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Add to FavoritesThis is a loaded question. Should children be raised without access to television, such as cable TV?
Children on average watch eight or more hours of TV a week. Even if they are only watching the "kids" channels, they are still bombarded with ads for sugary cereal and new toys, not to mention treated to previews of movies and upcoming shows. Depending on the time of day, these may become more and more inappropriate.
The television is a great babysitter. Sometimes Mom, in a fit of desperation, might turn on the TV for an hour or so of peace and quiet. The kids will sit and watch it, all right ... but what are they learning?
When was the last time you sat down with your kids and watched their favorite cartoons? Cartoons and kids shows have deteriorated into moronic trash that appeal to the lowest common denominator. There are Flash-based cartoons on the internet that have better animation than the standard Cartoon Network fare. And half the time, kids shows have very adult jokes. Even if the show itself is all right, often the commercials, with their sexy advertisements, can be far more damaging.
Some parents get rid of their television and raise their kids with no access to society at all. This works, up to a point. While your children are toddlers and preschoolers, they don't need to watch television anyway. It impairs their brain development and can lead to learning disorders later.
But as your kids get up into second or third grade, they will be exposed to the media sooner or later. They will see it at a friend's house, or hear their friends talking about their favorite shows. If their parents remain strict in keeping their children away from television, then the kids will sneak to friends houses to watch it. And kids who have been kept away from TV will watch anything, no matter how stupid or how adult.
Parents have to find that balance between no TV at all, and watching everything. This is where the loophole comes in.
Yes, parents should raise their kids without TV ... but they should let them watch videos.
A parent can usually tell by the rating what a show will be like. Parents can watch a show or movie with their kids, and afterward talk about what was good about it, and what was bad. This builds a child's discernment.
If a child is curious about a certain cartoon or sitcom, rent it for them and give it a try. Most shows are released on DVD these days, and Netflix and Blockbuster carry everything under the sun on their websites. Watch it with your child. If there are parts that are inappropriate, point them out and explain why you find it so. If there are really good parts, then praise those parts. You are developing your child's tastes.
Eventually your child will grow up and have a TV of their own, and you can no longer control what they watch. All you can do is train their powers of discernment, and leave it at that. Their choices in years to come may surprise you ... like choosing to raise their children without television!
Learn more about this author, Kessie Carroll.
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No
Determining whether or not children should be allowed to watch television is a delicate decision. Television can be the source of a lot of negative, harmful, and destructive material for children; but it can also be a source of positive, educational, and uplifting material. Only the parent can be in charge of which material comes into his or her home via the television. A person would be hard pressed to find a single home in America that does not contain at least one television, or even a computer with Internet access (which can be used as a television). There are some families, though, that choose to raise their children without television. Do their children turn out better than all the rest? Does television harm children in any way? The answer is yes...and no.
Television is an inanimate box. It cannot force you to be exposed to something that you wish not to be exposed. It has no will of its own. It is amoral. This means that a television has no moral value, its value is only determined when a human being uses the television for particular motives. So yes, a television can be used for harmful, negative things. Children who are allowed to watch television without the supervision of any responsible adults are certainly at risk for exposure to harmful material. But a television in the hands of a loving parent who wants to use it as an educational tool is certainly a good thing.
Technology has made it even easier for parents to monitor what their children are consuming on the television. Lock devices and preset channel capabilities allow parents to program their television to allow only certain material to be accessible to children. External add-ons such as TV Guardian are also great products for protecting sensitive eyes and ears.
There are many educational resources available through television to which children would not otherwise have access. Channels such as Nickelodeon, Discovery, and Animal Planet all offer a wide variety of educational programming. And not only do these stations educate children, they also make learning fun, which is vital for the learning and retention process of children. Parents of homeschoolers will find resources like these especially helpful, as the television can provide an alternate learning method outside of the regular routine of book reading and test taking.
Even local stations such as PBS provide classic, educational programs such as Sesame Street and Blue's Clues. These great programs help build the early foundation for a child's reading and writing skills, and also teach great moral lessons like helping out around the house and how to share with your brother or sister.
Of course, parents are ultimately responsible for the content and quality of their children's education. The television should never be used to replace human interaction, outdoor exercise, or the joys of reading a good book. But when used in moderation, the television can be a wonderful tool for adults and children alike!
Learn more about this author, Sara W..
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