TV is Bad. “Children’s” TV May Be Worse.
I am not a fan of TV, and the three of you who read this blog will probably recall that we don’t have TV service (I mean we didn’t even before the whole RV thing!), and prefer our DVDs of good movies and old TV shows.
Today it was once again made crystal clear to me how right we are…
We’re visiting family in Memphis, and there are two girls, 5 and 7. They spend A LOT of time watching The Disney Channel… a little Nickolodeon, a little Disney on the web, etc. their dad feels he’s being very conscientious about what they watch - only those two channels on TV, only those two websites, etc.
So, naturally, Nick (now 13!) has spent time vegging on the couch with them yesterday and today. I sat there for a while nursing Jewel, and was, ummmm, not impressed.
First of all, I’m a little unclear on what age group the shows are directed towards. Some might at first glance seem to be for the younger kids. Many of the characters claim to be about 12 years old. But… but…
- Why do the girls have to dress like… well, around here we say “Hoochie Mamas” ?
- Why is there so much boy/girl STUFF, and why is it such a big emphasis?
- Why are kids so bratty and disrespectful to adults?
- Why are adults typically portrayed as goofy and/or stupid?
- Why is it so… busy? It’s loud, it’s visually “loud,” there’s a lot of speed-motion and fast cutting, etc.
- Why is it reinforced as funny when people fall, spill their food, break things, etc.?
In short, I found no redeeming qualities in any of the several different shows I had the opportunity to view today. And all this was “TV G,” which the FCC defines as:
TV-G (General Audience — Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages.) Although this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or situations.
Perhaps the lesson to be learned from this is simply that we are not “most parents” - at least not by the government’s definition. But I think we already knew that.
In fact, we’re proud not to be “most parents.” We’re practicing Christians, self-employed, homeschoolers, extended breastfeeding co-sleeping parents, we spend 24/7 together and do not “get sick of each other” (thank you very much), non-TV-watching (no kidding!), believers in the Biblical view of marriage, totally full-time RV travellers (we don’t own or rent any other “home”)…
But back to the story at hand…
Nick spent a number of hours soaking in these bossy, disrespectful kids. And you’ll never guess what happened?
Okay, so you did guess: He was bossy and disrespectful!
We’ve been having challenges lately anyway. 13 year-old hormones, unpleasant weather, and being off any kind of routine with summer and family illnesses have created a lot of tension.
But it truly was a visible transformation!
The kids’ play got rowdier and rowdier. Nick got bossier and more obnoxious with them. Then he got brattier and more obnoxious with us… And kept responding to the more subtle attempts at correction with comments like, “What?” “What was I doing?” and, “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
He ended up getting sent to bed early and without any supper. All very quaint sounding, but not pleasant for anyone involved.
This is something that worries me about the way society is drifting. Things are blithly accepted as “rated G” and “just normal,” but are actually encouraging kids to be horrible and have no respect for authority. But of course we wouldn’t want to be “mean” to them, or risk damaging their fragile self-esteem, right?
I love what Michael Pearl of No Greater Joy says about self-esteem:
You must understand that placing a child under obligation to observe boundaries and obey rules will not damage his self-esteem. [. . .] To be lenient on a child that has low self-esteem will only heighten his poor self-image by allowing him to act in ways that not only displease you but also violate his own conscience. His conscience makes demands upon him. He has an internal judge accusing him of any failure. You cannot rid a child of the voice of conscience through “positive affirmation.”
But with Disney-channel-itis beating down the voice of conscience, what are these kids going to be like in another 5, 10, 20 years? What will our country be like?
Off soapbox… But our personal dilema remains.
What now? For the time being, we’re going to try — in addition to praying more — removing all the even questionable influences that we can from all of our lives: the XBox, all computer games that have bad elements, any books or magazines that aren’t uplifting… and obviously, no more TV viewing no matter what the rest of the assembled company is doing!
I don’t know that it will make him any more motivated to learn, or more diligent in remembering his responsibilities, and certainly not overnight… But if more adolescents were modeling themselves after John Boy Walton and Charles Ingalls, I think the world would be a better place.
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(MUST have the Extended Edition and Widescreen!)
(fried hot dogs! Mmmm)
July 10th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Oh Tiffany I SO agree with you! I have kids who are 12, 9 and 3 and they had been watching those shows now and then until one day when I had a chance to sit down and watch with them. I was horrified!! I honestly think most parents don’t know or don’t care. Why in the world you’d want to TEACH your kids to be rude, conniving, and promiscuous is beyond me. Shame on Disney! Thanks for voicing this, I’ve been thinking the same thing!
