Filed under: Child Development, Health and Safety, Lifestyle, Television, DVDs and Videos, Working from home, Working out of home, Video GamesI really hate it when parents get up on a high horse and make judgments about other people's parenting decisions, and I am mortified when I here one parent lambaste another for bottle feeding instead of breast feeding, or deciding to vaccinate, or not. So I have to say I was rather embarrassed that my post about TV as a babysitter came across just exactly that way. Oy.
I absolutely understand that many people need to have their children safely engaged while they do things like take shower or put a casserole in the oven. And I completely get that I'm blessed with a husband who a) works from home, b) does his fair share or more of the housework/food preparation, and c) is a hands-on and involved parent. In other words, I know I have it easy--compared at least to parents whose partners work extremely long hours or choose to think that it's their partner's job do everything child relate--though I do work ten hour days with kids, and come home regularly feeling like a piece of shredded meat. But that's another story.
Really, I wasn't trying to claim that I have it all figured out--though it may have come across that way. I can see where single moms--and I bow down to them, again and again and again for all the astounding and inconceivable work that they do day after day--might have no choice to rely on TV for a few minutes of downtime. And when it comes down to it, to each her own, is really the only way to go. I mean, who am I really to claim any which way is the way to go?
I guess the bottom line is that I wish more parents don't try to limit TV time in general. I see the negative affects of screen time regularly in the classroom. Kids these days are watching more television, playing more video games, and watching more movies than any generation of kids previous to them, and as a result they've forgotten how to play hopscotch and jump rope on the playground. No joke. Several of my first graders haven't the slightest idea what a jump rope rhyme might even be. None knew the rules for hopscotch when I asked.
So aside from the fact that I was surprised that more parents weren't selfishly grabbing some one-on-one time with their partners during time that their kids were tuned in to the screen, as a teacher I would be thrilled if every parent would limit the amount of time that their kid spends in front of the TV--especially when they're folding laundry or making dinner and their child could be meaningfully involved.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments



Posted at http://feeds.bloggingbaby.com/~r/weblogs...243043671/
Comments: http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/28/tv-.../#comments