Re: Watching TV
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/29/01 12:24:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
<< At some point in his life, he'll be able to put
these images in a context, but it's pretty clear that right now all they do
is cause him concern, judging by the way he's reacted when he's seen them.
He's an extraordinarily sensitive child and I'd like to see him keep his
"magic" for a few more years. >>
You have just put into words the EXACT reasons I CAN NOT allow my 3 1/2 year
old to watch any television except childrens PBS shows like Sesame Street and
Barney. I've been attemtping to share my reasons for limiting TV for my
children but couldn't find the right words...thanks.
Michelle in DE
[email protected] writes:
<< At some point in his life, he'll be able to put
these images in a context, but it's pretty clear that right now all they do
is cause him concern, judging by the way he's reacted when he's seen them.
He's an extraordinarily sensitive child and I'd like to see him keep his
"magic" for a few more years. >>
You have just put into words the EXACT reasons I CAN NOT allow my 3 1/2 year
old to watch any television except childrens PBS shows like Sesame Street and
Barney. I've been attemtping to share my reasons for limiting TV for my
children but couldn't find the right words...thanks.
Michelle in DE
[email protected]
Thanks to everyone who has been commenting on the TV question. I have a lot
to think about. I understand comments such as this--
"I rather
appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv, insipid tv at that,
when we are out because they know they will get to see it at other times. "
But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3 yrs, 5 yrs. I guess
my question was really do you see a difference between children this age and
older children? I can see the point that with unrestricted "time" for TV my
kids would probably not space all day. They are very productive and have
great imaginations and can spend hours playing with a couple of legos and a
piece of string :)
I am more concerned about limiting the "content". TV is not the same as it
used to be. I am more concerned with all the advertising and the messages in
the shows themselves. Do any of you who do not limit "TV time" limit "TV
Content"?? I am babbling--hope this makes sense, I'm tired:) Thanks so much!
to think about. I understand comments such as this--
"I rather
appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv, insipid tv at that,
when we are out because they know they will get to see it at other times. "
But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3 yrs, 5 yrs. I guess
my question was really do you see a difference between children this age and
older children? I can see the point that with unrestricted "time" for TV my
kids would probably not space all day. They are very productive and have
great imaginations and can spend hours playing with a couple of legos and a
piece of string :)
I am more concerned about limiting the "content". TV is not the same as it
used to be. I am more concerned with all the advertising and the messages in
the shows themselves. Do any of you who do not limit "TV time" limit "TV
Content"?? I am babbling--hope this makes sense, I'm tired:) Thanks so much!
Tracy Oldfield
Thanks to everyone who has been commenting on the TV
question. I have a lot
to think about. I understand comments such as this--
"I rather
appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv,
insipid tv at that,
when we are out because they know they will get to see
it at other times. "
But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3
yrs, 5 yrs. I guess
my question was really do you see a difference between
children this age and
older children? I can see the point that with
unrestricted "time" for TV my
kids would probably not space all day. They are very
productive and have
great imaginations and can spend hours playing with a
couple of legos and a
piece of string :)
I am more concerned about limiting the "content". TV
is not the same as it
used to be. I am more concerned with all the
advertising and the messages in
the shows themselves. Do any of you who do not limit
"TV time" limit "TV
Content"?? I am babbling--hope this makes sense, I'm
tired:) Thanks so much!
I don't limit content, exactly, but I tell my children why I think it's
not a good idea for them to be watching X-Files with us (it's going
to be gruesome, pretty much a given with X-Files!) or why i don't
like the program they're watching (The Tweenies!! UGH!! So
nsaty to each other, and the 'grown-up' characters so ineffectual
and unempathetic!) or what the adverts are doing, ie, trying to
make you think you want or ened something so that you go and
spend your money on it... They're going to come into contact with
all kinds of adverts, billboards, stuff in magazines, etc, so i take the
opportunity when dd tells me we should have such-and-such to tell
her why I disagree :-)
I'd rather have the opportunity to combat this now, while they're
developing their moral senses *grin* I also don't believe in hiding
stuff, like the kid on ER (must be weeks ago now) who had HIV
and didn't know about it...
