TV Makes Kids Want More Toys
Posted on Apr 5th, 2006
by 
Maile
Maile
According to this article in the San Francisco Chronicle today, a Stanford study has shown that the more time kids spend watching TV, playing video games, and looking at the computer (what they call 'screentime'), the more they will nag their parents for toys and food--and the effects can last for months or even years after the screentime ends.
This leads, I think, to interesting questions about voluntary simplicity and raising children. We don't plan to have a child for several years, but my husband and I do talk about how we want to raise them. We of course, hope to teach them that more is not better, and we'll limit TV and X-box-type video games by not using them ourselves.
The big issue for us is the computer. Computers have been my husband's passion since he was ten or eleven years old. Since his parents knew nothing about computing, he took odd jobs to buy his own equipment, his own second phone line, etc. I am in complete awe of the amount he knows. And that knowledge wouldn't have been possible if his parents had forced him to go play in the 'big blue room' instead of sitting indoors amassing screentime.
Granted, computers were different back then--certainly there were no advertisements on them and the video games were much simpler. But computers are still learning tools. If my children take an interest in them, I see potential harm in limiting their screen time. My husband suggests that if they want to play computer games, they have to write them. If they want to browse the internet, they have to write a browser. Not a bad idea, though I've got a lot of learning to do (or several habits to give up) if I don't want to look hypocritical.
I think the answer, as with all parenting questions, is that there's little use in speculating, that 'kids change everything.' I do hope, though, that this article will reach some people who have children and are interested in moving away from more! more! more! The knowledge will be useful whether or not they take any action.
This leads, I think, to interesting questions about voluntary simplicity and raising children. We don't plan to have a child for several years, but my husband and I do talk about how we want to raise them. We of course, hope to teach them that more is not better, and we'll limit TV and X-box-type video games by not using them ourselves.
The big issue for us is the computer. Computers have been my husband's passion since he was ten or eleven years old. Since his parents knew nothing about computing, he took odd jobs to buy his own equipment, his own second phone line, etc. I am in complete awe of the amount he knows. And that knowledge wouldn't have been possible if his parents had forced him to go play in the 'big blue room' instead of sitting indoors amassing screentime.
Granted, computers were different back then--certainly there were no advertisements on them and the video games were much simpler. But computers are still learning tools. If my children take an interest in them, I see potential harm in limiting their screen time. My husband suggests that if they want to play computer games, they have to write them. If they want to browse the internet, they have to write a browser. Not a bad idea, though I've got a lot of learning to do (or several habits to give up) if I don't want to look hypocritical.
I think the answer, as with all parenting questions, is that there's little use in speculating, that 'kids change everything.' I do hope, though, that this article will reach some people who have children and are interested in moving away from more! more! more! The knowledge will be useful whether or not they take any action.
Access: Public
children
June 2006