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Talkin' Television - Yes, We Do Watch
Thursday, December 15, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
I hate the television.
Yes, we do watch.
I just want to make that clear. In fact, now that the weather in lovely Cleveland has turned cold and gray, you might find us watching more than ever.
You see, on Thanksgiving Day we were hanging out at my sister's house. Hers is a "TV household." I don't really have any strong opinions about that (okay, maybe I do, but I'll save them for later).
What do I mean by a "TV household?" I mean it is usually on. It always has been. It's on during dinner and on during breakfast. It is on as they fall asleep. Her kids grew up in this household. They are just fine. Really, television was simply background, a comforting noise and sound to their daily household routines.
The funny part about this Thanksgiving is that the television never came on at my sister's. It was lovely. See, I find this day to be more about family and less about football. I was totally cool with a quiet day of conversation around a big table and eating way too much food. I shared this thought with the hubby during our travels home and then found out why the TV had been silent for the day. My sister's hubby had remarked that it wasn't on because our little girl "wasn't allowed to watch television."
Surprise, surprise. We watch TV. So does our child. I am not ANTI-television. I am "anti-letting your kid watch anything and everything and not overseeing their viewing, especially during commercial breaks."
What about YOU? How do you monitor your child's television viewing? What is okay and what is not? How do you handle what your children view when they are with friends or family?
In our household, television is on about an hour a day. We haven't had "real televsion" (in other words, anything other than the DVDs from the library we check out each week) for nearly 2 years. Shocking, eh? Yes, we are also doing just fine. And our budget is $1200/year happier from the cable television we cut.
My sister and I's households are very different. And, you know what? Both our families are doing just fine. Like many things about parenting and child development, no one size fits all.
Ask someone how much television they are watching in their household and let the feedback fly.
Is television okay for kids? Good for kids?
How much television is your child watching these days?
Looking for resources or food for thought to guide you on your choices?
There is plenty of information out there. Find what works for your family and stick with it.
Happy viewing!
