Television turn-off
Ren Allen
I just rejected two posts for being put-downs,rather than useful
discussion, but I thought one of the ideas was worth discussing for
it's sheer illogical point.
It was a response to this:
"No, joke! Heck, I sometimes wish t.v. my kids would get into a
state like this simply by having them watch t.v. My boys 6,5, and 2
watch t.v. 99.9% of the time and 99.9% of the time are literally
bouncing off the walls!"
The poster was implying that television would make kids hyper!!
So now we have anti-tv folks claiming that television will make
kids "comatose" AND hyper??? The completely illogical connection
amazes me.
HOW on earth does one kind of media claim responsibilty for making
kids "bounce off the walls" AND "comatose"???
I think we can easily discuss the factors that affect kids energy
levels without blaming television for being both overstimulating AND
dulling all at once. How about looking at individuals and how they
are affected by food, input, sleep etc...without blaming ONE source
for all ills?
It amazes me.
Ren
discussion, but I thought one of the ideas was worth discussing for
it's sheer illogical point.
It was a response to this:
"No, joke! Heck, I sometimes wish t.v. my kids would get into a
state like this simply by having them watch t.v. My boys 6,5, and 2
watch t.v. 99.9% of the time and 99.9% of the time are literally
bouncing off the walls!"
The poster was implying that television would make kids hyper!!
So now we have anti-tv folks claiming that television will make
kids "comatose" AND hyper??? The completely illogical connection
amazes me.
HOW on earth does one kind of media claim responsibilty for making
kids "bounce off the walls" AND "comatose"???
I think we can easily discuss the factors that affect kids energy
levels without blaming television for being both overstimulating AND
dulling all at once. How about looking at individuals and how they
are affected by food, input, sleep etc...without blaming ONE source
for all ills?
It amazes me.
Ren
Daniel MacIntyre
On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:36:33 -0000, Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...> wrote:
Daniel
(Amy is doing a half marathon for Team in Training
Anyone who wants to help can do so by going to:
http://www.active.com/donate/fundraise/tntgmoAMacint )
>Sounds like Ritalin to me...
> HOW on earth does one kind of media claim responsibilty for making
> kids "bounce off the walls" AND "comatose"???
>--
> I think we can easily discuss the factors that affect kids energy
> levels without blaming television for being both overstimulating AND
> dulling all at once. How about looking at individuals and how they
> are affected by food, input, sleep etc...without blaming ONE source
> for all ills?
>
> It amazes me.
>
> Ren
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Daniel
(Amy is doing a half marathon for Team in Training
Anyone who wants to help can do so by going to:
http://www.active.com/donate/fundraise/tntgmoAMacint )
scrapgal
--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
bouncing off the walls are they really watching television or is
television just a vehicle for momentary distractions while bouncing
from one wall to the other. I would think that even without
television that these boys (they were all boys, right?) would
probably be bouncing off the walls anyway. They would be being,
well, children! :-)
I do know that there are children who actively watch television, as
in they do other things while engaged in television, be it sew,
build legos or blocks, color, even read. I tend to knit when I
watch television as it helps my busy hands find something to do. I
know several times I have gone into the living room to see the tv on
but no one engaged in it. I will ask if anyone is paying attention
and if not can I turn it off. Most always they say I can turn it
off. Rarely is anyone actually watching it. The tv has just become
some kind of background noise.
Michelle
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
>I was thinking about the hyperactivity and wondered if the kids are
> So now we have anti-tv folks claiming that television will make
> kids "comatose" AND hyper??? The completely illogical connection
> amazes me.
>
> HOW on earth does one kind of media claim responsibilty for making
> kids "bounce off the walls" AND "comatose"???
