06 August 2012

Children and television

Is this a battle in your house?

What are the guidelines you have, if any?

This is something battled with for a long time.  But not with my kids so much as with myself.  I tortured myself over how much and what they could watch.  I still police what they watch as I don't think they should be given free reign. Due to the fact that their other parent has no real boundaries I have had to educate them on what is appropriate viewing and what isn't.  I find they do pretty well and if in doubt they will ask me if they can watch something.
We don't watch 'television' as such unless there is something on that I hear about and think might be good viewing.

We do watch series, movies and docos on dvd.  The usual viewing time is lunch time. They can put something on to watch while they have lunch and occasionally we will have a movie night and settle in with snacks and doonas for some family viewing.

I think the tv has a lot to offer but I strongly believe that there is way too much mindless crap on that has no value whatsoever.

As for general screen time.........  don't get me started on that one LOL
and to finish, a snippet of Roald Dahl's "Television"

Television

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set --
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink --
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!
see the rest of the poem here



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11 comments:

Jane Douglas said...

Timely blog. We have just revised the rules, erm, ROUTINE for screen time. Our 7 year old turns into a zombie when it's not regulated pretty tightly. We have decided no computer or DS during the week, which feels like a punishment to him right now, but guess what, books are being read and lego being played with after school. TV is limited to ABC only at this stage and we regulate what is watched pretty tightly. That poem is spot on; I reckon you can pick the kids who spend too much time in front of any screen...

Kebeni said...

oh I know.. I think for kids the tv is the lazy option. They don't have to think about what to do.

bachelormum said...

Here here! That is indeed a good poem - we listen to Mr Dahl's talking books in the care. But the overall difficulty is screen time in general - the other day I had an argument with my 7 year old who was watching tv (she's allowed sat morning and then evening movies on the weekend) while downloading games on my iPad!

bachelormum said...

Here here! That is indeed a good poem - we listen to Mr Dahl's talking books in the care. But the overall difficulty is screen time in general - the other day I had an argument with my 7 year old who was watching tv (she's allowed sat morning and then evening movies on the weekend) while downloading games on my iPad!

Anonymous said...

Hm. I think its pretty insulting to say something your children enjoy is mindless and has nothing to offer. That must make them feel sad. We have a tv and we watch it daily. Nothing inappropriate, but we watch with them. We laugh together and learn together from it. There are no rules on that here. If all your kid wants to do is watch tv its probably because they have nothing else interesting going on.
How would you feel if someone told you blogging was meaningless and a waste of time?

becky said...

We just don't do TV. Screen time is limited all round. We watch a movie together on the weekend and have episodes of series to watch when a little more is required (sick etc).
She is 13 now and it has always been like this for her, so she doesn't know what she's "missing".
I love that poem!

Kebeni said...

what is insulting. I just don't let them watch commercial tv. I don't tell them what they are doing is mindless. What they do watch they enjoy and learn from no doubt. They also don't watch much tv as they are too busy doing other stuff.

Kebeni said...

yes, I wish we had started out like that. Beren didn't see tv until he was two but as with most subsequent siblings, Nienna was much earlier LOL

Kebeni said...

How has he gone this week?

Kebeni said...

multitasking! often the tv provides background noise while doing other stuff

Kirsty said...

Fabulous poem...I have just printed it out & am going to put it near the TV...wondering if that's the best place.
I have 5 kids from 12 - 5 & it's getting extremely hard to police the TV viewings especially of the younger 2.
All mine do however read books....especially when I go mental & turn all things off in the house...and they colour and lego & puzzle and stuff....but there is a load of mindless crap on TV.
I honestly don't mind if they want to veg out sometimes...everyone needs to do that, but my oldest one is awful for sitting there watching absolute rubbish. He's teaching the others.
Anyhoo...thanks for blogging abot this.