Comments on: How to prevent your child from being a TV or video game addict

By: Pre-solution to the Pre-problem | Remarkable Parents

Pre-solution to the Pre-problem | Remarkable Parents — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:18:03 +0000

[...] How to Prevent Your Child From Being A TV or Video Game Addict [...]

By: Dominique

Dominique — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:00:49 +0000

My boys do spend quite a bit of time on their PC during the week days. Moderation is the key here in controlling the time they spend infront of a screen.
We do a lot of outside activities too during our weekends.

By: John Haydon

John Haydon — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:45:57 +0000

That would be my approach too.

By: Vicky H

Vicky H — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:30:49 +0000

@johnhaydon I’m not advocating totally shutting down the tv, I was just sharing a situation from my teen years when my best friends parents decided to not have a tv. Personally I would not totally remove it, maybe block/make certain channels to need a password, but I wouldn’t remove it. This is my personal preference.

Great discussion.

By: John Haydon

John Haydon — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:24:12 +0000

Talibah – My son used to be into Bakugan. Now he’s into Bionicles.

Vicky – The one concern I have about completely shutting out TV is that, later on, it could create a desire within him to have it in excess. My approach is to not give TV too much energy either way, because some TV is good (Sesame Street, PBS Kids).

By: VickyH

VickyH — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:57:57 +0000

My best friend when I was growing up who was not allowed to watch tv (actually when their tv went bad, they just never got another one) or eat any junk food.

Every day after school we would go to the store and buy junk food. I usually didn’t buy any she just did, but she ate it in excess. I think it has to be a family decision with buy in from everyone or it does sometimes seem like a punishment to kids. Or they do the opposite of what you want just out of rebellion.

Interesting discussion.

By: Talibah MBONISI

Talibah MBONISI — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:56:06 +0000

Great post! I completely agree. For some families no TV/video games may work. But, I haven’t seen that happen in my family. In fact, I’ve seen the exact opposite effect. Growing up, my cousins were not allowed to watch any TV at their home. The result, in their case was that they all (9 of them), to a person, would do nothing but watch TV whenever they had the opportunity. For at least one of them, the ultimate result was flunking out of college, because he was so addicted to the television. As adults and parents themselves, each one has chosen to take a more moderate approach with their own children.

In my case, I’m with you, John. I try to participate with my son. He’s really into Bakugan right now, so I let him watch the show, but we also read the books (not great lit, but it’s reading), organize his cards alphabetically, do the math required to play the game, draw the characters. And, now, you’ve given me even more ideas about how to engage with him more fully.

Thanks!

By: Alex Henning

Alex Henning — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:02:47 +0000

@Judy No TV is a good plan if you can guarantee that they will never encounter a TV, which is unlikely. Reasonable amounts of mostly educational TV shows seems the best way to prevent mindless watching of TV.

By: Judy Armes

Judy Armes — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:01:38 +0000

My daughter was anti-TV…big time. So, she didn’t allow her daughters to watch TV at all. When the youngest was 5 years old, I took her to an educational event at a local mall and had lunch in the food court. Above all the noise of the crowd, a TV monitor was showing a cartoon–muted. She was mesmerized to the images on the screen–I couldn’t get her attention away from being glued to the TV, despite the fact that what she was viewing couldn’t have made sense to her.
I suspect that NO TV may not be the best plan. Instead, monitored and infrequent TV watching opportunities might provide an excellent experience to guide children to learn about TV, valuable TV programs and prevent a mindless facination with “what-ever-is-on” TV.

By: John Haydon

John Haydon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:59:53 +0000

Thanks, Ria!

By: Practical Mommy

Practical Mommy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:02:08 +0000

You often here, “What you resist, persists.” The mindset of pitting parents against “screen time” often makes kids want it even more. And admit it, TV and video games are fun! So I love your solution, John because it stays away from judging something that your son enjoys and making it “bad.” Just think of the inner conflict and years of therapy you are saving him from!

Come to think of it, my grandpa did the same thing you did with me. We used to play a lot of computer games together. Although it takes a big imagination to eloborate on PONG.