>
bouncing off the walls are they really watching television or is
television just a vehicle for momentary distractions while bouncing
from one wall to the other. I would think that even without
television that these boys (they were all boys, right?) would
probably be bouncing off the walls anyway. They would be being,
well, children! :-)
I do know that there are children who actively watch television, as
in they do other things while engaged in television, be it sew,
build legos or blocks, color, even read. I tend to knit when I
watch television as it helps my busy hands find something to do. I
know several times I have gone into the living room to see the tv on
but no one engaged in it. I will ask if anyone is paying attention
and if not can I turn it off. Most always they say I can turn it
off. Rarely is anyone actually watching it. The tv has just become
some kind of background noise.
Michelle
Ren Allen
"I was thinking about the hyperactivity and wondered if the kids are
bouncing off the walls are they really watching television or is
television just a vehicle for momentary distractions while bouncing
from one wall to the other. I would think that even without
television that these boys (they were all boys, right?) would
probably be bouncing off the walls anyway. They would be being,
well, children! :-)"
Exactly!
That's why it was pretty funny that as soon as someone posts how
energetic her children are, it immedietly gets blamed on television,
right after all the "comatose" statements.
My children are almost always doing more than just watching a show.
Sierra was making a beaded charm today while Blue's Clues was
running. None of them sit watching it "zombie-like" EVER.
They did when I controlled it though. Boy, they knew their time was
limited and they SOAKED it up. It's just another thing in their home
now...it holds no more fascination than books, paint or food. Each
is interesting and wonderful when they need it.
Right now, all televisions are off, in spite of cable programming
with loads of channels and tons of DVD's to choose from.
The fascinating thing at this moment, is burning newsprint in the
fireplace. They took huge sheets of it and had a wild 1/2 hour
tearing it up, making "nests" and burying each other in paper. My
entire living room is COVERED with it right now.
Sierra, Jared and Jalen are sitting on the hearth, grabing wads of
paper and watching it burn. Fun way to clean up!!:)
I remember being somewhat "veg-like" when I watched television for
years. I didn't have one growing up, so it was the most fascinating
thing when I got around one. It took me years to stop being
fascinated by the thing. I would sit and channel surf for hours, in
spite of not really liking what I was watching.
I'm glad my kids will never have to figure out how to balance
themselves, they already know.
Ren
bouncing off the walls are they really watching television or is
television just a vehicle for momentary distractions while bouncing
from one wall to the other. I would think that even without
television that these boys (they were all boys, right?) would
probably be bouncing off the walls anyway. They would be being,
well, children! :-)"
Exactly!
That's why it was pretty funny that as soon as someone posts how
energetic her children are, it immedietly gets blamed on television,
right after all the "comatose" statements.
My children are almost always doing more than just watching a show.
Sierra was making a beaded charm today while Blue's Clues was
running. None of them sit watching it "zombie-like" EVER.
They did when I controlled it though. Boy, they knew their time was
limited and they SOAKED it up. It's just another thing in their home
now...it holds no more fascination than books, paint or food. Each
is interesting and wonderful when they need it.
Right now, all televisions are off, in spite of cable programming
with loads of channels and tons of DVD's to choose from.
The fascinating thing at this moment, is burning newsprint in the
fireplace. They took huge sheets of it and had a wild 1/2 hour
tearing it up, making "nests" and burying each other in paper. My
entire living room is COVERED with it right now.
Sierra, Jared and Jalen are sitting on the hearth, grabing wads of
paper and watching it burn. Fun way to clean up!!:)
I remember being somewhat "veg-like" when I watched television for
years. I didn't have one growing up, so it was the most fascinating
thing when I got around one. It took me years to stop being
fascinated by the thing. I would sit and channel surf for hours, in
spite of not really liking what I was watching.
I'm glad my kids will never have to figure out how to balance
themselves, they already know.
Ren
scrapgal
--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
begging me to go see Jalen so he can burn paper too! LOL!!! The
kids are still busy building and painting dollhouse furniture. Lots
of paint and pieces of cardboard everywhere. We sat down to watch a
movie together and slowly kids started drifting out of the room to
go do other things. I ended up finding myself alone watching a
movie I wasn't planning on watching! LOL!!
