Experimentation
I’ve been trying a little experiment this week. I’ve stopped suggesting to the kids that they go watch videos. If they come and ask me, I’ll happily turn them on, but I’m not allowed to sugguest it. I’ve discovered two things:
1. the kids are watching a lot less T.V.
2. It’s hard not to suggest watching a video when I want them occupied.
These realizations make me wonder about the reported hours of television that kids are watching these days. Parents moan and groan about how they wish their kids would do something else, but how many of them are like me? How many parents are unconsciously the instigators of their kids’ veiwing addictions? If we had cable television I suspect this experiment would have turned out differently because there would always be the allure of something new to be seen. As it is, the kids have seen everything we own multiple times and are fairly content to do something else instead. Yet another reason I’m really glad we don’t have cable, or dish, or even broadcast TV.