Tracy
question. I have a lot
to think about. I understand comments such as this--
"I rather
appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv,
insipid tv at that,
when we are out because they know they will get to see
it at other times. "
But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3
yrs, 5 yrs. I guess
my question was really do you see a difference between
children this age and
older children? I can see the point that with
unrestricted "time" for TV my
kids would probably not space all day. They are very
productive and have
great imaginations and can spend hours playing with a
couple of legos and a
piece of string :)
I am more concerned about limiting the "content". TV
is not the same as it
used to be. I am more concerned with all the
advertising and the messages in
the shows themselves. Do any of you who do not limit
"TV time" limit "TV
Content"?? I am babbling--hope this makes sense, I'm
tired:) Thanks so much!
I don't limit content, exactly, but I tell my children why I think it's
not a good idea for them to be watching X-Files with us (it's going
to be gruesome, pretty much a given with X-Files!) or why i don't
like the program they're watching (The Tweenies!! UGH!! So
nsaty to each other, and the 'grown-up' characters so ineffectual
and unempathetic!) or what the adverts are doing, ie, trying to
make you think you want or ened something so that you go and
spend your money on it... They're going to come into contact with
all kinds of adverts, billboards, stuff in magazines, etc, so i take the
opportunity when dd tells me we should have such-and-such to tell
her why I disagree :-)
I'd rather have the opportunity to combat this now, while they're
developing their moral senses *grin* I also don't believe in hiding
stuff, like the kid on ER (must be weeks ago now) who had HIV
and didn't know about it...
Tracy
Johanna
knowledge is power
johanna
----- Original Message -----From: Tracy OldfieldSent: Friday, March 30, 2001 2:18 PMSubject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Watching TVThanks to everyone who has been commenting on the TV
question. I have a lot
to think about. I understand comments such as this--
"I rather
appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv,
insipid tv at that,
when we are out because they know they will get to see
it at other times. "
But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3
yrs, 5 yrs. I guess
my question was really do you see a difference between
children this age and
older children? I can see the point that with
unrestricted "time" for TV my
kids would probably not space all day. They are very
productive and have
great imaginations and can spend hours playing with a
couple of legos and a
piece of string :)
I am more concerned about limiting the "content". TV
is not the same as it
used to be. I am more concerned with all the
advertising and the messages in
the shows themselves. Do any of you who do not limit
"TV time" limit "TV
Content"?? I am babbling--hope this makes sense, I'm
tired:) Thanks so much!
I don't limit content, exactly, but I tell my children why I think it's
not a good idea for them to be watching X-Files with us (it's going
to be gruesome, pretty much a given with X-Files!) or why i don't
like the program they're watching (The Tweenies!! UGH!! So
nsaty to each other, and the 'grown-up' characters so ineffectual
and unempathetic!) or what the adverts are doing, ie, trying to
make you think you want or ened something so that you go and
spend your money on it... They're going to come into contact with
all kinds of adverts, billboards, stuff in magazines, etc, so i take the
opportunity when dd tells me we should have such-and-such to tell
her why I disagree :-)
I'd rather have the opportunity to combat this now, while they're
developing their moral senses *grin* I also don't believe in hiding
stuff, like the kid on ER (must be weeks ago now) who had HIV
and didn't know about it...
Tracy
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dawn
>that was i miscommunication. i meant "when we are out as a family and a
> "I rather
> appreciate that my kids *aren't* the ones glued to tv,
> insipid tv at that,
> when we are out because they know they will get to see
> it at other times. "
>
> But my kids aren't home when we aren't. They are 7mo, 3
>
>
tv happens to be on." I was reminded of this a month or so ago. A group
of kids (mine included) were doing an activity at someone's house. As the
activity was breaking up, the tv happened to be on w/a Blue's Clues video
in. The "tv free" kids were glued to the tv, totally unable to interact
with others, totally unable to listen to the adults asking htem to get
ready for their pick up (shoes on, stuff gathered, coats, etc) totally
oblvivious to what was going on around them. They were much older than
the intended audience of Blue's Clues, too. And 'ive noticed they are the
same way whenever a tv is on. I t hink mine used to be that way, too,
when we were "tv-free". My kids are never home when I'm not (unless they
are with their father and i'm at work). I found by severly limiting tv, i
gave it power over them. and they do go in cycles. they watch more or
less depending on where they are in the cycle. We really only limit
content as much as we know it will bother the kids, but we will let them
try anything if they don't take our word for it (and they usually do trust
us, although my 5 yo just *had* to try a goosebumps video this week....and
that lasted all of 3 minutes before he came to me demanding to take it
back to the library THAT MINUTE it was way too scary (Duh....he can't
stand the conflict and suspense in BARNEY).
