Stephanie Currier

Robin writes>>>I mean, it's great to see some awesome show on Discovery
channel about animals or whatever, but there we were near the Everglades and
not seeing the real animals! Crazy-making.>>

Ah, but after going to the Everglades for the day, it is so nice to be able
to watch a show that reminds you of what you've seen there.
Or a brings those things that you haven't seen into reach. My kids have been
fascinated with Asia for going on two years, and joy at finding visuals to
feed their interest. We can't pull off a trip just yet.

Now maybe if we had a family plane....
:)

In our case, TV doesn't really get in the way of what we're DOing. It is
rare that we'll revolve our day around a TV show, or just sit for hours. It
is a supplement to what is already going on. The kids color and watch Crock
Files. I cook at watch FoodTV.

I used to lmit the box when we first began homeschooling, and hypothetically
wouldn't mind if life got so busy and exciting that TV wasn't interesting
anymore, but am not aiming for that now, because for us, limiting a positive
doesn't make much sense.

A lady at our park was complaining about how her neices watch TV from the
moment they come home from school, into the wee hours of the night. She said
that they don't get enough sleep, and that they don't eat healthily because
of the TV. I suggested that it was their *need* to zone out because their
day away from the TV is so structured for them...filling every minute. When
they get home, their parents and siblings are all about their own things.
I think that TV can be a substitute for cohesiveness, and maybe delay the
facing of it/dealing with it in some families, but I don't, like some,
believe it to be the "cause."

Not that anyone here was saying that specifically...just triggered my
thoughts.

Steph

DiamondAir

> From: "Stephanie Currier" <clownofgod@...>
> Ah, but after going to the Everglades for the day, it is so nice to be
able
> to watch a show that reminds you of what you've seen there.
> Or a brings those things that you haven't seen into reach. My kids have
been
> fascinated with Asia for going on two years, and joy at finding visuals to
> feed their interest. We can't pull off a trip just yet.

Oh, I agree. There are definitely cool things worth watching. That's why we
love to check out videos and such. It's a bummer that the public library
here doesn't have a video section like the one we had in Washington. They
had National Geographic videos and all sorts of good stuff.


> A lady at our park was complaining about how her neices watch TV from the
> moment they come home from school, into the wee hours of the night. She
said
> that they don't get enough sleep, and that they don't eat healthily
because
> of the TV. I suggested that it was their *need* to zone out because their
> day away from the TV is so structured for them...filling every minute.
When
> they get home, their parents and siblings are all about their own things.
> I think that TV can be a substitute for cohesiveness, and maybe delay the
> facing of it/dealing with it in some families, but I don't, like some,
> believe it to be the "cause."


Well, I'm not so sure. I think it's hard to find definitive reasons for
people and their approach towards the TV. I know homeschooling families
where the kids are glued to the box for hours, and it's not to escape
school. My theory is that (as with so many things), there are people who are
just more genetically likely to have an unhealthy attraction to it. My DH is
from a family of 7, and one of his siblings is an alcoholic. The rest of
them can pick up a beer and drink it, no problem. They don't reach for a
2nd, and a 3rd.... So for them, having beer in the fridge is no big deal.
For their brother, it is. I think TV *can* be addictive, but probably not
for most people. For many people, it's probably like the beer in the
fridge - no big deal, but for some it has an overhwhelming attraction. I do
think kids have different reactions to TV, based on their personalities.
When we had our TV in the living room, my son would stay glued to it for as
long as it was on, and not for lack of other things to do, and definitely
not because his life was too structured, LOL. At the same age, my daughter
could care less. In fact, she typically just won't watch it at all and when
we rent movies I have to keep going and chasing her through the house, I
usually don't see too much of the movie! So I can definitely see why even
homeschooling families would feel it was in the best interests of their kids
to limit or even get rid of the TV, if it was causing a problem for their
specific kids. I can also see how other people who don't have this
experience with their kids, could easily say "Well, if you just let them
watch as much as they want to, they'll turn it off. They won't
overstimulate" as if it is always the case that it is the *limits* that
cause the problems and not that the limits *come from* the problems. Often
times when you find a parent who is limiting something, it is because their
kid is prone to overstimulation or overattraction to it, not the other way
around. In this sense, TV can be "the cause", even if it isn't "the cause"
of problems for most people. But I also think you're right in that TV can be
a crutch or substitute and that when the underlying family issues are
addressed, it is used much less. I think that it is this scenario (which I
believe is really common) that the TV-turn-off week was aimed at. This is an
interesting discussion!!