Michelle
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
>Well, I will NOT be telling Keon about this activity or he will be
> The fascinating thing at this moment, is burning newsprint in the
> fireplace. They took huge sheets of it and had a wild 1/2 hour
> tearing it up, making "nests" and burying each other in paper. My
> entire living room is COVERED with it right now.
> Sierra, Jared and Jalen are sitting on the hearth, grabing wads of
> paper and watching it burn. Fun way to clean up!!:)
>
begging me to go see Jalen so he can burn paper too! LOL!!! The
kids are still busy building and painting dollhouse furniture. Lots
of paint and pieces of cardboard everywhere. We sat down to watch a
movie together and slowly kids started drifting out of the room to
go do other things. I ended up finding myself alone watching a
movie I wasn't planning on watching! LOL!!
Michelle
soggyboysmom
--- In [email protected], "scrapgal"
<pamperedmichelle@g...> wrote:
smoke/steam coming out the little "tunnels" before it bursts into
flame.
<pamperedmichelle@g...> wrote:
> Lots of ... pieces of cardboard everywhere.Oohh corrugated cardboard is fun to burn - you can see wisps of
> Michelle
smoke/steam coming out the little "tunnels" before it bursts into
flame.
scrapgal
--- In [email protected], "soggyboysmom"
<debra.rossing@m...> wrote:
dry debris left over from the hurricane I'm not about to burn
outside. Maybe I'll drop the kids off at Ren's house with all their
carboard (which would probably be toxic by now with all the various
paints on it!)
Michelle
<debra.rossing@m...> wrote:
>Well, ok. But um, I don't have a fire place and with all the very
> --- In [email protected], "scrapgal"
> <pamperedmichelle@g...> wrote:
> > Lots of ... pieces of cardboard everywhere.
> > Michelle
>
> Oohh corrugated cardboard is fun to burn - you can see wisps of
> smoke/steam coming out the little "tunnels" before it bursts into
> flame.
dry debris left over from the hurricane I'm not about to burn
outside. Maybe I'll drop the kids off at Ren's house with all their
carboard (which would probably be toxic by now with all the various
paints on it!)
Michelle
Angela S
<<<Right now, all televisions are off, in spite of cable programming
with loads of channels and tons of DVD's to choose from. >>>
There was a comment made on a local homeschooling list recently about how
there is "nothing good about TV." At the time I was reading it, my two dds,
who have complete access to satellite TV, were in the living room with an
unschooled friend writing stories and reading them to each other. I
chuckled as I read it. Today my girls watched an hour of TV, so far. From
7-8 a.m. They turned it off of their own volition at 8 to play with each
other. It still hasn't been turned back on and it's 7:10 p.m. I am
thinking about turning it on for myself as soon as I catch up on email, but
the kids haven't turned it back on all day. (oh yeah, I forgot I said I'd
read to the kids in a few minutes.) We did .go to the barn, rode our horse,
went to a birthday party, came home, went back to the barn, got a couple
quick meals in between there somewhere and just played. This is a typical
day for us, minus the birthday party.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
with loads of channels and tons of DVD's to choose from. >>>
There was a comment made on a local homeschooling list recently about how
there is "nothing good about TV." At the time I was reading it, my two dds,
who have complete access to satellite TV, were in the living room with an
unschooled friend writing stories and reading them to each other. I
chuckled as I read it. Today my girls watched an hour of TV, so far. From
7-8 a.m. They turned it off of their own volition at 8 to play with each
other. It still hasn't been turned back on and it's 7:10 p.m. I am
thinking about turning it on for myself as soon as I catch up on email, but
the kids haven't turned it back on all day. (oh yeah, I forgot I said I'd
read to the kids in a few minutes.) We did .go to the barn, rode our horse,
went to a birthday party, came home, went back to the barn, got a couple
quick meals in between there somewhere and just played. This is a typical
day for us, minus the birthday party.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sylvia Toyama
"No, joke! Heck, I sometimes wish t.v. my kids would get into a
state like this simply by having them watch t.v. My boys 6,5, and 2
watch t.v. 99.9% of the time and 99.9% of the time are literally
bouncing off the walls!"
