We have a 2 1/2-year-old
boy, and live in an urban setting.
Our son does enjoy watching some videos. But he has the same relationship
with them as he has with books and audio — we buy or borrow them,
and he can read/watch/listen them when he wants, either by himself or
with us. Our son would rather be outdoors at any time than be indoors
watching videos. Indoors he would rather be doing things with us, than
watching videos.
We may rent a movie some nights, or watch a television special that
we had a friend record for us. Either way, the point is that we choose
what we watch and when we watch it. We are not "programmed"
to.
We DO NOT use the television to baby-sit the child. As a result we have
very little free time to ourselves. Our son understands that there are
some things we sometimes have to do by ourselves (eat, bathe, talk on
the phone) and he will play by himself or read when we do these. However,
at the age that he is at now, we estimate that we "entertain"
him about 90% of the time, while he "entertains" himself unattended
about 10% of the time. It is a price we are willing to pay. Having said
which, it is not as if he is bored and needs entertaining. For all of
the 90% he is taking the initiative, and wants us to play/do things
with him.
Being TV-free has not be a problem with respect to other people. Most
people seem envious of us when we explain we don't watch TV.
We can't say how our son is different from children who may watch television.
But we do know we have only ourselves to blame for his strengths and
weaknesses. So far we are happy with the way he is turning out and that
he likes being outside, that he takes the initiative in doing things,
is sociable, and creative.
We do have a television, but it is not connected to an antenna or cable.
We do have cable, but it is only connected to the computer. The television
is not on the same floor of the house that has the living spaces. We
did not deliberately stop watching television. It just happened that
way, and when we realized what had happened we were happy for it.
Our advice is to others is to try it. You WILL be happy once you have
adjusted. When you next go on vacation, especially in the summer/fall,
box the TV and put it in the attic or garage. When you come back, don't
take it out. Give yourself just one month, and you will be wondering
why you ever had a TV in the first place.
Santosh
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