Comments on: Time Out – Television http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/ The Playpen - A preemie and parenting blog from parents of a beautiful premature baby girl Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:44:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: The Playpen » Blog Archive » We’ll Have Halloween On Christmas http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2299 The Playpen » Blog Archive » We’ll Have Halloween On Christmas Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:54:34 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2299 [...] I was inspired by last week’s series, in particular the post about television. My daughter is becoming a pretty creative kid, and I am fairly sure that Toot & Puddle has [...] [...] I was inspired by last week’s series, in particular the post about television. My daughter is becoming a pretty creative kid, and I am fairly sure that Toot & Puddle has [...]

]]> By: threeundertwo http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2297 threeundertwo Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:50:22 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2297 Interesting post and comments. I discontinued cable when George Clooney left E.R. What was the point of even owning a television after that? So my kids have reached their teen years with no t.v. at all (no reception without cable). We watch dvds with the kids, after homework is done and rooms are clean etc. So that pretty much leaves it to the weekends. My kids are fabulous, musically gifted, voracious readers who are very savvy about pop culture. My son, however, cheats at Monopoly. The dark side of teaching your kids to play board games I guess. I think every family should decide for themselves, but I would argue with anyone that lack of t.v. leaves kids behind in any way. I also take a pretty dim view of parents who use t.v. as a babysitter. Just my bias. I had three kids under the age of two and plenty of time for myself. It just takes a little organization. .-= threeundertwo´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LitAndLaundry/~3/KSzT9Xoop_I/makes-my-monday.html" rel="nofollow">Makes My Monday</a> =-. Interesting post and comments. I discontinued cable when George Clooney left E.R. What was the point of even owning a television after that? So my kids have reached their teen years with no t.v. at all (no reception without cable). We watch dvds with the kids, after homework is done and rooms are clean etc. So that pretty much leaves it to the weekends.

My kids are fabulous, musically gifted, voracious readers who are very savvy about pop culture. My son, however, cheats at Monopoly. The dark side of teaching your kids to play board games I guess.

I think every family should decide for themselves, but I would argue with anyone that lack of t.v. leaves kids behind in any way. I also take a pretty dim view of parents who use t.v. as a babysitter. Just my bias. I had three kids under the age of two and plenty of time for myself. It just takes a little organization.
threeundertwo´s last blog ..Makes My Monday My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Arby http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2292 Arby Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:09:34 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2292 It isn't that the kids watch TV that concerns me as much as what they watch that concerns me. Since there isn't a whole lot of worthwhile television programs, mine don't watch TV all that often. Now, video games are their true desire, and that is a battle I just don't need, but fight regularly. .-= Arby´s last blog ..<a href="http://boardinginbedlam.blogspot.com/2010/01/parenting-101-golden-trophy.html" rel="nofollow">Parenting 101: The Golden Trophy</a> =-. It isn’t that the kids watch TV that concerns me as much as what they watch that concerns me. Since there isn’t a whole lot of worthwhile television programs, mine don’t watch TV all that often. Now, video games are their true desire, and that is a battle I just don’t need, but fight regularly.
Arby´s last blog ..Parenting 101: The Golden Trophy My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: N2 http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2268 N2 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:40:59 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2268 @Matt & Kori, Thanks again for your thought provoking post(s). I was thinking about this this morning and about the question of "personal time". I have to agree with Kori, that you can get it without using the TV. TV, after all, is a cold electronic wet nurse. When disconnected, the kids have learned nothing about entertaining themselves except to turn back on the junk food juice. Do you feed them Twinkies, Snowballs, HoHo's? I think not. Teach a man to fish...Teach a kid to draw, shape clay, read, listen to a story record or tape, work a puzzle, play a game with you or another kid, dig in the garden, ride a bike, got to the library...and they grow up knowing not just how to entertain themselves but how to focus, use their imagination and concentrate -- how to think for themselves. My advice is to unplug the TV. It will be good for all concerned. .-= N2´s last blog ..<a href="http://n2notesfromabroad.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-22-dans-le-grenier.html" rel="nofollow">Day 22: Dans le grenier</a> =-. @Matt & Kori,
Thanks again for your thought provoking post(s). I was thinking about this this morning and about the question of “personal time”. I have to agree with Kori, that you can get it without using the TV. TV, after all, is a cold electronic wet nurse. When disconnected, the kids have learned nothing about entertaining themselves except to turn back on the junk food juice. Do you feed them Twinkies, Snowballs, HoHo’s? I think not. Teach a man to fish…Teach a kid to draw, shape clay, read, listen to a story record or tape, work a puzzle, play a game with you or another kid, dig in the garden, ride a bike, got to the library…and they grow up knowing not just how to entertain themselves but how to focus, use their imagination and concentrate — how to think for themselves. My advice is to unplug the TV. It will be good for all concerned.
N2´s last blog ..Day 22: Dans le grenier My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Cat http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2265 Cat Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:03:45 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2265 I'm with most of the people here- I think that watching with your child every now and again is fine, using it as a babysitter for hours every day isn't. But I also have the problem that others have stated, moderating it for myself and not building a schedule around it is harder. If it were just me, I wouldn't have a TV outside of my room. But I live with my mom so the TV reigns. .-= Cat´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YoungOldCrone/~3/BtcZyI5YYzg/wordless-wednesday_27.html" rel="nofollow">Wordless Wednesday</a> =-. I’m with most of the people here- I think that watching with your child every now and again is fine, using it as a babysitter for hours every day isn’t. But I also have the problem that others have stated, moderating it for myself and not building a schedule around it is harder.