****
I was bothered by the idea that a parent could post that her kids watch TV 99.9% of the time. C'mon, that's not even possible, is it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person -- child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking moments.
Sylvia
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
state like this simply by having them watch t.v. My boys 6,5, and 2
watch t.v. 99.9% of the time and 99.9% of the time are literally
bouncing off the walls!"
****
I was bothered by the idea that a parent could post that her kids watch TV 99.9% of the time. C'mon, that's not even possible, is it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person -- child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking moments.
Sylvia
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Maria Dorian
<<I was bothered by the idea that a parent could post that her kids
watch TV 99.9% of the time. C'mon, that's not even possible, is
it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person --
child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking
moments. >>
One thing I am learning on this website, among other things, is how
to explain things in a clear manner. I am not a writer but am
learning! I'm afraid that I did not do a good job explaining myself
on this post at all! Sorry about that....
What I meant was that the television in my home is on 99% of the
time. The kids may actually not be sitting down watching it at
times, but it is on. My boys do not go to bed until sometimes 2 or
3 a.m. It will be left on overnight sometimes. My two year old
often wakes up at 6 to 6:30 a.m. and sometimes doesn't even need to
turn the television on because it's always on. Granted, they may
not be sitting down watching it at times because they like doing
other things of course.
Just wanted to clearify that one. Thank you for letting me share.
Maria
--- In [email protected], Sylvia Toyama
<sylgt04@y...> wrote:
it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person --
child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking
moments.
watch TV 99.9% of the time. C'mon, that's not even possible, is
it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person --
child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking
moments. >>
One thing I am learning on this website, among other things, is how
to explain things in a clear manner. I am not a writer but am
learning! I'm afraid that I did not do a good job explaining myself
on this post at all! Sorry about that....
What I meant was that the television in my home is on 99% of the
time. The kids may actually not be sitting down watching it at
times, but it is on. My boys do not go to bed until sometimes 2 or
3 a.m. It will be left on overnight sometimes. My two year old
often wakes up at 6 to 6:30 a.m. and sometimes doesn't even need to
turn the television on because it's always on. Granted, they may
not be sitting down watching it at times because they like doing
other things of course.
Just wanted to clearify that one. Thank you for letting me share.
Maria
--- In [email protected], Sylvia Toyama
<sylgt04@y...> wrote:
> "No, joke! Heck, I sometimes wish t.v. my kids would get into awatch TV 99.9% of the time. C'mon, that's not even possible, is
> state like this simply by having them watch t.v. My boys 6,5, and 2
> watch t.v. 99.9% of the time and 99.9% of the time are literally
> bouncing off the walls!"
>
> ****
>
> I was bothered by the idea that a parent could post that her kids
it? And if it is true, why? I can't really think of any person --
child or adult -- who actually watches TV 99% of their waking
moments.
>
> Sylvia
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pam Sorooshian
I'm sure it was clear to most that you were joking, Maria. And, having
had very very intense and extremely high energy kids myself (better
terminology, than "hyper," don't you think?) I definitely knew what you
meant, too.
-pam
had very very intense and extremely high energy kids myself (better
terminology, than "hyper," don't you think?) I definitely knew what you
meant, too.
-pam
On Mar 19, 2005, at 6:13 AM, Maria Dorian wrote:
> In addition, in my defense and my children's defense to my comment
> about wanting them to be in a comatose state while watching
> television, I was joking!!! I wouldn't change my kids for the world
> or any aspect of them.
Pam Sorooshian
On Mar 19, 2005, at 6:29 AM, Maria Dorian wrote:
same subjects. Our writing was FAR from clear when we started. WE need
to remember that we have learned a lot about how to express these
ideas, and WE need to be more willing to cut some slack for those who
haven't had the amount of experience we have had.
I've seen people go from very confused writing - hard to follow - to
being extremely articulate. Participation on email lists, with its
built-in feedback mechanisms, is a example of one way people can learn
to write (and think).
