tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post4257002974295392096..comments2024-03-15T23:26:26.319-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Watching Television Is RelaxingTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-66419403509119735502015-12-22T14:24:50.917-08:002015-12-22T14:24:50.917-08:00Hello, Tom!
Thank you for an interesting post! On...Hello, Tom!<br /><br />Thank you for an interesting post! One thing that got me thinking was this:<br /><br /><i>"The almost undetectable screen flicker is a perfect mechanism for lowering our brain waves into the alpha state, the condition we're going for when we meditate."</i><br /><br />Why? I'll try to keep it short!<br />I've recently been diagnosed with ADD, which can make some things (such as parenting) somewhat stressful at times. My high school grades were mediocre at best and I dropped out of collage. Luckily, ever since I was a kid, I've had a keen interest in computers and video games which could keep me focused for hours and hours. After school, I pursued a career in the IT industry, which turned out to be a success.<br />Now, I'm wondering to what extent the soothing effect of screen flicker could have played in my life!<br /><br />However, I've failed to find anything but blog posts and forum discussions supporting that. Could you please provide a scientific source that supports that statement?<br /><br />(Furthermore, if screen flicker would have that effect, what impact does does different refresh rates (NTSC 50Hz, PAL 60Hz, or newer monitors 144Hz) and display technologies (CRT, LCD, projector) have?)<br /><br />I agree with your post. I really don't think that watching TV as a form of entertainment is healthy for anyone (regardless of age). I'm just curious, looking for facts.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for a great blog, keep up the good work! :)Karl-Johannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-33941149031998868162013-05-14T20:20:13.915-07:002013-05-14T20:20:13.915-07:00Hi Tom, really interesting article. I think it wou...Hi Tom, really interesting article. I think it would be fantastic in an ideal world of no TV and Mums who don't have to work and are surrounded by supportive family.<br /><br />I hardly watch TV but I grew up with the TV as my babysitter as I was an only child. I am certain that the TV saved me from a much deeper depression in my teens - it was a wonderful distraction from my pain.<br /><br />I would classify myself as an overthinker, a critical thinker and a creative spirit. <br /><br />After reading your article I am left wondering what countered my mind numbing, addictive TV damage?<br /><br />I work with parents who are isolated, unsupported, stressed, exhausted, financially struggling and the thing that hurts them the most is guilt - guilt for letting their child watch a bit of telly, guilt for not being proactive enough in their play, guilt for not having the time to be perfect, guilt for being stressed and guilt for all the damage they are supposedly inflicting on their children.<br /><br />I think that love counters a lot of stuff.<br /><br />Happy parent - happy children.<br /><br />harmonyathomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430976533332669273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-71459660473637877492013-04-05T01:46:34.579-07:002013-04-05T01:46:34.579-07:00Hi there, I also believe an important part of this...Hi there, I also believe an important part of this conversation is what exactly people and children are watching on TV. I mean if children are watching educational shows compared to 'adult' content television, there is a big difference. I am on the fence over it as a part of me feels guilty for allowing tv on in the background ( I have 1 one year old son) and then a part of me feels it isn't the best thing and I should turn it off. I guess what freaked me out a bit is that my one year old actually picks up the remote and points it at the TV! I am a great parent and very aware of everything we eat organic and no sugar etc etc (see my need to justify here haha) but I must admit I find it hard to get through the day as a stay at home mum who doesn't drive and I often feel a bit isolated so the tv makes me feel like I'm not in the house alone. I don't believe I watch any 'bad' tv when Jack is playing but he does get very fixated on the ads, it's more the songs and jingles he responds to. I have started turning it off a lot lately and putting on music but myself as being someone who is totally addicted to tv I find it hard. I mean I played outside a lot and and have a fantastic imagination from reading etc as a child but tv prob gave me a great imagination as well. I think as a parent there are soooooo many things to feel guilty about it's easy for a lot of people to comment and judge but you also have to do what is right for you and your own family. Great write though and def something to work on, anyway must go now my favourite show is on :-) hehe Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-49211348389852866802012-08-13T09:42:57.457-07:002012-08-13T09:42:57.457-07:00I'm happy to hear that some of you feel your c...I'm happy to hear that some of you feel your children are not being hurt by watching TV. These are interesting anecdotes, but I cannot find any actual data or research that leads me to re-evaluate what I've written here or in the follow-up post. I can find nothing in the literature that supports what you've written here.