Tuesday, April 26, 2011

TV or not TV...that is the question

"Consider what a child misses during the 15, 000 hours (from birth to age seventeen) he spends in front of the TV screen. He is not working in the garage with his father, or in the garden with his mother. He is not doing homework, or reading, or collecting stamps. He is not cleaning his room, washing the supper dishes, or cutting the lawn. He is not listening to a discussion about community politics among his parents and their friends. He is not playing baseball or going fishing, or painting pictures. Exactly what does television offer that is so valuable it can replace these activities that transform an impulsive, self-absorbed child into a critically thinking adult?"
— Paul Copperman


We went TV free two summers back and it was great!! We never got round to it last summer and now with winter kicking in we use the TV more often. This quote has reminded me of all the things that TV watching steals. Mindful media consumption is my aim for this winter and TV free again next summer.

1 comment:

Amber said...

Yeah, totally. Except that when my kids watch TV (I admit, I've caved and now do allow DVDs a couple times a week) I'm having a little break to wash dishes, fold laundry or make dinner. ALONE. And I need this too. I need this little break in order to have the energy to then work with then in the garden, read to them or do art projects. I think "mindful media consumption" as your goal is very wise, indeed. I think that is where we are at now too.