Taming the TV
“My child has an incredible attention span. He can sit through a half-hour television program without moving a muscle,” Cathy assured Gail with a smile.
“I’m afraid most television programs actually shorten a child’s attention span,” Gail responded gently. “Have you ever noticed how often the camera angle changes during a typical show?”
Cathy’s smile faded. “I never thought about that. What does camera angle have to do with attention spans?” she asked thoughtfully.
Gail revealed her findings. “Once I tried to count the seconds during one of the children’s programs. While the camera was showing one scene I started counting ‘one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one-thousand three, . . .’ until the scene switched. Rarely did I get to three seconds before they were showing a different scene or at least switching to a different camera angle. I realized that the show was actually training my child to desire a new object of attention — a change — every three seconds. It wasn’t lengthening his attention span; it was shortening it!”
And attention-span training is only one of the issues connected with watching television. As parents, we must also be concerned about what beliefs and values are being taught by the words, actions, and character traits depicted in the programs and the commercials.
Intentional parents must constantly be vigilant regarding what messages they allow to influence their children. Be courageous enough to evaluate the popular shows and movies by Biblical standards. Do the shows you and your children watch encourage rivalry between siblings? Do they foster an age-segregated disdain for the younger and contempt for the elder attitude? Do they blatantly break God’s commandments and show no consequences? Do they teach disrespect and disobedience toward parents? Do they present deceptive words and ways as entertaining? Do they encourage immodesty in action and dress? Do they exalt an attitude of revenge? Even (or should I say, especially) children’s shows can teach the opposite of what you are seeking to instill in your little ones. Be on the alert!
You may say, “That’s not a problem. The shows that I allow my children to watch measure up to my (and God’s) high standards.” Great! May I also encourage you to be careful of how much time your family members spend watching the television? Even good shows can stifle better activities.
The TV can be one of the greatest obstacles to cultivating authentic enjoyable pastimes in your family. Let’s face it, it’s easier to sit, stare, and be entertained than to consider, contemplate, and create. And our flesh will be drawn toward what is easy when given the choice. The key is to take away the choice. Make television the exception, not the rule.
Turn off the TV and provide lots of raw materials for your family members to work with. Once it has become a habit in your home to work with your hands and minds instead of sitting in front of the TV, the enjoyable pastimes and creativity will flourish. Relationship-building conversations will become everyday occurrences. God-given talents and interests will be developed. Minds will be sharpened; memories will be forged. Ministry opportunities will be widened.
Don’t let the television undermine your goal for your children. Work hard to establish intentional habits that will help you pursue the goal.
Q & A
Q: How much TV do your children watch?
A: The rule of thumb at our house is that our girls are allowed to watch one pre-approved video per week on Saturdays after they finish their extra weekly chores. The youngest may watch one Mister Rogers program each weekday, and the other three may watch a home improvement show with us one night a week. That schedule still leaves them plenty of time to bake, sew, paint, bead, cultivate flowers, feed birds, catch lizards, create costumes, write and produce home movies, watch squirrels, play games, and read lots of books.
Q: We turned off the television and now our children wander around saying that they’re bored. How should we handle that?
A: As you’re finding out, it’s much easier to limit or eliminate television watching right from the start. However, it’s never too late to make a change for the better. Just be prepared to stand firm during the transition time. I’d recommend three suggestions to help you handle this stage.
- Help them form a new habit. Provide art supplies or other raw materials and maybe an appropriate how-to book to help them get started creating on their own. Or establish a read-aloud time when the whole family can enjoy a classic book one chapter at a time.
- Try not to get caught in the trap of doing their thinking for them. Make one or two suggestions of what they might do, but encourage them to come up with something themselves. You might need to say something like, “I’m busy doing (such and such); now you think of something to do.”
- If a slightly firmer approach is needed, keep a list of chores handy. When the children come to you with “nothing to do,” assign them a task. They’ll soon learn to occupy themselves with the wholesome options you’ve made available for enjoyable pastimes.
