Off Topic [at-l] NO TV/VCR

[lwbooher@halifax.com (Leslie Booher)]

We couldn't control it.  For us, 20 years ago, it was all or nothing.
David, in particular, would watch anything that moved.  The kids didn't have
much problem with withdrawal.  David took years to get over it.  anklebear

----- Original Message -----
From: Rami <rbenhameda@home.com>
To: <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 3:44 PM
Subject: [at-l] NO TV/VCR


>
> A few more thoughts on TV:
>
> I read an article in a parenting magazine and then later heard an
> interview by Diane Rheme of the Dr. who authored the article.  (I can't
> cite the article's source, author, or magazine.  Sorry, too many years
> ago) which said that TV caused nightmares in young children.
> Susan and I talked about it and decided that the TV would remain off
> from 3:30 until the kids went to bed.
> That was 4 years ago and we haven't had a single **not even one**
> nightmare since that time.
>
> Later on, we decided to expand our TV policy.  We had always used the
> "Mute" button during the morning news to censor and control the exposure
> level of our kids to what is reported.  (All news programs ARE
> entertainment rather than "public service" or anything else.  If you
> doubt me, why do they track ratings, market share and why are they
> considered for Emmy awards?)  Our new policy was "no TV in the mornings
> b4 school.
>
> Currently the girls watch some cartoons on Saturday mornings, and
> occasionally some in the afternoons after school.  I will selectively
> allow them to view some news items so that we can talk about them
> (dinner time is "what happened at school today" time and "tell me what
> you think about XXXX" time).  They also watch shows that Susan and I
> choose for them mainly from the Discovery channels.  They have learned a
> great deal which I could not have taught them from some of these
> programs.  Some that come immediately to mind are the one about the
> Mammoth, the one called "the body story" which was a multi part show
> which among other topics, showed (in utero) a living fetus from
> conception through delivery at every stage of development, and Sam Neill
> hosted one about the universe and space exploration which Carmen just
> Soaked in.
>
> In general I believe that TV is vastly overrated (but with some
> exceptions).  It is depended on by parents as "the babysitter", and by
> adults in general as a replacement for conversation.  There is quite a
> lot that is a huge waste of electricity, but with all of that said,
> swearing off TV "forever" is like refusing to ever read again because
> you accidentally read a romance novel, or never going to the theater
> because you saw a bad play.
>
> As with any form of entertainment, take what you want, leave the rest.
>
>
> -r
>
>
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