Photo by Robert Couse-Baker
Thanks to everyone for your comments on yesterday's post. I enjoyed reading your thoughts and experiences with television. It takes time to find a balance, but I believe we can use this tool productively in our homes.
Here are a few ways to make the most of video time for your children:
1. Choose quality programs.
We rent our children's videos through Netflix. When I order a new series that the kids have never seen, I usually sit down alone and preview one episode. I ensure it lines up with my goals for tv time.
Many kids' shows and movies move at an extremely fast pace. Children who get used to watching this type of programming may think anything that moves more slowly is "boring." Because I want to cultivate a longer attention span in my kids, I purposefully seek out shows that have a slower pace.
Many shows aimed for children involve rude behavior and conflict (teasing, name calling, etc) that get resolved by the end of the show. I feel my kids have enough experience dealing with conflict in their daily relationships with one another - they don't need any extra exposure! So I also look for shows where the characters typically speak and act kindly toward each other.
Photo by Stefan
2. Use the subtitles.
If your kids watch television, turn on the closed captioning. If they're viewing a video, put on English subtitles if they're available. In Finland, most families do this regularly when they watch television. Finland also doesn't begin formal schooling until age seven, yet the country boasts the highest reading scores in the world.*
Getting your children used to the written word this way will help them become more fluent readers.
3. Check into other audio options.
Many DVDs have shows dubbed into another language. We use this regularly to expose our children to Spanish. Often they'll watch an episode twice in English. Once they know the plot, we'll put it on one last time (this isn't all on the same day!) in Spanish. They enjoy this and love showing off their new Spanish words.
4. Be intentional.
Don't leave the television on in the background all day. Be purposeful - only turn it on when there is something specific you want to see. Each of our three children has a designated "tv spot" when it's time to watch.
5. Let your child complete a full episode.
If you're watching a DVD, don't just hit "Play All." Go into the Menu and select a particular episode. We usually aim for shows that are 20-30 minutes long. This allows the children to complete a full one before we turn it off.
Don't expect your little people to handle it well if you turn their show off in mid-flow. You wouldn't like that either! My kids handle the transition away from the tv much better when there has been closure to whatever they are watching.
Television decisions can be challenging, but hopefully these points will help you decide what's right for your family. Next week I'll post some specific recommendations of shows we have enjoyed.
Until then happy viewing!
(For more parenting tips, visit We Are THAT Family.)
*This study is cited in Chapter 9 of Jim Trelease's book, The Read-Aloud Handbook.
