TV, unschooling and vision
mnbyelich
Just to preface this question, we began unschooling (radically) in
October 2008 and have found it to be amazing and we love living this
lifestyle. That being said, I decided to read a book that I've
always heard about: Better Late than Early by Raymond and Dorothy
Moore. I'm sure most, if not all, of you know this book :)
Anyway, as I'm reading this book, I'm enjoying it because it all
makes sense. And then, while reading about visual development in
children and doing "close work" and how this can have an negative
impact on their ability to suceed in later years (meaning that all
the reading, close up busy work, focusing on blackboards, etc is not
healthy for the developing eyes in the early years (schooling) until
the child has developed maturity in developmental, emotional,
physical ways) they mention that tv watching in the early years is
also considered "close work" and has been shown to influence sight
related disorders in later years i.e. nearsightedness. This book was
written in 1974 and of course, since then, computers are now in the
mix.
Now, since unschooling, we've not been restricting TV watching and
have watched our 2 kids go from watching a lot of tv (as expected) to
watching more sporadically and also engaging in others things while
the tv is on in the background. They also go on the internet at times
too. My issue and question is not related to how much
tv/computers...we are fine with that issue. They claim that this
issue becomes less of a concern as the children develop maturity
usually after 8-10 years old. My kids are 2.5 yo and 7 yo.
I'm just wondering if others have read anything about this as well?
Do you have any concerns about this? If anyone has read this book,
did you get hung up on this idea? I'm not about to restrict my kids
tv watching and computer use. However, reading this just really made
my heart sink.
Some ideas I have is that although they do watch tv and go on the
computer, they are making this choice...they are not being forced
into doing this "close work" like the kids at school are and that my
kids always have the option of focusing their eyes far away and
resting them if necessary. Perhaps, naturally they become involved
in other activities to give their eyes a rest. Also, they do a lot
of other things while the tv is on so they are often moving their
eyes around. My son does get headaches on occassion that now I'm
wondering if it might be related to this idea.
However, at the same time, they also look at magazines, books, play
with toys, figures, legos, etc. Wouldn't all this be
considered "close work" as well? Especially in the winter, when we
stay indoors more, there is more "close work". The authors say that
optimally, looking more at distance things is best for kids up to 8-
10 years old. However, really, how can a little one be more distance
oriented visually at this age most of the time? Especially during
the winter months? Am I giving this paragraph more attention than it
needs?
If anything, I think this will make me more mindful about offering
other activities throughout the day but I still need to hear what
others think about this because now, of course, I'm thinking that all
this tv and computer watching is...gasp...bad ;) Just kidding...
October 2008 and have found it to be amazing and we love living this
lifestyle. That being said, I decided to read a book that I've
always heard about: Better Late than Early by Raymond and Dorothy
Moore. I'm sure most, if not all, of you know this book :)
Anyway, as I'm reading this book, I'm enjoying it because it all
makes sense. And then, while reading about visual development in
children and doing "close work" and how this can have an negative
impact on their ability to suceed in later years (meaning that all
the reading, close up busy work, focusing on blackboards, etc is not
healthy for the developing eyes in the early years (schooling) until
the child has developed maturity in developmental, emotional,
physical ways) they mention that tv watching in the early years is
also considered "close work" and has been shown to influence sight
related disorders in later years i.e. nearsightedness. This book was
written in 1974 and of course, since then, computers are now in the
mix.
Now, since unschooling, we've not been restricting TV watching and
have watched our 2 kids go from watching a lot of tv (as expected) to
watching more sporadically and also engaging in others things while
the tv is on in the background. They also go on the internet at times
too. My issue and question is not related to how much
tv/computers...we are fine with that issue. They claim that this
issue becomes less of a concern as the children develop maturity
usually after 8-10 years old. My kids are 2.5 yo and 7 yo.
I'm just wondering if others have read anything about this as well?
Do you have any concerns about this? If anyone has read this book,
did you get hung up on this idea? I'm not about to restrict my kids
tv watching and computer use. However, reading this just really made
my heart sink.
