One of the things I thought about long and hard when it comes to raising my children is the use of television. I mean, when I was a child I was addicted to the television. It played a huge central role in my life. If anything, television was my life.
I even believe that television contributed to some of my problems in my youth. I was more interested in watching television than playing with my friends. And because television was so very stimulating to my young mind, I just couldn’t get enough of it.
I end up not doing my homework except on the bus going to and from school because, I didn’t want to interrupt my television time. Needless to say, school just was not interesting to me at all. And I felt at that time that, my time would be better spent in front of the television.
So I was not very well educated as a child. I just didn’t pay any attention. Most of my day at school was spent imagining some of the things that I saw on television or just waiting impatiently to get back home and watched television.
From my experience I can see how the television has negatively affected me and this is one of the things that worries me about my child, that is on the way. I don’t want my child to be affected like I was. I want my child to enjoy playing with his friends and to enjoy what he learns in school. And I especially want him/her to develop a great imagination that comes from reading story books. Something that still to this day I cannot really get into because, story books just are not stimulating enough for me to get into.
So yesterday I was talking with my wife and we have decided that for the first few years of the child’s life he or she will not be exposed to television. After that it will be a rarity… A treat. If you will. A treat that happens on a special occasion.
By doing this, I think we will be able to reduce some of the behavioral problems that seem to become larger due to television. Also I think this gives my wife and I a chance to spend more time with our kids raising them ourselves. Instead of letting the television do it for us.
I often find it amazing that, many parents are doing their own thing while their kid(s) is just sitting in front of the television with little to no parental supervision. And later, when the child is acting out and having problems. For repeating some of the things they hear and see on television. The parent ends up putting the blame somewhere else (Ironically on the television), instead of accepting the blame on themselves when it is they who put their kids in front of the television unattended and exposed to a great deal of many different things.
I understand today. It’s a difficult task to raise a child. But the television should not be the babysitter. For my wife and I, particularly myself, this will be a difficult thing. Because I’m still partially addicted to the television. However, it’s not so bad. The wife and I will still be watching television. It just will not be in the same room. It will most likely be done on the computer when our responsibilities as parents is no longer needed. And seeing that we only watch a few shows between us. Anyways. Shows that we can find easily on the Internet from such sites as Hulu.com are not exactly making a very huge sacrifice. Wo we will only be doing things a little bit different.
Ultimately this could also be good for the wife and I because, instead of just turning on the television and watching it, which is not very constructive for the relationship. We will spend more time with each other. Having conversations and spending our time together. Giving us the opportunity to develop a relationship even further. And really, what better way to continue our successful marriage then to continue developing it and growing stronger with each other by spending time with each other and stimulating each other with conversation. Instead of allowing television to stimulate us.
We will not just be stopping at television. This will also include video games. Instead of plotting the kid in front of the Xbox or PlayStation will come together as a family to play family oriented games like, chutes and ladders and monopoly…Games that have fallen out of favor.
Discussion
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