Mom Tries to Undo Television’s Influence on Kids
Posted on 03 February 2008 by Lisa Wippert
From a Mother's Perspective
Sometimes I question my ability to decipher what is appropriate for my children. As it stands, I allow my young almost three year old daughter watch far too much television. I excuse this mostly because there are times that I need her occupied while I tend to my nine month old daughter. The television is on nearly all day long. Of course I try to justify it to myself by saying that children’s programming is featured, nearly the whole time. Whether I have on the PBS station, Nickelodeon or the Disney channel, I still feel I have been a bad parent.
My oldest girl is not overweight …yet. I attempt to have “running around” time where I chase her around the apartment. I do stimulate her creativity with arts and crafts, and inspire her imagination with actually playing with her and her toys. Somehow I feel it just is not enough. Somehow I feel I have to deal with the temper tantrums and turn off that television for several hours out of the day.
I have now noticed that my nine month old will actually pay attention to the television as well. I wonder if I have done my children a great disservice by allowing them to fall into the television trap. Honestly, my two children are very intelligent. My oldest daughter does know the basics in operating a computer keyboard and mouse. She also knows how to open up her favorite games on the computer.
I recall when I was a child. Television time was monitored strictly. I was the remote control. I was also constantly told to go outside and play. I seem to recall the phrase, “If you are bored, I could give you something to do to cure that condition!” However, those just cannot be and will not be options that my daughters face. This makes me seriously wonder if they are missing out on something.
I’ve watched all of the shows that I allow my daughters to watch. I have nothing but positive thoughts on the shows hosted on the PBS station. I have some reservations on some of the other shows. As an example, SpongeBob SquarePants is one of my oldest daughter’s favorite shows. I think the show is funny, rarely disturbing but also has taught my little girl things I was not ready or prepared to deal with.
She knows that hitting is wrong, but SpongeBob and his friend, Sandy, play karate spars and seem to have so much fun doing it that my daughter thought it was okay for her to do around the house as well. Perhaps it is not my maternal ability in question after all. Perhaps a sign that I am a decent parent is the fact that I am worried about such a small issue in the lives of my daughters. I reinforce manners, teach the alphabet and numbers, sing songs, play, laugh and learn every day with my girls. I am hoping the time we spend together will hopefully make up for that darn television that has become a part of our family.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
By most people’s standards, I was probably allowed to watch way too much TV when I was growing up, and I do tend to get too wrapped up in TV and movies now, but I also love to read, and I’m well-rounded in other areas as well. I think, as you say toward the end of your blog, the very fact that you’re concerned about the effects of the television on your family is proof that you won’t let those effects be adverse. Give yourself a break. It sounds like you have a very busy life, and if the TV has to play babysitter occasionally, I can think of much worse things.
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I think that you are right. I know that I worry about those things too. I watch too much TV and I eat bad food. I do not have kids yet but know that I must change myself if I want my kids to do the right thing. You can not have a do as I say not as I do.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Television is called programming for a reason. How would you like to program your mind? Flip to a channel and become programmed.
But I actually agree with you. There’s really not much we can do about except keep an eye on it and try to balance it with some family time.