by MK

Created on: April 24, 2008

I live in a Muslim country. The censorship board is ruthless. There is no kissing between unmarried people. There is no cussing. Certain words cannot even be spoken due to the apparent sensitivity of the viewing public. Until a few years ago, there was no satellite or cable TV. All channels were government run. Clearly the amount of profanity and inappropriateness on TV was limited. And yet, I was raised in a household where parental control on TV was exercised. There was a limit on how many hours of TV I could watch. There was a limit on what kind of shows I could watch.

Of course growing up, I felt it was unfair. After all, if all my friends were watching these shows, why wasn't I? It didn't make any sense to my teenage brain. I was sure I could tell the difference between right and wrong. Today, I see it quite differently. I have seen the result of children being raised on TV. They grow up to be adults who are not contributing positively to the community. They grow up to have problems socializing. They grow up to have health problems. They are disconnected from reality.

Children should be allowed to watch some TV. Cutting something out totally is not the answer. Aristotle said moderation in all things. There are some educational shows out there. The goal is to teach your child to manage his TV watching so that it can be used as an entertainment or educational tool and not as a babysitter or for the lack of something better to do.

Children should be allowed to make some choices with regards to watching TV, to encourage free will and active participation. These need to be made within clear boundaries. Children don't have the foresight to see how what they're watching now can affect their future. They don't have the life experience to see around corners. Parents need to step in and provide the guidance.

We all know that TV watching can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. Lack of activity, in turn, leads to obesity. This leads to all sorts of health problems.

TV watching is a solitary activity. There is no social interaction. Instead of sitting myself down and not interacting, I developed hobbies. I drew. I played music. I played games with the neighborhood kids. I took an interest in the world outside TV. All of these things teach you skills which are important in the development of a well rounded adult.

I grew up active. Play was outside. I climbed trees and mountains. I ran and waded through rivers. As a result I have none of the problems which plague children today. I don't have a problem managing my weight. I don't have a problem making friends.

Yes, today I watch TV. However, I do not organize my life around television. I have a far more balanced and healthy lifestyle.I plan what I am going to watch and when the show ends, I turn the set off.

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