Search Results for: blog tv network tells kids go outside and play

Free Range Parents Cleared of Neglect Charge

Posted on by

It can be extremely frustrating to have someone criticize your choice of parenting style. Imagine how scary it would be to have the police tell you that your parenting style is considered to be a form of neglect. This situation happened to parents in Maryland – who have since been cleared of child neglect charges. It all started with a trip to the local park in December of 2014. Parents Alexander and Danielle Meitiv allowed their son and daughter to go to the park, and walk home, by themselves. Their son, Rafi, was 10 years old, and their daughter, Dvora, … Continue reading →

Do You Employ High-Tech Sitters?

What do you use to keep your children occupied while waiting for your food at a restaurant, driving to grandma’s house or zipping through the aisles at the grocery store? I doubt the answer is dancing, unless you’re doing it on a video that you posted to YouTube and can be viewed on your kid’s favorite electronic device. Don’t worry; you aren’t alone. According to a recent survey, nearly 60% of parents admit to using a tech toy to entertain their children, and experts predict that number will likely rise in the next decade. In other words, iPads, handheld video … Continue reading →

Can You Really Afford Cable?

Forget about alcohol, tobacco, Facebook or chocolate; cable TV is one of the most addicting entities around. Just ask the kids who spend hours upon hours watching it. Then, ask the parents who use it as a babysitter. These days it doesn’t take much to get moms and dads to admit that they’ve used cable to keep their kids occupied. Got an important phone call to make, turn on Nick Jr. Want to use the bathroom in peace, switch it to Cartoon Network. Desperate for a few minutes of uninterrupted me time, Disney Channel to the rescue. Cable is undoubtedly … Continue reading →

Play Day

It’s that time of year again. A day set aside for parents to give their kids a less than gentle nudge out the door in an effort to encourage physical activity. Only today said parents actually get help from the very thing that often promotes their kids’ sedentary lifestyle—-the TV. Specifically, the kid-centric cable powerhouse Nickelodeon, and its virtually endless array of offshoots, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and TeenNick. Yes, dear parents, today is “Worldwide Play Day.” For the past seven years, Nickelodeon has pulled the plug on its entire media dynasty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it plans … Continue reading →

Do You Use Your TV as a Babysitter?

Don’t be ashamed if you answered “yes.” My BFF in Hawaii pays a TON of money to get Noggin, Nick Jr. and the Disney Channel, which is one of the reasons she unabashedly refers to her satellite provider as Diego, Dora and Kai-Lan’s pimp. What’s more, you won’t catch my BFF cowering in a corner when confronted about her kids’ television viewing habits. She doesn’t flinch when admitting that she uses her TV as a babysitter quite regularly. In fact, she jokes about it all the time. My BFF reasons that if she were to hire a human babysitter, the … Continue reading →

Holiday Family Bonding Around the TV

If someone is getting paid to write an article about television and children you can bet that the tone of the piece likely won’t be very positive. TV generally gets a bad rap, especially when it comes to children being overexposed to it. However, this time of year I don’t think there’s anything wrong with children spending a bit more time in front of the boob tube—-with their parents—-watching holiday classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman.” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”–these are national treasures as far as I’m concerned and … Continue reading →

France Bans Baby Shows from Airwaves

French authorities are no longer allowing parents to use TVs as babysitters. If you live in France and you’ve gotten into the habit of plopping your baby in front of the TV so you can have a few minutes to get things done around the house you’re out of luck. France’s broadcast authority just announced that it plans to ban French channels from airing TV shows aimed at children under 3 years old. The reason: Experts say continuous exposure to TV decreases a child’s development. In a ruling posted yesterday France’s High Audiovisual Council said it wanted to “protect children … Continue reading →

More about Television Shows for Your Child

Posted on by

In my last article I had begun discussing how many shows on television geared for children are trying to take on a more educated stance. While parents can have a little less anxiety about letting their children watch these shows, picking them out of the crowd of the television line up may not be as easy as it seems. The article had started giving parents some ideas on how to choose appropriate shows for their children to watch on television. In addition to the tips listed in the last article there are a few more. Be careful about shows in … Continue reading →

Choosing the Right Television Shows for Your Child

Posted on by

Television has changed greatly over the years. There is a wide variety and selection of broadcast viewing. This opening up of the television air waves has opened our world to both more enrichment and more negativity. The good part about the new outlook on television is that parents can have more confidence and a larger selection in choosing a show that is somewhat educating for their child. Many television shows geared for children now focus on teaching academic and life skills. The bad part is that parents have to also be very careful about inappropriate shows that seem to pop … Continue reading →

Should Television Be Used in the Classroom?

We all know that schools, daycares, babysitters, and preschools allow children to watch television at some point to some extent. The question is should they? I am guilty. My kindergarten students do not watch television in my class on a daily basis. However, I have used the television for several different reasons. I have shown videos pertaining to our lesson as an instructional method. I have also used television as a treat for students during our daily snack time. In addition to these reasons, yes I have used it as a babysitter. Please let me explain!! Kindergarten children do not … Continue reading →