Some ideas I have is that although they do watch tv and go on the
computer, they are making this choice...they are not being forced
into doing this "close work" like the kids at school are and that my
kids always have the option of focusing their eyes far away and
resting them if necessary. Perhaps, naturally they become involved
in other activities to give their eyes a rest. Also, they do a lot
of other things while the tv is on so they are often moving their
eyes around. My son does get headaches on occassion that now I'm
wondering if it might be related to this idea.
However, at the same time, they also look at magazines, books, play
with toys, figures, legos, etc. Wouldn't all this be
considered "close work" as well? Especially in the winter, when we
stay indoors more, there is more "close work". The authors say that
optimally, looking more at distance things is best for kids up to 8-
10 years old. However, really, how can a little one be more distance
oriented visually at this age most of the time? Especially during
the winter months? Am I giving this paragraph more attention than it
needs?
If anything, I think this will make me more mindful about offering
other activities throughout the day but I still need to hear what
others think about this because now, of course, I'm thinking that all
this tv and computer watching is...gasp...bad ;) Just kidding...
Ellen
There is so much written on the topic of media to scare parents. It's
hard to know how much to believe it, especially since the conventional
wisdom seems to change generation to generation. I grew up with TV. I
don't know how many hours I watched it but I don't remember it being
particularly restricted. Plus I was one of 3 kids so I imagine it was
on some even when I was not watching it. And I know I watched Sesame
Street and the like as a really little kid. FWIW, my eye sight is
perfect!
hard to know how much to believe it, especially since the conventional
wisdom seems to change generation to generation. I grew up with TV. I
don't know how many hours I watched it but I don't remember it being
particularly restricted. Plus I was one of 3 kids so I imagine it was
on some even when I was not watching it. And I know I watched Sesame
Street and the like as a really little kid. FWIW, my eye sight is
perfect!
Schuyler
There is confusion about the causes of myopia (nearsightedness) from what I can see. It is most likely genetic, although that does not mean that environmental factors won't come into play. It seems a minor thing to be concerned about. Eyes change fairly frequently. Pregnancy can change your eyesight. One thing you could do to lessen the effect might be to set up comfortable seats and pillows and cushions a bit further back from the tv, or get a bigger screen. In 1974 screen sizes would have been smaller and the reception would have been grainer than in modern television.
Schuyler
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Schuyler
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mnbyelich
thanks, your comments help! I guess in '74 the screens were pretty
small compared to today's screens and with the quality of the picture
today would seem to make it less stressful for the eyes.
i apprecaite your comments! I'm going to just continue (and increase)
the strewing around the house and outdoors and just relax about this
issue :)
natalie
small compared to today's screens and with the quality of the picture
today would seem to make it less stressful for the eyes.
i apprecaite your comments! I'm going to just continue (and increase)
the strewing around the house and outdoors and just relax about this
issue :)
natalie
Faith Void
FWIW I watch hardly any TV growing up, Seriously, we didn't have one until I
was 12. I have nearsightedness in both eyes. My wonderful little sister
LOVED TV. She watched from dawn til dusk...perfect vision after age 9. Go
figure?
Faith
was 12. I have nearsightedness in both eyes. My wonderful little sister
LOVED TV. She watched from dawn til dusk...perfect vision after age 9. Go
figure?
Faith
On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 10:24 PM, Ellen <ellen@...> wrote:
> There is so much written on the topic of media to scare parents. It's
> hard to know how much to believe it, especially since the conventional
> wisdom seems to change generation to generation. I grew up with TV. I
> don't know how many hours I watched it but I don't remember it being
> particularly restricted. Plus I was one of 3 kids so I imagine it was
> on some even when I was not watching it. And I know I watched Sesame
> Street and the like as a really little kid. FWIW, my eye sight is
> perfect!
>
>
> M<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/message/38291;_ylc=X3oDMTM3YmNudWp0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNzg5NTEzBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA4MTk3MgRtc2dJZAMzODI5NQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyMzQ0OTU0NzgEdHBjSWQDMzgyOTE->
>
--
http://faithvoid.blogspot.com/
www.bearthmama.com
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