Limiting Kids' TV-Watching Time

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Because it uses both visual and audio stimulation, television is a particularly powerful draw for young audiences. Though TV does have some educational value, there is strong evidence of its drawbacks.

Several years ago, the instructor of a class I attended read an article where the author was poised, weapon in hand, debating with her conscience on whether or not to kill. I followed her inner struggle as she considered all angles of her actions, my breath bated with the build-up of suspense until she finally cut off the power supply, plunged her house into darkness, and wielded her deadly weapon: a pair of kitchen scissors. Her target? The television cable wire.

Today, as a mother of four in a world bombarded by media stimuli, I cannot say how many times I've struggled with a similar temptation. Sure it's fun to hang out in front of a take-out pizza and watch a movie with my family. Granted, television can be wonderfully educational, entertaining, and mesmerizing, but I still struggle with the "tube," which I view as a latent monster in my home. This is especially true when it's time to do homework, time for baths and meals, time for conversation, or when I'd like to just enjoy peace and quiet.

Because it uses both visual and audio stimulation, television is particularly powerful for young audiences, engrossing them to the extent that some children become unreachable unless somebody shouts in their ears or physically tears them away to break the spell. This often leads to whimpering, whining, or even screaming from the child.

Though the list of attributes of this globalization tool that has shrunk our world's borders is long, the evidence of its drawbacks and of the dangers lurking within it has been proven conclusive. Limiting kids' tv-watching and video game time has its benefits.