I made the decision that we would spent our Labor Day weekend doing things together as a family and most importantly, there would be no TV. So we cleaned house together, cooked together, ate and cleaned up after together. We went to church together, ran errands together, played and worked outside together.
Last night after dinner we sat around and had a rare family visit. Everyone was engaged and happy and we laughed more than I remember us laughing in a very long time. When it was time for bed everyone got ready and hit the sack happy to get some sleep so the next day could be another great day like the weekend had been.
All we did differently was not watch TV. I asked them how they felt compared to how they feel when they watch TV. All four of them reluctantly agreed that they felt much better not watching TV. I asked what they meant by feeling better.
One of the girls said she didn’t feel bored, or tired. They all agreed and said they enjoyed doing art or reading or playing outside together more than they did watching TV. Ana and I remarked that they had been very respectful and thoughtful of us and each other. We also observed and shared with them that they had been encouraging each other and everyone jumped in to help everyone else do their chores so they could be done more quickly. There was no listlessness, no forgetfulness, and no bad attitudes, no arguing or tears, or kids appearing depressed or bored. It was amazing. And the only thing we did differently was not watch TV.
TV shows are designed to hold your attention, to keep you entertained and also to keep you watching advertising so everyone involved can make money. They do that by injecting drama that includes conflict, challenges, triumph, loss, heartbreak, desire, sadness, happiness, anger, fear, and virtually every other emotion a human being can feel. The lows make the highs far more effective. Video is cut in short segments in a 30 minute episode so that you never linger long on any point or feeling so you sit engaged as you are bounced from one emotion to another. Unlike a book where our brains work to envision a scene with our imagination, TV shuts down any creative thought and we just consume what is fed to our senses. When we get a high, our brain responds by secreting endorphins that give us a good feeling similar to when we exercise. TV soon becomes addictive and we can’t do without what it does to our brains.
When our four kids realized how much TV had affected them and how it had made them feel and act, they decided together that they would rather not watch TV unless it was a family special occasion.
The honest truth here. TV is a very effective babysitter. An hour of TV time for the kids can free up time for housework, important phone calls, a quiet break from active and loud kids or even a nap. Everyone does it, right? How bad can it be? I didn’t know the answer to that question until we stopped watching TV for a few days and then saw the difference in our kids.
It may not be the same for you and your family. Or it may be the same for your family but you don’t want to admit it for a variety of reasons.
In the end, Ana and I decided to make the change. Our kids read books now when she needs time to do other important things and we get them to give us a book report on whatever they read to ensure they are comprehending what they read. It also helps then summarize their thoughts and express them. We also have lots of art projects to work on or old fashioned games to play like checkers, monopoly, trouble and others so they are using and expanding the capability of their minds.
It’s an adjustment, but seeing how our kids are affected by the change, it’s worth the inconvenience of us finding another way.