Blue Skies!
-Robin-
Mom to Mackenzie (8/28/96) and Asa (10/5/99) who spent much energy today
drawing "wounds" on their bodies with red markers in graphic detail
http://www.geocities.com/the_clevengers Flying Clevenger Family

Stephanie Currier

Robine writes
>>>Often
times when you find a parent who is limiting something, it is because their
kid is prone to overstimulation or overattraction to it, not the other way
around. In this sense, TV can be "the cause", even if it isn't "the cause"
of problems for most people. But I also think you're right in that TV can be
a crutch or substitute and that when the underlying family issues are
addressed, it is used much less. I think that it is this scenario (which I
believe is really common) that the TV-turn-off week was aimed at. This is an
interesting discussion!!
>>>>

Ahhh. I see what you're saying.

When my oldest was three or so, keeping her out all day at malls or family
gatherings would overstimulate her and she'd have to cry to get out all of
her complicated, overwhelmed thoughts before she could go to sleep. She
would also have nightmares.
When we began to run around less, and spend more time at home, many
relatives took it personally. Often there were comments about "No...you
don't tell them life has the choice of being any different and they'll
adapt."
Well, we didn't. We chose to listen more closely to what she needed, and to
make them adapt instead.

So...all that to say I can see this angle. :)

Steph

Johanna

and as she grew her needs changed, just like tv viewving can change. When I was little I often spent vast amounts of time in front of the TV saturday and sunday were at least four to six hours, maybe more. As a teenager, I hardly watched it at all and still watch rarely. Occasionally I will go through a period watching a lot, but it only lasts about a week.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephanie Currier
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] re: Turn off TV week


Robine writes
>>>Often
times when you find a parent who is limiting something, it is because their
kid is prone to overstimulation or overattraction to it, not the other way
around. In this sense, TV can be "the cause", even if it isn't "the cause"
of problems for most people. But I also think you're right in that TV can be
a crutch or substitute and that when the underlying family issues are
addressed, it is used much less. I think that it is this scenario (which I
believe is really common) that the TV-turn-off week was aimed at. This is an
interesting discussion!!
>>>>

Ahhh. I see what you're saying.

When my oldest was three or so, keeping her out all day at malls or family
gatherings would overstimulate her and she'd have to cry to get out all of
her complicated, overwhelmed thoughts before she could go to sleep. She
would also have nightmares.
When we began to run around less, and spend more time at home, many
relatives took it personally. Often there were comments about "No...you
don't tell them life has the choice of being any different and they'll
adapt."
Well, we didn't. We chose to listen more closely to what she needed, and to
make them adapt instead.

So...all that to say I can see this angle. :)

Steph



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Eileen M.

--- Johanna <saninocencio1@...> wrote:
> and as she grew her needs changed, just like tv
> viewving can change. When I was little I often spent
> vast amounts of time in front of the TV saturday and
> sunday were at least four to six hours, maybe more.
> As a teenager, I hardly watched it at all and still
> watch rarely. Occasionally I will go through a
> period watching a lot, but it only lasts about a
> week.
> Johanna
> Life is the ultimate learning experience!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Stephanie Currier
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 4:48 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] re: Turn off TV
> week
>
>
> Robine writes
> >>>Often
> times when you find a parent who is limiting
> something, it is because their
> kid is prone to overstimulation or overattraction
> to it, not the other way
> around. In this sense, TV can be "the cause", even
> if it isn't "the cause"
> of problems for most people. But I also think
> you're right in that TV can be
> a crutch or substitute and that when the
> underlying family issues are
> addressed, it is used much less. I think that it
> is this scenario (which I
> believe is really common) that the TV-turn-off
> week was aimed at. This is an
> interesting discussion!!
> >>>>
>
> Ahhh. I see what you're saying.
>
> When my oldest was three or so, keeping her out
> all day at malls or family
> gatherings would overstimulate her and she'd have
> to cry to get out all of
> her complicated, overwhelmed thoughts before she
> could go to sleep. She
> would also have nightmares.
> When we began to run around less, and spend more
> time at home, many
> relatives took it personally. Often there were
> comments about "No...you
> don't tell them life has the choice of being any
> different and they'll
> adapt."
> Well, we didn't. We chose to listen more closely
> to what she needed, and to
> make them adapt instead.
>
> So...all that to say I can see this angle. :)
>
> Steph
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> Guaranteed Lowest Hotel Rates!
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter
> and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education
> Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
> Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>


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