My 9 year old son just came home from school and said "Mom, I found out today that Aaron's mom and dad don't let him watch any television at all, not even kids cartoons. They don't even have a TV, isn't that child abuse?"

What has this world come to, heck, what has my household come to, that my son thinks that not having a television is child abuse. I'm really close to selling our TV's right now and never looking back.

How much TV does the average child watch in a week? How much TV does your child watch in a week. Be honest, I won't judge you because I'm guilty too.

My daughter (5) watches probably around 24hours of TV/week.
My son (9)watches around 26 hours/week (mostly on the weekends when it's cold outside)

I'm going to start limiting the time, obviously it's to much.

spitvenom

Growing up my TV time was very restricted. I was so into sports I never really had time to watch tv. I was to busy in College to watch Tv cause I had to pay my own way through college.

So now I finally have a great Job and I said I am going to go all out. I spent about oh $5,000.00 on my "entertainment System" I got a 40" Flat screen LCD TV, Surround sound that people two blocks away could hear. A remote control that can control everything, and a TiVo . I even got Verizon FIOS to make my TV that much better!!!! What I came to Realize is I HATE TV SHOWS. They are so stupid and pointless. The only thing I watch now is Basketball, football, baseball, and Boxing (by the way they do look Unbelievable on my system) . Other then That I listen to music cause that was my entertainment growing up.

I always felt like I was missing out when people would talk about their favorite TV shows but now that I really have time to watch tv I realized they were the one's missing out on life.

Altenweg

Spit- Great story, sorry you spent so much money before you realized that TV isn't really for you. I myself don't watch allot of TV, I do sit with my kids sometimes to watch their shows, I want them to know that I'm interested in the things they like.

Since posting this thread I have told my kids that TV will be cut down. During the school week they are allowed to watch 1 hour of TV each night, no more than that. During the weekend they are allowed to watch 2 hours each day, less if it's nice out. Am I being unreasonable?

rpg219

I guess we just use the TV as a waste of power, lol. We don't actually watch it 24 hours a day....it is just on 24 hours a day.

mynamezdeb

Not watching TV is not child abuse. It should be limited as well as the video games. My son is very limited in these activities. Instead he goes outdoors, draws, reads, does not ever get on the internet, uses his imagination. Thank goodness Edison, Ford, Einstein, Motzart....etc ....didn't sit in from of TV and video games all day. There is more to life.

spitvenom

I don't think that is unreasonable. If your kids get into any activities like sports clubs in school it will make the transition easier. I am sure you are going to catch some lip from your 9 year old since he thinks it is child abuse (that's VERY funny he thinks it is). But if he really gets into to something new he will forget all about TV.

I kind of wish i didn't spend all that money on my equipment but I do like having people over and When there is a big game on my house jumping all night. So I have convinced myself that it was worth it now if i can get my GF to think it is was worth it everything would be fine! She is not a TV watcher either. Although for some reason she is addicted to American Idol and THATS SHOW DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

Altenweg

I agree about American Idol, although I do love watching the auditions and all the people who truly believe they can sing.

My son loves soccer and he will be playing starting this spring, I hope he doesn't have my abilities, otherwise he'll be laughed off the field.

My daughter wants to take ballet and tap, she's only five and I'm trying to find a dance school that is all about having fun, most of them are looking for the next Prima Ballerina and they expect these kids to live, eat, breath dance. She's to young for that.

I do love "Survivor" and I can't miss "House", the rest of it I can do without. Today the kids are going outside to help me shovel some snow and to jump in some puddles (the snow is finally melting).

I wonder what it would be like to watch Survivor on a 40" Flat screen LCD, where do you live Spit?

spitvenom

I have watched Survivor on it and it is very cool. Come on down to beautiful Philadelphia just remember to bring a bullet proof vest.

terellowens

I think its a bit limited most especially the weekends what if they don't want to go outside etc I would say 2 on a weekday and 4 on the weekends but I guess I used to love the old cartoons and restrictions would have made me slightly rebelious but do your kids still go outside and play sports etc I used to do that everyday! more than anything and still do for the most part (football aka soccer) was is and always will be no.1 in my life

Internet,Video Games,Television, Outdoors haha I play football

jubbernaut

I'd have to disagree with this. By not allowing your child to use a certain technology, tv, (which is currently largely debated over its positive/negative effects) is definitely not abuse. Its a parent's right (duty?) to decide what things your child should be exposed to. And most of the data is showing support for the negative aspects of tv watching, anyway!

The only reason it seems like a bad thing to do (banning tv) is because we have become a nation so dependent on it, that it seems like something every human being needs to have (like a toilet or a fridge)....a tv is a machine that we use for entertainment, and its definitely not the best way to get entertainment! ... Same goes for cell phones. Its not the end of the world if we never see a tv or a cell phone for the rest of our lives. Not even a hundred years ago, most people lived without these things, and still many people do!

Abuse? Not even. I'd call it proper parenting.