What we discovered in the process is that our lifestyle is not conducive to regularly watching anything that is a continuum. If you need to watch the previous week’s episode before you view the current episode, then count us out. It isn’t going to happen. Our lives are predictably unpredictable. Actually, that’s probably truer of me than it is of the General, but she’s headstrong and she doesn’t want to succumb to being a television addict. Actually, she’s probably more disciplined than I am. The long and short of it is that we discovered we didn’t like the sense of being addicted (is addicted too strong of a word? – No I think it works) to television.
When Craig was first deployed to Iraq in April 2004, the General put me on notice that we were not going to watch the news. I was watching a news special on military activity in Iraq and the General said “No” with a raised eyebrow. That is code for: “This is non-negotiable -Turn it off”. Consequently, (pardon the pun), I know the importance of picking my battles. I wasn’t going to win that one.
We stopped watching the news and we are not “worse for wear”. Actually, I think it was a healthy choice. Seldom ever does the news reflect anything other than negativity. For families with young children, I’d recommend an immediate boycott to the news. The information we are exposing young children to is perplexing. Your three year old probably isn’t going to ask you about the horror story you just invited into your home, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t unsettling or disturbing.
I once heard Dr. Bruce Perry state on “Living Smart” that children under the age of three probably shouldn’t be exposed to television. He also cautioned that viewing time for anyone needed to be limited. Any positive aspects that can emerge from television can better be learned through direct contact and interaction with others. Children need access to activities that promote brain development. A child learns a lot more from actual interaction with people and things rather than television. Too often, television becomes a make-shift baby sitter and takes away the time for play, exploration and conversation.
Unless you are limiting your television exposure to HGTV, you could be subtly exposing your children to negative influences. Research indicates that young children who are exposed to violence on television behave more aggressively when they are older. The message they learn is that violence is the best way to resolve conflict. Factor in the commercials that offer a luring appeal for any number of things that may or may not be congruent with values you want for your children and it becomes evident that television isn’t simply neutral entertainment.
The General and I have never simply turned the television on for background noise. I can’t imagine doing that, but some people do. I’d hate to live in that kind of household. I’d much prefer to listen to music than the sound of anything on television. I figure if it is important to turn off the light when you vacate a room, you should also turn off the television when you’re not watching it. Actually, in our living area, the television is enclosed inside an armoire. While the presence of a visible television screen in a living area doesn’t appear out of place, I still prefer it be camouflaged.
Actually, I’ve may be at a place that I can comfortably endorse cutting the cord with television. While I am beginning to question that access to HGTV for a year is worth $1,200, I am also beginning to consider healthier alternatives to television.
All My Best!
Don