Is Your Family Watching Too Much TV? (You’re Not Alone!)
Posted By: Annita Woz
Category: Media, News
Comments: 7
A Nielsen Co. reports kids are watching more television than ever and television viewing for children ages 2-11 is the highest since 1995. Kids ages 6-11 watch 28 hours a week with about 4.5 hours on DVD. And worse, kids age 2-5 are watching 32 hours—yes, that’s even more than the 6-11 year-olds, presumably because they’re not in school.
I’m not surprised about the Nielsen numbers.
About a decade ago, there was a big push for educational television that could capture the infant and toddler population. Yes, really. Videos used the colors black, white and red since research showed those colors caught the attention of infant brains. Yes, TV for babies! I guess the thought was that if kids were watching more TV then they should be watching better quality TV.
I admit it is much more work to engage my kids in a board game or a walk to the park than it is to turn on the tube. I don’t initiate interactive time at home unless it involves helping me keep the house running. This seems to be a “Momism”—we aren’t so hot at playing, but we are great at organizing and correcting! I cite lots of excuses for my kids TV viewing habits like:
- My kids time is already too structured and they need down time.
- My classic educational excuse of only watching public television or shows that are respectful of adults and language.
- I honestly would wrestle someone for the rights to alleviate my parental sleep deprivation with an hour of mindless television when the kids wake me at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning.
So where are the statistics on TV watching with a parent? Dad loves racing our oldest daughter to the remote. The stress of his job and I guess the stress of her growing up job allows him to define TV watching as an activity affording the necessary together time for dad and daughter—who have so little time together—to explore interests and opinions of each other as they talk about the show.
Given the rise of childhood obesity, declining educational standards and the rates of health problems linked to an inactive lifestyle, I can see why the media jumps on statistics like the 30 odd hours of couch potato madness. But, until TVs are powered by a family of viewers walking uphill on treadmills, I think we are going to have some sedentary TV watching going on for a long time across America.
But there is hope, and I think we just have to be willing to listen. In fact, this “frontline report” from my three kids is a great example: We went out to dinner and then drove to the theatre (yes, sort of like inconvenient and expensive television) only find that the movie we wanted to see had started a half hour earlier than we thought. As we drove away the kids spotted the local bowling alley and shouted out, “Lets go bowling!”
Dad and I looked at each other and made no argument. The kids chose something active and they were all in agreement. No sibling rivalry! Everyone was happy! Non-violent, brain engaging, physical stress relief for parents and kids! And I got out of doing the laundry!
Annita Woz is a mom of three and parent blogger for EP. Read the complete bios of all our contributors and parent bloggers here.
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November 10th, 2009 at 8:28 am
This is an area where my hubby and I disagree - he’s big on the TV, I’m NOT! However, especially with most of what’s on being pretty mindless and frankly, almost dull once you’ve seen a couple of shows, I find it’s not hard to distract my 8 yo with a better alternative. We do a lot of crafts kits, play games, read. I find it’s easiest when I do get organized about it - I keep a crafts drawer stocked with kits at his level, keep our family games organized with my favorites on top, and keep some of the new books until I need them to pull him away. I’ll usually get set up and then go ask my 8 yo to play so I’m ready when he says yes and he gets involved in our activity before he hears something that’ll draw him back.
I know this isn’t always active, but at least it’s more mentally stimulating than the tube usually is!
November 10th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Laura, Isn’t it easy for them to be drawn away from fun– the tv takes over the house! they hear a show and their heads swivel right to the screen. THe getting up first is the trick isn’t it…making it a little less their choice and more of a follow-along and have fun. I like it.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I think a little TV in moderation is fine. I’ve gotten into the habit of telling my son, “OK, you can watch 2 Phineas & Ferb’s and then it’s going off and we’re going to do (fill in the blank).” It seems to work really well because he knows what to expect. We also don’t let him watch anything violent or scary, by the way — I think it’s really important to monitor what our kids are viewing. (This is partly because when I was five, the babysitter let my brother and I watch the Exorcist. I still have nightmares about it!) By the way, my husband tends to watch more TV with our son when I’m not home, but I’ve given up on that battle.
Plus, they have fun together and it’s relaxing “down time” for both of them.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I don’t get it! My 11 year old son and 10 year old daughter see TV when they’re sick or occasionaly Friday night for about 1.5 hours. We are a very busy family. My kids still love to play creatively or read or of course complete tons of homework. We have 4 TVs in our home and we watch less than 3 hours a month!! Simply turn it off!!!!
Linda naifeh
November 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Thanks for the great blog, Anita! Ahhhh, yes. The good old issue of the brain-damaging, intelligence-blunting,girth-widening, vision-imparing, sociopath-producing TV programs and their effect on kids.
I suppose the wise thing to do would be that I just take the 5th Amenement on the subject and keep my mouth shut. =)
The only comment I will make is that I appreciate the creative outcomes from parents that this issue inspires — all quite appropriate and beneficial to our children. (No offense to anyone, please.)
November 13th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Thank you Susan for your honesty. Here’s some more…I have to admit that Lindas comments really offended me at first- because she was SO RIGHT ON that we have the control to turn it off, we just don’t want to! Linda- your idea led me to take some action, beyond writing about it! I stopped at the library and picked up a huge pile of books, dug out all the magazines that my husband has been trying to make time to read, and pulled my reading chair and bookclub books into the living room. Declaring one night a week as READING night - we will have all electronic gadgetry turned off and the commercial message will be “Reading is good!Grow your Brain!”
November 15th, 2009 at 2:37 am
A common thread is the fact that our husbands like to turn on the TV as soon as they get home. We can’t argue with that, they have had a busy day and now its time for them to unwind. My husband likes to turn the TV on at 6.00am when he gets up as well for the morning show. It makes it hard to explain to the kids why we don’t want them to watch it….. However, my kids now realise with pets to look after and a vegie garden to water, the morning is jobs time before school, then when they get home we have snacks, sport, guitar practice and homework before TV gets a mention. Really cuts down on TV time. But then there are the days I have had a difficult/extra busy time, and if I can’t manage to structure non TV activities, sometimes it is just easier to turn it on so I can have a quick rest. Then I don’t blow my stack with the kids and we have a more peaceful evening. So sometimes its the lesser of two evils - am I a bad parent for letting my kids watch TV instead of becoming a screaming Hitler trying to enforce the routine? Especially when my husband can’t see the problem with them watching TV? I think we have to take the statistics and then balance them with our lifestyles. A happy medium is better than all or nothing.