Tao_Equus
Interfaith Forums
How much tv do you watch?
I agree completely with that one...and then after two the maximum combination of TV, Video Game, Computer Time should be less than the total amount of time spent reading or being read to, less than the amount of time spent playing board games or card games, less than the amount of time spent playing with friends, and less than the amount of time spent outside. I used that rule for my kids up until the seperation....the limiting factor on sitting in front of any kind of monitor was reading, playing, playing, and outdoors...I think it was extremely valuable. It not only limited, but also made them make decisions as to what they were going to watch....and they'd watch a part of a movie, and pause it and watch another part the next day....so not only the decision...but patience... I'd like to think that some of that discipline was partially responsible for creating the great teens they are...of course I've got some tricky years ahead of me....The Canadian Peadiatric Society recommends NO TV before the age of two because that is when their language acquisition is highest and their little brains are forever expanding.
I agree completely with that one...and then after two the maximum combination of TV, Video Game, Computer Time should be less than the total amount of time spent reading or being read to, less than the amount of time spent playing board games or card games, less than the amount of time spent playing with friends, and less than the amount of time spent outside. I used that rule for my kids up until the seperation....the limiting factor on sitting in front of any kind of monitor was reading, playing, playing, and outdoors...I think it was extremely valuable. It not only limited, but also made them make decisions as to what they were going to watch....and they'd watch a part of a movie, and pause it and watch another part the next day....so not only the decision...but patience... I'd like to think that some of that discipline was partially responsible for creating the great teens they are...of course I've got some tricky years ahead of me....
You are so right...many daycares especially home care/nanny's love to use the TV to do their job. That is why my tv formula was developed...my wife went back to work after a few months (yes, I know shame on us) so I required the nanny to keep a diary...and it took a while when they were three to find a daycare that didn't center around the television...and then when they were in elementary school, they had after care in the school, at a public school...they rolled in the TV once a week, but believe it or not I had to go in twice and turn the TV off! PG-13 movies with kids from 6-12 years old watching... I pulled out the tape, walked into the principles office and asked her if she thought PG-13 meant Parental Guidance, Parents strongly cautioned that some material maybe inappropriate for children under 13...or After Care Personel Determine it is suitable for first graders?? When they pulled in the after care people they said, "Well the kids don't want to watch the G-rated movies, they bring these in...." To which I responded, "If they brought in beer for snack time would that be ok?"Actually, you would be amazed at how many daycares/preschools watch tv and movies all the time.
In my centre We have let the After school kids watch one movie on one day during Spring Break otherwise it collects dust. There is just so much more they can do.