<br /><br />Perhaps you are simply lucky. Perhaps you have found a some sort of way to "inoculate" your children against the narcotizing effects of TV. Perhaps you simply have children who are not prone to addiction -- after all everyone who smokes does not become addicted to cigarettes either, although we still know it's bad for the body. I am not refuting anything you've said is true about your own kids, but please know that you are in a minority.<br /><br />I do know that many democratic free schools, places founded upon the "unschooling" principles of children directing every aspect of their own education, have had to eliminate or strictly limit screen time because of the negative effects on children, their physical fitness, and their relationships with others. And I have known many addicts who insist that their alcohol or drug use is under control and, in fact, a positive thing in their lives -- this is very common part of how addiction makes a mind work.<br /><br />Again, more power to you and your TV watching, but the scientific and medical evidence overwhelming indicate being very careful with television around children, with doctors recommending zero TV for children under 2. Please be careful.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-57962757784483523272012-08-12T16:31:05.551-07:002012-08-12T16:31:05.551-07:00I agree that the value of TV cannot be totally dow...I agree that the value of TV cannot be totally downplayed. We are unschoolers as well and find our 3 year old self-moderates. She watches her favorite shows with intense attention and turns the TV off to move on to some other activity that interests her. She can also speak four languages; Portuguese and French are limited but learned entirely from watching children's shows in other languages. Ask any Dutch person how they learned to speak so many languages (typically more than three) and they will tell you from TV (the country is small and imports programs from other countries then adds subtitles). My experience shows that TV is a great medium for visual as well as auditory learners and can be used for positive reasons depending on the intended purpose of the user.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-44237777494669242822012-08-12T12:58:28.308-07:002012-08-12T12:58:28.308-07:00I agree that we as parents need down time too, but...I agree that we as parents need down time too, but TV is not the only way to get it, thank goodness! All 3 of my very active kids (age 1 1/2 - 5 1/2) get a quiet time in the afternoon where they are required to play quietly by themselves (if they're not napping). I don't know if they need it or not, but I sure do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-57192377177818727692012-08-12T07:08:09.111-07:002012-08-12T07:08:09.111-07:00I must admit though I am an unschooler (not yet fu...I must admit though I am an unschooler (not yet fully committed to it) who has to a small extent restricted access to tv. After a Long while, I will turn it off. So I say my kids are addicted which counters the unschooler above's claim because they haven't been in school, but they also haven't had unrestricted viewing. I will say though that frequently when they are allowed to watch as much as they want, they will leave the tv and start building things or engaging in other play. Completely on their own. Again, not at all zombified and able to break away which is not what we should expect given your article.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12547699549362865113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-52081572358428360712012-08-12T07:02:56.321-07:002012-08-12T07:02:56.321-07:00The unschooling question actually is really intere...The unschooling question actually is really interesting. Maybe that's something the scientists didn't account for when they checked the brainwaves of people watching tv. Did they also check the brain waves of kids who didn't spend all day in mind-numbing schoolrooms? Did they check adults who hadn't had their brains numbed by school or who don't have overly stressful or mind-numbing jobs? On the other hand my kids are 5 and 2, have never been to school and are addicted to tv. They are not zombified by it though. Not at all. <br /><br />I'm interested in the hangover you talk about. I don't think I experience this as an adult.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12547699549362865113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76387499878873997682012-07-13T22:24:39.351-07:002012-07-13T22:24:39.351-07:00Chris Van Allsberg wrote a wonderful book called &...Chris Van Allsberg wrote a wonderful book called "The Wretched Stone" which tells the tale of a ship full of sailors who become so mesmerized by a glowing boulder in the ship's hold that they all transform into monkeys unable to sail the ship onwards...would be a fun way to share this concept with the children :-)<br /><br />Dawn, toddler teacher in San DiegoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-54315516205296680122011-07-21T16:04:40.721-07:002011-07-21T16:04:40.721-07:00Thank you Tom. I call our TV the 'Black Monst...Thank you Tom. I call our TV the 'Black Monster'. We moved recently and I wanted to leave the Black Monster behind.... my husband had different thoughts. I am going to forward this great blog post to him right now!