-pam
>Some of us have been writing online for over 10 years now, on these
> One thing I am learning on this website, among other things, is how
> to explain things in a clear manner. I am not a writer but am
> learning! I'm afraid that I did not do a good job explaining myself
> on this post at all! Sorry about that....
same subjects. Our writing was FAR from clear when we started. WE need
to remember that we have learned a lot about how to express these
ideas, and WE need to be more willing to cut some slack for those who
haven't had the amount of experience we have had.
I've seen people go from very confused writing - hard to follow - to
being extremely articulate. Participation on email lists, with its
built-in feedback mechanisms, is a example of one way people can learn
to write (and think).
-pam
Maria Dorian
<<extremely high energy kids myself (better
Maria
--- In [email protected], Pam Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
> terminology, than "hyper," don't you think>>You know, I do like this terminology better, you are right.
Maria
--- In [email protected], Pam Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
> I'm sure it was clear to most that you were joking, Maria. And,having
> had very very intense and extremely high energy kids myself(better
> terminology, than "hyper," don't you think?) I definitely knewwhat you
> meant, too.comment
>
> -pam
>
>
> On Mar 19, 2005, at 6:13 AM, Maria Dorian wrote:
>
> > In addition, in my defense and my children's defense to my
> > about wanting them to be in a comatose state while watchingworld
> > television, I was joking!!! I wouldn't change my kids for the
> > or any aspect of them.
Maria Dorian
<<I've seen people go from very confused writing - hard to follow -
to
Maria
--- In [email protected], Pam Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
to
> being extremely articulate. Participation on email lists, with itslearn
> built-in feedback mechanisms, is a example of one way people can
> to write (and think)>>Whew--Thank you, I needed to hear that!
Maria
--- In [email protected], Pam Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@e...> wrote:
>how
> On Mar 19, 2005, at 6:29 AM, Maria Dorian wrote:
>
> >
> > One thing I am learning on this website, among other things, is
> > to explain things in a clear manner. I am not a writer but ammyself
> > learning! I'm afraid that I did not do a good job explaining
> > on this post at all! Sorry about that....these
>
> Some of us have been writing online for over 10 years now, on
> same subjects. Our writing was FAR from clear when we started. WEneed
> to remember that we have learned a lot about how to express thesewho
> ideas, and WE need to be more willing to cut some slack for those
> haven't had the amount of experience we have had.to
>
> I've seen people go from very confused writing - hard to follow -
> being extremely articulate. Participation on email lists, with itslearn
> built-in feedback mechanisms, is a example of one way people can
> to write (and think).
>
> -pam
soggyboysmom
--- In [email protected], "Maria Dorian"
<mariadorian@h...> wrote:
go). From the menu, you can tell the TV to shut off in an hour or 30
minutes or whatever. So the kids, once they learn how (and they're
awfully quick to pick up stuff involving remotes and controllers and
things lol), they can set it so that it turns off after whatever
they're watching. And, if they're not asleep then, they can turn it
back on and re-set the timer. That way it's not just on all night -
the flicker would bother me - if our TV stays on in the living room,
I can see the light pattern flicker reflected on the stairway wall
when my door is open and it freaks me out - especially when DS and
DH are sleeping tucked in right beside me.
<mariadorian@h...> wrote:
> It will be left on overnight sometimes.Maybe you need a sleep timer (many newer TVs have them from the get-
go). From the menu, you can tell the TV to shut off in an hour or 30
minutes or whatever. So the kids, once they learn how (and they're
awfully quick to pick up stuff involving remotes and controllers and
things lol), they can set it so that it turns off after whatever
they're watching. And, if they're not asleep then, they can turn it
back on and re-set the timer. That way it's not just on all night -
the flicker would bother me - if our TV stays on in the living room,
I can see the light pattern flicker reflected on the stairway wall
when my door is open and it freaks me out - especially when DS and
DH are sleeping tucked in right beside me.