Marcia Coakley

I wanted to comment about TV and visual stimulation.

We have pretty minimal TV reception and my husband and I rarely watch
(except for particular events on occasion). I know that I would get hooked
on some cable channels (history, nature, A&E etc) but I prefer reading. A
quiet night together with my husband (if we don't go
dancing....contras/square, swing, or vintage ballroom)...is usually a nice
beverage and a book that I read out loud (we've been through JRR Tolkien, JK
Rowling, B. Jacques, R. Jordan...and the kids get in on it whenever we're
all together...car rides and such...I read out loud to them all the time,
too)...we would rather get on with our book than turn on TV.

So, the kids are not usually much interested...except for movies and games.

I am not a "movie person" (I do love some, but they can be hard on me...I
have to be very selective), and my son is like me...where he must be careful
about visual images that he sees and that linger with him. We are both
still "haunted" by some things watched (TV and movies).

And then there is ocular lock...where the brain cross-hemispheric
functioning becomes limited and the brain's function is rerouted
homolaterally (only one side) with any flat screen visual stimulation. It's
not that it's all bad...it's just only one kind and limiting. It is better
to have a variety of activities over the course of the day.

It's the same in everything...variety...food* over the course of a day (or
week...doesn't matter what order it goes in!), exercise, play, stimulation.
Every hour or so (the timing is more critical for certain peoples' brains)
it is good to "look" and interact with something different for
awhile...longer view (outdoors) after close up work, moving around when
having stared at (any kind of) a screen for a period of time....and most
importantly...the physical activity, cross-hemispheric integration and whole
body function aspect of the human learning and growing experience (also for
one's whole life). This is the work of Brain Gym, martial arts, yoga,
dance, Nia, and so many other understandings of the broader meaning of
learning, and health!

*I was reminded again about making sure that it (food) does go in
regularly...my son's mood really goes haywire if he gets so deeply
interested in something when we're out somewhere else, that makes him seem
to need to be grasp it more tightly (de-schooling still in process), says
he's not hungry and is dragging his feet to eat...and waits too long. I
still must keep that schedule in mind when planning any outside activities
he wants to do...(this is huge stressor even though he wants some of it),
and he is 11. At home this is not a problem...I leave food ready for him,
or he chooses something on his own...trusting himself to manage it and I
stay out of it!. Outside things are still more stressful (another reason
leaving school was a blessing) and his awareness (of his own feelings and
things around him) is less grounded and clear yet.

I believe (based on so many people's work and research...and much personal
experience) that much learning is hindered by limited types of
input/experience of the world around us. We have a culture of human beings
who know little about the range (of motion AND understanding) for which
their bodies have potential. Not (necessarily) for the purpose of
comparison or competition...but for the joy of what it means to be human and
in the world.....and how using the body is a path to so many things...rhythm
and music, perception, relationship, joy, beauty and self acceptance. This
is the way to much high self esteem, key to successful relationships and
happier people.

So my concern remains...that although there is so much wondrous information
and opportunity on (cable) TV nowadays....there is a less emphasis on
participation when there is so much access to the world vicariously and
visually. We need both...and I bring this as part of the bigger discussion
in our family culture. It is harder to find acceptance and joy in our
bodies if we don't know them or trust what they can learn and do. The
long-term health concerns of bodies long unstimulated are manifest in the
world around us. The joy some adults find later through the myriad
possibilities (sports, dance, yoga, anything) invariably are accompanied by
the wishes that they had been able to do it all their lives, and injury
free...rather than be afraid of "looking weird" or thinking "I can't" etc.
Let's have this be the norm...the joy from childhood we never lose! Be a
role model for those around you!

Marcia C.
Medway, MA

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