Colter watches way too much television. I know he does, I know it's my fault, and yet I feel powerless to change it. I had a father who watched way too much television, I married a man who watches way too much television, and now my son may as well have an IV hooked up to him that mainlines media.
And yet... there are worse drugs he could be taking, even at the age of 7. And exactly what part of his viewing time should I eliminate -- the time he watches in the morning and lets Gary and I sleep? the afterschool time when he and Gary finish homework and Colter's ready to vegatate? the time when I get home from work around 6:30 or 7 and we eat dinner, then head to the set because I'm too exhausted to play a board game or have a Transformers battle?
I have to believe that this viewing time is balanced by all of the books we read, all of the piano we practice, by karate and swimming and synagogue and the many other ways we spend our time as a family.
Besides, he'll be a Trivial Pursuit champion when he's older and that's got to count for something... doesn't it?
I agree that TV can be part of this nutritious breakfast -- that is, part of a life full of lots of other things.
I was strictly deprived of television as a child. I now watch what feels like huge amounts to me (although still well below the national average, which is scary). I find a working knowledge of pop culture is a useful thing.
Posted by: rachel | December 11, 2003 at 12:52 PM
Julie -- I'm with you on the TV thing. If all the kid ever does is watch TV, that's one thing. But as long as it's balanced with physical and mentally stimulating activities, I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, as long as we monitor and steer Rachel's viewing, I think it introduces her to a new world every day. -- Bob
Posted by: Bob Andelman | December 10, 2003 at 08:44 PM
As a child who was exposed to hardly any television, and who suffered through games of TV tag in the early elementary grades and the fifth grade jepoardy tournament, I can say that you are indeed protecting your child from feeling like an outsider with respect to TV-related knowledge.
Eve
Posted by: Eve | December 10, 2003 at 03:58 PM
Hey, don't beat yourself up too much. Sure we can limit it, just remember that millions of us grew up with lots of TV and are perfectly normal. You just have to start worrying if they start growing a tail. :P
Posted by: liz | December 10, 2003 at 10:32 AM