Your Child and Your Tv

[Michael Snow]

This essay was widely distributed by the late Dr. Ramond Moore's homeshooling organisation. [He was the 'father' of the homeschooling movement] Elisabeth Elliot also used it as the format of one of her radio programs.

I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
anything that is base.
–Psalm 101

“When my kids were small, I carefully picked the TV show. They watched one program in the afternoon, and then I turned it off. But one time while busy at the stove, I forgot. They saw a bit o the next program, ‘The Three Stooges.’

“Shortly afterward, Pam’s [age 18 months] screams brought me running to her room. There my three-year-old was banging Pam’s head (in slapstick fashion) against the floor.”

Phyllis, the friend who told of this, had taken firm control of her children’s television viewing—much more so than most parents. She recognized her duty a decade before today’s critics began exhorting parents to grab the reins of their TV set.

This boon—the focus on control—does much to open our eyes. It draws some blame away from the inanimate object in the corner of the “family” room and brings to light our responsibility. We parents must take action because TV’s impact on kids is deeper and more subtle than the above illustration suggests.

The Developing Child

Considering the developing child and confronting TV’s impact should arouse the drowsy parent....

cont. here: http://sdcougar.startlogic.com/blog/?p=44
__________________
...now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,... and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Ephesians 5

[Michael Snow]

Of course, today, "TV" may be replaced by "computer."

As noted on the linked page: "PERMISSION TO COPY AND PRINT

Feel free to copy and paste “Your Child and Your TV” to your word processor or however you want to print it."

May be freely distributed. Just please note the source "www.mikesnow.org"

[andrew_no_one]

Good word Mike, thank you for sharing.

[Dani H]

TV is full of garbage. We wonder why certain people can't stand our culture. Well, watch some of our TV and you see why ... I watch very little TV cause it makes my brain cells melt. And, I need all the brain I can get. Just sayin. Movies are no better either. Not worth paying $10 for.

[Michael Snow]

TV is full of garbage. We wonder why certain people can't stand our culture. Well, watch some of our TV and you see why ... I watch very little TV cause it makes my brain cells melt. And, I need all the brain I can get. Just sayin. Movies are no better either. Not worth paying $10 for.

On my first trip to Europe, I was shocked by all the American imports from Hollywood. Many school kids love to repeat the foulest lines they hear in American movies on their TVs.

[IMINXTC]

It's uncanny what a powerful medium TV has become - a state-of-the-art classroom for Free Love complete with parental-by-proxy approval and affirmation for anything that can enter the imagination. Hard to imagine it getting worse, but it's certainly bound to.

Like a friendly kidnapper stealing children's minds and hearts under our very noses. Prime-time itself is an abomination.

[Michael Snow]

It's uncanny what a powerful medium TV has become ...

Like a friendly kidnapper stealing children's minds and hearts under our very noses. Prime-time itself is an abomination.

Or, like the old childrens' story, the Pied Piper. Anybody remember that?

Excellent article here:
https://billydie.wordpress.com/2013/...h/#comment-518

[Boo]

The tough challenge would be how to extract TV and internet from our lives.

I have though about moving to one of those Christian communities that live in such a way that those items play such a small part of life. Then again, the mission that Jesus gives us causes us to live among those who need him, so isolating myself from this world would seem to defeat my purpose.

This is a topic in which you and I agree, Mike.

[GitRDunn]

While I agree that there is bad stuff out there, there are also a lot of educational, interesting, and appropriate shows on TV and websites on the internet. I would say the old adage "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" applies to this situation rather well.

[Boo]

While I agree that there is bad stuff out there, there are also a lot of educational, interesting, and appropriate shows on TV and websites on the internet. I would say the old adage "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" applies to this situation rather well.

But we don't control it. We turn them loose and let the system take care of the kids.

If the bathwater is contaminated, don't put the baby in it.

[Vhayes]

It's uncanny what a powerful medium TV has become - a state-of-the-art classroom for Free Love complete with parental-by-proxy approval and affirmation for anything that can enter the imagination. Hard to imagine it getting worse, but it's certainly bound to.

Like a friendly kidnapper stealing children's minds and hearts under our very noses. Prime-time itself is an abomination.

It's done more than that. ALL of life's most difficult situations should be able to be solved in an hour or less, preferrably in 15 minute increments.

[Vhayes]

The tough challenge would be how to extract TV and internet from our lives.

I have though about moving to one of those Christian communities that live in such a way that those items play such a small part of life. Then again, the mission that Jesus gives us causes us to live among those who need him, so isolating myself from this world would seem to defeat my purpose.

This is a topic in which you and I agree, Mike.

I work in television for all intents and purposes. I haven't "watched" a program in at least four years, maybe more. When our children were very young, we didn't have a television in the house. It was only after they started school and part of their homework assignments required watching certain shows on PBS that we broke down and bought one.

It's our choice to watch or not watch. It's our choice to allow our children to watch or not watch.

And I agree that there are several shows on various networks that are educational and well worth watching - I just don't take the time to sift through things. That doesn't mean that others can't &/or don't.

[Boo]

I work in television for all intents and purposes. I haven't "watched" a program in at least four years, maybe more. When our children were very young, we didn't have a television in the house. It was only after they started school and part of their homework assignments required watching certain shows on PBS that we broke down and bought one.

It's our choice to watch or not watch. It's our choice to allow our children to watch or not watch.

And I agree that there are several shows on various networks that are educational and well worth watching - I just don't take the time to sift through things. That doesn't mean that others can't &/or don't.

Yep, we're in the "all about choices we make" part of the discussion.

Most of us don't make much effort to control what our children watch. We're too busy.

It is a shame how much "truth" comes from TV and not from parents.

[Gilligan]

We should limit what children watch to clean shows, such as Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, The Flintstones, etc.

Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks to the junction....

[WithoutSin]

I find it fascinating that so many people shake their fists at television, as if it's the reason our children are acting in a certain fashion.

Here's my point: we, as adults, have a choice about what we watch. We can also process things much better then, say, a 3 year old. We have registered right from wrong, where as they are still learning it.

I do watch Television - Supernatural and New Girl are on my top picks list. Do my children watch either of these shows? Absolutely not! They watch Caillou and The Veggie Tales and other educational/harmless children shows. They do not over indulge in TV, they're allowed one program per day (made easier by DVR, I will say).
The point is, we're the parents, not the TV writers, producers and actors. We have the responsibility to filter TV viewing with our kids. And honestly, if someone's not willing to take the time to do the parental controls and moniter their children's television intake, I don't believe they should have a TV.

On a purely logical level, (not even as a christian, per say) I would faint if I thought my five year old was watching Supernatural or Law & Order. It's adult subjects, period.
I wouldn't want my daughter reading Song of Solomon either, because it deals with adult subject matter.