But I really think that parents who fault their children for watching too much TV are getting it a bit wrong. It may not entirely be their fault, for, when you come down to it, TV is fun, TV is incisive, TV is informative, TV can be addictive. Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect, once referred to television as ‘chewing gum for the eyes’. Hmmm. And we know how sweet gums are!. From cartoons to games, to sports, movies, fashion, music, celeb gossip, it is an entire world on its own.
Even as a child grows into youth, ‘visual adventures’ on screen becomes a desirable pastime. However, so that this activity does not become a full-time engagement, parents have healthy roles to play. One of these is to actively regulate the length of TV viewing time that younger children would be allowed. This could range from three to five hours a day, or depending on what is comfortable. For older children (adolescents), regulating their viewing time may to them seem rather firm and unkind, and by the pout on their lips, you are quite certain that their agreeing to keep to your rule is so that they may break it! Ha. Hence, as a parent, you should approach the situation with all honesty and affection. Allow them some fun but let them know the dangers of an ‘addiction’. Encourage them to spend more time watching productive and positive programmes. Encourage them to watch as a family rather than by themselves in the ‘comfort’ of their studies or bedrooms. Play games (such as cards) together as a family, find some time to go on a family vacation, or something similar to this. Assist with developing their newfound natural talent(s), and work as a team.
By so doing, you should have triumphed in bringing your family closer together—if not physically—then emotionally, something TV wasn’t designed to do.
