How can we encourage children to read instead of watching television and how can we get them to be more active

Question

I grew up before there was television where I lived. I read, watched movies, and played actively. Games, sledding in wintertime, bicycles. When we did get television it was just on nights.

How can we go back in time to something like this? How can we save our children?

Best answer will be thoughtful and helpful.

Answer 1

We are a society that allows the TV to play babysitter from day one. We buy all of the 'educational' DVDs in hopes of making our child smarter. We prop that child up and let them watch TV just so that we can have that one moments rest as early as two weeks old.

I firmly believe that's where we go wrong. You hear about kids, infants, at merely four months of age 'loving' the new Sesame Street DVD. What ever happened to teaching your child colors, numbers, and letters from just talking to them about it?

It all starts there. Then as time goes on kids decide on their own and find that educational is not always entertaining. They start to watch Hannah Montana, I'm So Raven, Zach and Cody, plus all of the other stuff they 'just have to watch.'

Meanwhile parents don't force their children to go outside. Shoot, they won't even let them go outside alone at a decent age because something *might* happen to their child. Then they have to be the ones to take the kids out to the park.

A few bad days of work later the child gets the much needed exercise after mom begged and begged him to go to the park peeling him away from the TV. The kid has no fun. Mom is sitting right there. All the other kids aren't at the park because their parents, too, worry that they *might* have something happen to them. Mom gets tired and tells little Johnny to read a book before bed. She's going to watch TV. He grabs his hand-held video game and plays that under the covers.

So, it's a visious cycle. We shove TV in our kids faces when we want them to leave us alone and then we end up taking them from the TV kicking and screaming. How does this make sense? I have no clue. Haha. On top of all that we have parents who are too afraid [even though they live in a good part of town] that their child will be harmed in some way. Sure, things can happen but sheltering your child isn't doing him/her or you any good. Then parents just don't find it fun to read to their children or have their children read to them. Therefore, kids loose interest in reading and get instant gratification by watching a movie or TV show. There are so many other things that contribute too. I just feel these are the main reasons!

Answer 2

Interesting question...I was raised on a farm and the TV was rarely ever turned on....late 60's early 70's. But my parents had trouble keeping me in the house. But, that is a different story.

To answer your question you have to give the kids something else to do. It is as simple as turning the TV off (you are the adult) and actually being a parent...not just someone that has a child.

When I was raising my daughter...I was very busy running a business and raising a child by myself...but I always made four nights that were just ours. Two of them were story nights (one from me and one from her)...the other two where to get out of the house and do something outside.

Oh, I almost forgot....I also played a lot of music to entertain us too. This actually gave us something to talk about too...I could ask her what she thought the lyrics meant...and then I would tell her my opinion.

This might not work for everyone...but, it seems I did something right she speaks three languages and is a manager of a major corporation...she is doing well.

And, yes I know that you aren't looking for a definite answer...you just wanted to start the idea.

Well, it was a very good question...and everyone should answer it before having kids.

Answer 3

Reading a book is a work out. You have to use your language skills, understanding and imagination -- and actually get involved in the book. Television is the easy way out. It does all the "work" for you. You don't have to "think". You can put your mind on "hold". Someone else is controlling the images and the speed at which you see them. Yes, it's said that a picture is worth 1,000 words. But the picture YOU create in your own mind is much more valuable and can be much more fantastic! Channels like Discovery are very few and far between. Most TV is junk -- badly animated cartoons, mindless violence, stupid situation "comedies" with canned laugh tracks, soap operas, endless "reality" shows with wannabe celebrities. And the English you'll find there is often not that "good". Just because most people prefer one thing to another doesn't necessarily make that thing more worthwhile! So, get up off the sofa, turn off the TV and take a walk...maybe even to the library (where you can learn so much more)!

Answer 4

We can't go back in time and we wouldn't want to for so many other reasons. I'm not sure how old your children are and that definitely matters as far as strategies are concerned. If your kids are not old enough to use the tv themselves, then take advantage of that and leave the tv off. I would try not to pit the tv and computer against reading. In their minds, computers and games and tv come out on top. They are so much more initially stimulating and offer immediate gratification. READ to your kids, out loud no matter how old they are. Read to each other out loud. Talk about why or why you did not like a book and its characters and story. Read the newspaper and share the info with each other. Be sure your children see you reading for pleasure. Let them read for pleasure. Leave books all over the house -- in the bathroom, on your nightstand right near your bed, on coffee tables. Gotta go now.