July 10th, 2007 at 11:15 am
That is why I quit watching TV
They shows are worthless, boring, disgusting, and flat out annoying!
July 15th, 2007 at 6:18 am
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July 17th, 2007 at 8:54 am
We don’t have television, either, but my mother does. I’ve decided that TVG programming is actually often worse (by my standards) than programming the powers that be determine is more ‘mature’ in content.
I also agree with removing ungodly external influences. That said, I would caution you that there is still a heart to deal with- certain television programming does effect a couple of my kids negatively, but others are able to control themselves and ignore it- in fact, don’t even find it appealing. When watching a television show draws out bad behavior in a child, I think it’s usually because of an underlying heart issue specific to that child. Removing the electronics is an important first step, but it’s important to address the underlying heart issues that made that behavior a temptation and that programming appealing in the first place- and that takes longer.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I had noticed the same things about the Disney shows. These shows push boy-girl relationships like crazy. When do kids get to be kids? But I’ve met 1st graders concerned with getting a boyfriend. So sad. And I have to agree with the rest of what you said, as well. Just like food manufacturers (I use that word on purpose), toy manufactures, & big pharma are not our friends, neither are the TV content producers.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Oh yes. Today’s t.v. for adolescents is just plain bad. My little ones watch Zaboomafoo with the occasional staged prat fall (Dick van Dyke style), but never anything with attitude, disrespect, disregard for others, or a half-dozen other behaviors that put children on the swift road to ruin.
My 12 year old enjoys the occasional Little House on the Prarie (but even that is viewed with discernment). We love Andy Griffith around here, but I have my reservations about I Love Lucy…funny, but so dishonoring in the husband-wife relationship (lying, envy, deceit, plotting, contention).
Satan is still crafty. May we all beware.
Nice to meet you…I can’t remember how I got here.
July 18th, 2007 at 7:28 am
I agree 100% with your opinions of TV.
We have been TV free since April and wouldn’t have it any other way. Since we have “unplugged” we are much more inclined to naturally gravitate towards “family time”. We find ourselves playing games, sitting on the front porch talking, building a club house, digging a goldfish pond, etc….
July 21st, 2007 at 12:57 pm
It is a pity how many think the Disney Channel harmless. Ditto “Radio Disney,” which is far worse. I am pretty sure Disney has no charter statement about nurturing positive child development; if they do, they are guilty of whole-heartedly ignoring it in favor of the pursuit of profit.
I don’t begrudge them the profit thing. But I don’t watch much of their stuff, and I guard my children (especially the 5-year-old) from watching it. It’s “harmless normalcy” is more harmful, in its way, than 10 episodes of Spongebob Squarepants run back-to-back.
At university, I spent 9 years sans television. I don’t think of it as classically “evil,” but it *is,* in my opinion, evil in this sense: it paralyzes the creative faculties, for the most part, unless one is studying how to produce video oneself (which I am not). Just as reading gives one ideas for one’s own writing, or (in my case) listening to music gives one ideas for one’s own music.
This is my first visit here, off my beaten path, via “Gates of Vienna” blog. But I have some interest in education (a math teacher at middle and high school and college levels) and home schooling (my two best friends from college, though th ehusband is an English teacher, home school their two very extraordinary kids).
Thank you for the stimulating post. I am gratified that although television is off your “needs” list, that the internet blog is still on it!
July 21st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
We have been TV free for 10 years and have never regretted it. We have 5 children who play together, are creative and artistic, and don’t ask for the latest game, toy, or clothing brand, because they don’t know it even exists. THey are innocent in the realm of sexuality and are great kids.
The other night a telemarketer called trying to sell satellite service, when I told him, “we don’t have a television set,” he started stuttering! “How can you not have a TV, what do you do?” I replied, “We read a lot.” He just couldn’t believe it, after all what else is there to do in life but vegetate in front of a screen?
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
I just googled children’s television blog and found your post. I’m in the business of making kids tv. A colleague and friend who had interest in doing a show, approached me to see if we could do something that would “inspire creativity and imagination”. We both wanted to get the kids to turn off the TV after viewing and go play, hang with friends and family in a creative way and make healthy choices. We are a local show in Michigan (currently), but hope to make a national impact someday. Check out our website and share your feedback. comeonover.com If this feels like a blatant plug, then pull the website and just share the message that there are folks out there trying to make a difference in the children’s television landscape. Thanks!