Wednesday, January 5, 2011

TV... friend or foe?


Well, I’m going to step out on a limb here and say, “friend, definitely, friend!” The television debate is often a hot one, especially when you’re dealing with kids. Some parents have very strict rules about television consumption; basically, fearing that it will rot your brain and such. I, however, take a more balanced approach to the old boob tube. I mean, sometimes you just need a little Scooby Doo to get you through, or some Ben 10, again and again.  A bit of Dora… no, not Dora, never Dora! 

Now let me clarify… I certainly don’t condone plopping your kids in front of the set for hours on end, but in moderation, it can be quite therapeutic for the whole family.  Sometimes parents have to get things done, or maybe they just need a little “time out”. Scooby Doo has certainly gotten me through many such times.
When you make something taboo it becomes that much more desirable. So don’t treat the TV as your enemy; just be mindful about how you use it. For example, my father-in-law took my husband to see the movie, Predator, when he was 6-years-old; this would be the opposite of mindful. Luckily, you can make a better choice.

By demonizing the television completely, you may inadvertently be making the attraction greater. So, let’s stop comparing ourselves to one another based on our television preferences.  Being a good parent has to do with a lot more than whether or not we partake in some TV time. The bottom line is this… if a movie here and there produces a more sane parent, then everyone wins!
Scooby Dooby Doo!

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