Answer 5

In so many families these days, both parents have to work to make ends meet. Of course, there are those parents whose desire for the best of everything necessitates two incomes to pay for things they want, not necessarily need. With that said, I believe the decline in the numbers of fulltime stay-at-home mothers has had a significant impact on the children.

A lot of children in homes where both parents work have to compete for their parents' time. When the parents get home they are usually tired. The mother still has supper to fix, wash dishes, clothes to wash, and so forth. Some fathers help with the chores, but so many don't, leaving the mother with a heavy burden to carry.

Setting aside some "family time" in the evenings would help parents reconnect to their children's needs. Interacting with the children by asking them about their day and allowing them to ask questions about their parents' day would open a line of communication. Family time can also be used for reading, playing board games, or crafts.

Answer 6

The average child will see 8000 murders on television by the time they finish elementary, and see 200,000 acts of violence by the age of 18. Spending roughly 9 years of life watching a black box by the time they reach the age of 65.

Those are scary figures.

I used to be glued to the boob, every night after work I would spend 2-3 hours watching mindless televison and million dollar commercials. This isn't the way I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I was just another stat, I must have seen way more than 8000 murders and 200,000 acts of violence, until I changed my lifestyle.

Seeing 20,000, 30 second commercials a year is insane. As a vegan and someone with the environments best interest at heart, I wouldn't idly watch this TV without feeling dirty inside from food commercial after food commercial and beauty industry products that are advertising beauty in animal testing.

Throwing out (okay, giving it away for free) the tv was the best choice I've ever made. I might have a tv in my home in years to come for watching movies that I choose, but not for viewing television, and it will not remain on to keep me company any longer. This will be passed down to my children, our home will be cable/satellite free.

Within doing so, I believe I can help my children live a fruitful life without feeling pressured to look a certain way, act a certain way or buy products to make them cool. There is enough media pressure on your future generations without the added stress of television.

When minding children (I'm a nanny currently) who don't have a television or cable in their homes, I rarely hear the words "I'm bored" uttered, they simple know what makes them happy and find fun creative things to do, that spark is always missing from children raised in homes with the constant black box on, from what I have first handedly experienced.

So, in short, how can we go back in time to something like this, simple. Throw away the television or even just limit TV time to one 30 minutes EDUCATIONAL video segment per week (or work up to this slowly over time).
Unplug the TV during the week, and keep it covered *they are so ugly anyways*.
Saving our children from mass media propaganda which can lead to a number of growing health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, not enough physical exercise, etc etc. It IS hard for the first while, without a doubt, but the long term benefits our outstanding and well worth it.

I don't remember many of the shows I watched as a child, they are just blank spaces in my memories. It isn't fair to subject our children to this, each being younger and younger everyday. TV's aren't babysitters and should never be used as one. Teach your child about cooking whilst making dinner, save our children's childhoods and have an impact on their lives, their children's lives and our environment.

My motto is "Livre sans temp mort" or "Live without dead time"

Answer 7

Turn the TV off most of the time. Turn it on only for shows that the children request or that you wish to watch. Far too often the TV is on all day. The children will go play if you do this more.

Answer 8

The best way children learn is by example. When they're small, read to them. Go to the library, buy them books. (Do they see you reading books?) Art supplies are good, too. That encourages their imagination. (Have them make up a story and draw the characters of the story together.) If you want them to play games, play with them. Take them to the movies (age appropriate). Go bowling. Parental involvement is the very best teacher.

Answer 9

You buy a TV guide, and turn the TV on to watch specific programs and off at the end. Not on and off at particular times of the day. And you have _a_ TV. Not one per kid, or one per room.

My kids DO read and play outside instead of watching TV - sure they watch TV sometimes, but they watch their favourite programs and nothing else. It's not as a background "lets watch whatever's on" activity. It's perfectly achievable without banning TV completely. But it has to be a mindset of the whole family - it's never going to work demanding that your kids stop watching TV and go read a book, if you're sat in the kitchen yourself with the TV on all day.

Answer 10

1) If you have young children, READ TO THEM!!! If you wait until they are in school, you've waited too long.
2) Lead by example; let your children see YOU reading. Don't do the "Do as I say, not as I do" routine - kids have more sense than that.
3) Get books into your home. Don't count on the library; BUY THEM; an inexpensive used paperback tells the same story as a pricey leather-bound volume.
4) Turn off the &%$#@ TV (and stick to it!!!)