Defending TV on TV

Gary and Colter and I will be part of a story about kids and TV that airs tomorrow morning (Tuesday) on "Good Morning America." We take the view that TV is fine for Colter in moderation; in fact, it has some benefits.

I'm not sure how articulate I was, so here are the points I was trying to make:

• Colter probably watches too much TV and I probably spend too much time online. We're an imperfect family making imperfect choices in an imperfect world. It seems to me that each family has to make its own choices and try not to judge the choices other families make.
• Colter's interest in electronics has helped him learn. His math skills improved as a result of Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh duels. His reading and comprehension skills improved as a result of reading strategy guides. His critical thinking and strategic thinking skills improved as a result of the trial and error nature of many GameCube games. His scores on the 3rd grade FCAT put him in the country's 99th percentile for math and 90th percentile for reading. He scored 11/12 on critical analysis, 12/12 for initial understanding, and 5/5 on patterns, relationships and algebra. Plus, he may have quicker eyes and do better than non-gamers when he enters the job market.
• Colter is part of Generation M, the 8-18-year-olds who consume media more and differently than previous generations. His culture and expectations are different. I took Colter to see "Cats" last weekend and as I sat there with him I realized that what entertained me 20 years ago is not what entertains him. He expects and requires a more interactive experience than I ever did. I was a passive participant in entertainment, Colter is a very active participant.
• Colter is an introvert who gets his energy from his thoughts and imagination. Electronics -- TV, video games, the computer -- fuel his creativity and imagination, and for him that's both satisfying and relaxing. They also help him bond with peers who share the same interests.
• Colter never sucked his thumb or used a pacifier. But he has found in electronics a way to comfort himself. They soothe him and challenge him. 
• We monitor what he watches and always have. We wouldn't let him watch "Teletubbies" as a young child or "Barney"; we wouldn't let him watch Pokemon for a long time; we wouldn't let him watch "Mucha Lucha" or "Dragonball Z." The shows he watches are shows we would (and sometimes do) watch with him, usually on Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. He watches shows that share our values and that sometimes help him learn a little about himself and about young life.
• We try to limit his use of electronics to two hours a day. If he wants to use them for longer, he can earn time by playing piano or reading. We go through phases when we limit it more aggressively than others. He watches less during the school year than during the summer. He watches less during the week than on weekends. And some days if I come home and he completely ignores me or doesn't want to go out because "my show is on!" I'll threaten to turn off cable. We'll play lots of board games for a few weeks, build with Legos and then eventually fall back into our routine.
• Colter does not have a television in his bedroom and won't for many years. Watching is not conducive to sleep, and TV remains a social activity in our house. There have also been studies that show kids who have TVs in their rooms watch more than kids who do not, and Colter certainly doesn't need to watch more TV.
• TV is neutral. It's a medium, like a book or newspaper or toy. Would we ever accuse parents of letting books babysit their children? Or of being bad parents because their child spent hours playing with trains while they cleaned the house or did laundry or gardened? Each child is individual and it is up to each parent to decide what is appropriate for his or her needs.
• There's an opportunity cost to watching TV. The time Colter spends watching television is time he could be spending on other experiences. If we lived in a big city, he might watch less TV. We might spend more time at museums, the theatre, etc. Or, he might spent more time enrolled in classes to help him strengthen his strengths -- learning to make video games, program computers, etc. He spends time watching TV, playing basketball, playing piano and guitar, reading, swimming, building with Legos, playing Bionicles with friends, and sometimes going to a museum or the aquarium or zoo.
• And then, there's the perk of his "addiction": When we want to get him to do something, we just threaten to take away all electronics.

How much TV do you let your child(ren) watch and how do you justify it?

In case you missed it: Heather Armstrong (of Dooce) was on "Good Morning America" Saturday featured in a story called, "Blogging: Group Therapy of the 21st Century?"

Comments

[VJ]

Tony watches some TV and does play some computer games. There is one A*C program on Sunday and (during the season) Monday nights that he and I watch together. Other than that it's PBS for two or three programs a couple times a week and the computer for about a 1/2 hour a day.

We do not have GameBoy/Cube, nor does he have a TV in his room. The swing set, the bike and, the train set, and construction set are favorite toys for him.

[Michele]

That's a wonderful articulation of lots of our arguements about why we DO let our son watch television! Sure, it can be bad if he's watching too, too much or the wrong thing, but that's our job as parents to determine. And there are lots of positives to both television and electronic gaming. Thanks for saying that in public. It's a sentiment often viewed as lazy or irresponsible. I think that, by monitoring children's consumptions of all natures, we are being very responsible parents.

[angel]

i let my son watch tv - but not whatever he likes. there is also not much that keeps him riveted (courtesy of his ADHD). he loves animal planet and national geographic. he also loves cartoons, but some of them i can't stand. when i get confused over why i don't want him to watch something - we read phillipians 4:8... again.

[RobinP]

The next time you are going to be on t.v. could you please email all the dotmoms and let us know? I would've taped it!

I grew up with a t.v. We had them everywhere. Of course t.v. in my day wasn't like it is today. Rob and Laura Petrie didn't even sleep in the same bed!!
I do let Lillianna watch too much t.v. at times but she does a lot of other activities and if I suggest something other than t.v. she embraces it. If she was crying and hugging the t.v. when I suggested something else and begging not to turn it off then I would think it would be a problem.
If she watches too much t.v. it doesn't really worry me. I watch way too much too!

[Lei/cottontimer]

My toddler watches way more than I ever thought I'd let him. It's one of the best ways to amuse him while I get some work done. At least he doesn't just sit on the sofa and watch with glazed eyes.

[Angela Giles Klocke]

What? The one day I sleep in and miss GMA? Not fair!

But congrats :)

Mine don't watch a lot. Dh on the other hand...