I've never been a big fan of TV and when given a choice won't have one in the house. I have never liked them on in the mornings and can't understand how people have more than one or one that is bigger than 14". However I am also one of those classic 'tv vegetables' if I'm in the mood and with the world cup looming himself is determined to get one up and running.
Currently (until rugby starts) we don't have a TV which is great and fits in nicely with the schooling we have chosen for the children. Not having a TV for so long the kids are great at entertaining themselves with stories, playing together, singing and generally being kids. Making a conscience decision not to let our kids watch TV or DVD's I'm really noticing how much TV bombards me when it is around and how much the kids are 'sucked in and zommified' when we do encounter it. I was horrified (maybe a bit over the top but my initial reaction never the less) to find a TV in the play area in the bank and even more shocked today when I was 'attacked' with Bob the builder in the family toilets!! Really does anybody need TV in the toilet???!!! It took me several minutes to unlatch my youngest from a chair to actually get him into the cubicle as he cried out for Bob.
A recent study showed that New Zealander's are volunteering less and watching TV more. We are currently spending 2 hours and 8 minutes a day in front of the box which is only 14 minutes less than we spend on housework each day. I hate to think what implications this has for our culture as a whole when other studies have shown links between TV watching and behavioural problems such as ADHD. There are certainly some great programmes on for adults that help broaden the mind however when it means that we only spend 1 hour of our day actually talking to people and 30 minutes looking after the kids it really makes you wonder if there are better ways of being informed and learning about the world.
Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz
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