dhs
Bobbie
LOL, that reminds me of my 5 ds. He used to be waaay
more senstive than he is now...and now his sis (3) is
like that now. He's determined to not be though, it's
this thing he's going thru, I guess. His cousin, too,
was sooo traumatized by any nature shows with wild
animals in them at all when he was 5, cuz one time he
was watching a lion video and the lion started
fighting with another animal. Not horribly chomping on
him (yet, anyway, I'm sure that happened later after
the video was frantically turned off)....he was sooo
upset by any conflict at all. My son now has this
thing with thinking he's a grown-up and insists he can
handle anything. I say fine, and usually he does good.
(He's watched Jurrasic Park several times, and since
the first time I watched it with him and explained it
all and how it was not REAL and how they do it in the
movie making biz, he now explains things like that to
his sis...but everyone once and awhile he will wake up
with a scary dream about something he saw in a movie
and say to me "Mom, don't ever let me watch that show
again. It was too scary." (It's funny but it's always
the more "little kid" movies that I think are fine for
him that he ends up having dreams about, instead of
the more "grown up, scary" ones. hm.)
I remember when i was little my parents letting me
watch Jaws...who knows why, I was so afraid of
everything when i was little..but I insisted I could
take it....and I stayed up BY MYSELF and watched it
when I was like 7 and was sooo proud of myself cuz I
got scared just to the "fun" point and I knew that it
wasn't real. and cuz they trusted me to make up my own
mind as to when I thought I couldn't handle it.
-Bobbie
--- dawn <dawn@...> wrote:
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more senstive than he is now...and now his sis (3) is
like that now. He's determined to not be though, it's
this thing he's going thru, I guess. His cousin, too,
was sooo traumatized by any nature shows with wild
animals in them at all when he was 5, cuz one time he
was watching a lion video and the lion started
fighting with another animal. Not horribly chomping on
him (yet, anyway, I'm sure that happened later after
the video was frantically turned off)....he was sooo
upset by any conflict at all. My son now has this
thing with thinking he's a grown-up and insists he can
handle anything. I say fine, and usually he does good.
(He's watched Jurrasic Park several times, and since
the first time I watched it with him and explained it
all and how it was not REAL and how they do it in the
movie making biz, he now explains things like that to
his sis...but everyone once and awhile he will wake up
with a scary dream about something he saw in a movie
and say to me "Mom, don't ever let me watch that show
again. It was too scary." (It's funny but it's always
the more "little kid" movies that I think are fine for
him that he ends up having dreams about, instead of
the more "grown up, scary" ones. hm.)
I remember when i was little my parents letting me
watch Jaws...who knows why, I was so afraid of
everything when i was little..but I insisted I could
take it....and I stayed up BY MYSELF and watched it
when I was like 7 and was sooo proud of myself cuz I
got scared just to the "fun" point and I knew that it
wasn't real. and cuz they trusted me to make up my own
mind as to when I thought I couldn't handle it.
-Bobbie
--- dawn <dawn@...> wrote:
> but we will let themhttp://us.click.yahoo.com/03IJGA/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/0ETVlB/TM
> try anything if they don't take our word for it (and
> they usually do trust
> us, although my 5 yo just *had* to try a goosebumps
> video this week....and
> that lasted all of 3 minutes before he came to me
> demanding to take it
> back to the library THAT MINUTE it was way too scary
> (Duh....he can't
> stand the conflict and suspense in BARNEY).
> dhs
>
>
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