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TV is Not Our Enemy

As a parent of six small children, I can definitely see the appeal of a life with no TV. To hear the "experts" tell it, everything from poor grades to escalating crime is caused by the evil boob tube. However, nothing is ever as simple as the studies make it sound. Did the studies take other screen time into account, including video games, web surfing, educational software, etc.? Did the studies control for amount of time spent outside playing, except when that was the variable being tested? Did the studies control for the nutritional intake of the children studied? Most importantly, did the studies bother to include children whose parents were actively involved in their lives, other than watching TV? The answers to these questions in most cases is no.

The anti- TV studies do not generally separate regular educational TV from popular shows like American Idol or the Simpsons. There are vast differences between these types of programs. My three youngest children have learned basic Spanish from watching educational programs, like Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street. From time to time, they even watch Sesame Street in Spanish on a local Spanish language station. Generally, these studies also include all video games and computer screen time, without differentiating between game play and Internet research.

Several studies have linked physical activity with better grades, behavior, etc. Anti- TV activists like to expound on the links between TV and lack of physical activity. However, they never make a cause point. TV watching increases as activity decreases, but it does not cause the decrease. Many children to not get enough physical activity because they are not allowed to play outside. Fears of kidnapping and molesters has caused many parents to encourage indoor, and less physically demanding, forms of play. I see the activity connection in my own family. Without regard to TV time, my children are better behaved and more focused when they have had vigorous play time.

Children's nutrition could consume several debates all by itself. Countless studies show that children should have less sugar, and better nutrition overall. In families that limit TV time, or ban it entirely, the parents tend to be more knowledgeable about nutrition, or at least better control intake of sweets. If your child is not sucking down candy and soda while they watch TV, it is probably far less dangerous. The TV studies do not separate behavior and school issues that are sugar related from those that could actually be caused by TV.

Most importantly, in my opinion, is parental involvement. Not all parents who allow their children to watch TV use it as a mindless babysitter. My children do not watch anything that has not been approved by me. Most of the time, TV is a group activity, with everyone involved, and much pausing of the TiVo to allow for discussion of the current show or related topics. Our "quality" time in front of the TV is not spent mindlessly watching the tube, it is spent in active and engaging conversations of current and historical perspectives, interspersed with programing.

From a cultural perspective, television is important to our children's ability to succeed in society. Television represents shared culture and knowledge. How many of people work in an office where American Idol is discussed on a weekly basis? To relate to their peers, children need to have a minimum of shared experiences.

TV is not the enemy. If abused, it leads to problems, but so does everything else. If your family is careful about what is watched and involved in the watching, television is just another tool at your disposal to use in life.

Learn more about this author, Samantha Borley.
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