If it were just me, I wouldn’t have a TV outside of my room. But I live with my mom so the TV reigns.
Cat´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Barbara http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2264 Barbara Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:29:35 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2264 @Matt, Here you have been extremely astute, Matt. Accepting tv as a daily norm - like eating, leads one to not question it. And then it grows - like a waistline. (I mean this comment as a compliment.) .-= Barbara´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Therextras/~3/WSj1RXQ_udA/do-you-see-what-you-get-.html" rel="nofollow">Do you see what you get?</a> =-. @Matt, Here you have been extremely astute, Matt. Accepting tv as a daily norm – like eating, leads one to not question it. And then it grows – like a waistline. (I mean this comment as a compliment.)
Barbara´s last blog ..Do you see what you get? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Matt http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2263 Matt Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:04:29 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2263 @BusyDad, Is that your final answer? Get it? Man, thank god for TV. Moderation has always been a weak point for me, but DO try. I think the problem in particular is building it into our schedule, you know? I don't do that with ANY other "free" activities such as games, puzzles, art or music. Those things are more like electives in our house while TV has become a core unit. @BusyDad, Is that your final answer? Get it? Man, thank god for TV.
Moderation has always been a weak point for me, but DO try. I think the problem in particular is building it into our schedule, you know? I don’t do that with ANY other “free” activities such as games, puzzles, art or music. Those things are more like electives in our house while TV has become a core unit.

]]> By: Matt http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2262 Matt Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:57:49 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2262 @Mr Lady, This is very true. EVERY time we skip TV and do something else like reading, drawing, etc., the ONLY person that seems to notice is me. If I keep Frankie busy, she doesn't even ask for it, nor does she care. @Mr Lady, This is very true. EVERY time we skip TV and do something else like reading, drawing, etc., the ONLY person that seems to notice is me. If I keep Frankie busy, she doesn’t even ask for it, nor does she care.

]]> By: Matt http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2261 Matt Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:55:35 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2261 @Mr Lady, First of, LOL! My (also four-year-old) daughter also seems to have a strange fascination with that particular area of her body at the moment. I usually just look away. And I guess my statement is also based on the fact that I don't HAVE older children. In my mind I have this terrible vision of my daughter at 13, pale and glazed over, watching 10 straight hours of Night Court reruns while taking long pulls off of her honeybear bong. That being said, your comment DOES make sense. @Mr Lady, First of, LOL! My (also four-year-old) daughter also seems to have a strange fascination with that particular area of her body at the moment. I usually just look away.
And I guess my statement is also based on the fact that I don’t HAVE older children. In my mind I have this terrible vision of my daughter at 13, pale and glazed over, watching 10 straight hours of Night Court reruns while taking long pulls off of her honeybear bong. That being said, your comment DOES make sense.

]]> By: Matt http://redsparks.com/playpen/2010/01/27/time-out-television/comment-page-1/#comment-2260 Matt Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:52:19 +0000 http://redsparks.com/playpen/?p=1434#comment-2260 @Barbara, I did too...and nice to see you two getting along again. Agreeing is good. Don't you agree? @Barbara, I did too…and nice to see you two getting along again. Agreeing is good. Don’t you agree?

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