Moms Talk: What TV Shows Are Off-Limits for Children
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
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Now, I know this is a broad topic. Something might be off-limits for one age group but totally fine for another. So, I'll leave the parameters up to you. If your child is 5, what is off-limits? If your child is 10, what is off-limits? If your child is 15, what is off-limits?
Let's talk.
What TV shows are off-limits for the children?
Chime in on this question in the comments section. Have another question? Email it to Ferndale Patch Editor Terry.Parris@patch.com.
Ferndale Patch will dedicate a column each week on a discussion with moms and dads about anything, really. We're looking for questions to be asked and answered, advice seekers, advice givers, sharing solutions or experiences and asking for feedback — that's what we want. Anything you want to talk about, we will discuss in the comments section.
Of course, this column doesn't work if you don't participate, so let's get it going!
We'd like to be a new resource for moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community and who may have questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.
Is there a parenting hot topic? Tiger mom comes to mind. How about vaccinations? Where do you fall on that? This space will also be a place to discuss these tings.
So grab a cup of coffee, or whatever you like to drink in the afternoon, and settle in as we start the conversation.
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Mary Foreman
9:18 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
My kids are still fairly young (2 and 4.5) so we aren't watching all that much tv. What we do watch is either shows/movies on DVD or I DVR PBS shows. At this point, I really want their shows to be educational, fun and I don't want them inundated with commercials. My husband took our son to Toys R Us as a surprise for a big milestone and his comment was, "What is this place?" That made me feel really good that he hasn't been saturated with commercialism yet! I'm sure that time will come, but for now, Dinosaur Train, Super Why and Wild Kratts rule in our house.
Terry Parris Jr.
1:48 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
It seems at that age, it's more about curating what they watch. I don't have children, but I was one, and it seems like it would be easier to control their TV habits.
Mary Foreman
2:03 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Absolutely Terry. We really tried to start out right. Once they start school and hang out at friends houses, they'll be more exposed to regular t.v. But for now, we are limiting it. I grew up with a t.v. always on as well. Like constant background noise. I've probably seen every episode of Leave it to Beaver, Beverly Hillbillies and Alice, lol!
Todd Abrams
9:38 am on Thursday, April 21, 2011
I don’t like my kid watching commercials. So much of cable television has gone to 18 minutes of content and 12 minutes of advertisements for 30 minutes of programming. And we pay for the privilege of watching it. The media corporations must be pleased about that.
Needless to say, we don’t really watch television at our house but we do watch a lot of movies.
I’ve found that many of Hayao Mayizaki’s animated films are not only appropriate for children but also far more genuine than the standard formula movies that are being manufactured out of Hollywood. They are particularly good for girls as, generally, the protagonists are young girls in some type of struggle that need to use their inner strength. But they all have elements that boys will be attracted to. I recommend them all.
Ian Williamson
12:48 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Good recommendations, Todd. I'm looking forward to watching Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro with my own 2-year-old boy in a few years. And I'll second as to the commercials...I grew up without a television during the 1970s and 1980s, and I've never gotten used to the constant exhortation to consume, consume, consume. My boy won't grow up sans TV like I did, but it will be drastically limited in order to avoid commercials...
Terry Parris Jr.
1:58 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
I grew up with the TV always on. I watched TV a lot through middle school and high school. I currently don't have my TV hooked up to cable or to any broadcasting. I do, however, still watch movies. Netflix all the time -- when I'm not working, of course.
I don't have children, but I would not want them to watch the same amount of TV I watched growing up.
Todd Abrams
2:32 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
I don't understand the notion of the television being an ambient device. You can barely find a restaurant these days that doesn't have one in every corner. We would all benefit from a little more quiet time for self-reflection.
By the way, the Ferndale Public Library has a very good selection of DVDs.
Terry Parris Jr.
2:35 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Todd: I don't understand it either... but that's what my house was like... and that's something that I want to avoid with my children.
Also: The library does have a great selection. I'm looking at them right now!