hour per day.

As a result, my favorite TV show from childhood is "Off." At least with video games, kids are forced to think. IMNSHO, TV is an evil propoganda box. However, with football season approaching, my guess is they will get a good dose of sports soon. Not from me, from my Texas-bred wife!

[Lei]

Wow! I'm so with you on EVERY point you made. I even sat frozen on the couch for hours on end afraid to move lest my light sleeping infant son wake up. I limit my 2-yr-old to two shows a day at critical times - one in the morning and one in the evening.

I'm not sure I have a clear favorite show from childhood but one that always pops up is Galaxy High.