<br /><br />Smiles, RachSquiggly Rainbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895634986946238458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-20405834670192081612011-07-12T06:49:32.735-07:002011-07-12T06:49:32.735-07:00Tom- Thanks for this terrific post. TV is an addi...Tom- Thanks for this terrific post. TV is an addiction, no matter how old we are. As to whether TV becomes forbidden fruit, that has not been my experience. We just never turned the TV on except to watch an occasional family movie. My kids both noticed they were different from their peers since they'd never heard of all these TV shows, and that was sometimes uncomfortable for them. But they didn't see it as a deprivation, just another unique thing about our family, like the fact that we went to the library every week. They had the opportunity to watch TV at friends' houses all along but usually successfully talked their friends into more interesting activities. Since they never got used to tv, they were able to entertain themselves with creative pursuits from a very early age, and they both became avid readers and curious, self-motivated learners.Dr. Laura Markhamhttp://www.AhaParenting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-91221962317173103742011-07-11T23:04:04.385-07:002011-07-11T23:04:04.385-07:00@dmdr
"This leaves me wondering if you went ...@dmdr <br />"This leaves me wondering if you went to school? "<br />haha, your right I did go to school, but I actually would fake being sick for the majority of the year just so I could stay home and watch tv.<br />I think my sun up to sun down comment was because I was thinking about summer vacation, and weekends. But even when it was a school day (and I was not faking a sickness) I'd watch 1 or 2 shows before school and then run home to watch the after school cartoons...and those would lead into wheel of fortune and jeopardy (that my grandma and mom watched) and then some family movie at night.<br /><br />It sounds like having no limits on tv works for some people, but not for others. We have friends (who btw are unschoolers as well) that are this way and it works really well for them. I tried having no limits for a while and it just did not work. He would watch it all day if he could. I did a test to see how ling he would watch it (while I was doing exciting things outside or in another room and inviting him to join) he watched tv for 6 hours! And the tv only got turned off because I said enough is enough. <br />Anyway, like I said, it works for some families and not for others. I don't think it is necessarily because of being unschoolers either, because that is what I consider us, and my kids have so much time everyday to just play and be kids, but they still have that addictive behavior towards tv's, computers and video gaming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-16162900999488245782011-07-11T19:59:52.830-07:002011-07-11T19:59:52.830-07:00@Vicki - keep going! It is a wonderful lifestlye....@Vicki - keep going! It is a wonderful lifestlye.<br /><br />@annoymous - I had no restrictions for tv while growing up in the 80's and because of it I would honestly watch it from sun up to sun down. This leaves me wondering if you went to school? <br /><br />My point was maybe it's not so much the TV as what we are doing with the rest of our day. Most of us spend our days sitting - in a classroom or at work. When we get home we can choose whether to turn on the TV or read a book or do the dishes or play a game. Many of these thing require energy - watching TV doesn't. Don't blame the device. A gun isn't violent, the person holding it is the problem.<br /><br />At this point in our society it is hard to get an accurate portrayal of the effects of TV because you can't isolate the rest of the subject's lives in order to truely see what TV does. A subject comes in for a study from work or school or whatever their daily regime is and then is asked to sit and watch TV. What a stress relief not to have to do anything! <br /><br />I LOVE reading and that is probably an understatement. When I was growing up my mother always told me I read too much - yes, she really told me that. Reading is an extremely isolating activity. It's very antisocial! TV on the other hand (at least in our house) is a very social event. People watch TV together all the time - watching a movie, or a series together or a sporting event. It enables creativity not hinders it. I watch my children all the time using things they have seen on TV in their day to day play or they use a word that I don't think I've used and they tell me they heard in on some TV show. Recently we've watch Xena Warrior Princess (great show - I love Netflix!) toghether as a family and we talked about Roman and Greek Gods, the monothestic Christian God and other religions because of this show. Not to mention numerous other topics that have come up from this show. <br /><br />Reading gets all those same endorphins flowing as TV. I can stay up all night (and have on many occasions) reading or I can read and fall asleep in 10 minutes. No matter what you are using to avoid doing the dishes or your homework or raising your children, you're still not doing whatever the activity is.<br /><br />For all of those intersested in having some quiet time without TV here are some suggestions - blocks, playdough, sensory bins, stickers, open crafting, puzzles, painting, figures of all types - war, pets, wild animals, dolls, action figures. The trick to these is to let - let them have their time with these things don't worry about the clean up. Right now we have a large box in our kitchen with rice and dried beans in it along with sorting utensils, pots, cars, yogurt containers, funnels. My kids will sit in that box for hours doing all sorts of things. For that matter just have empty boxes around for them to play in. There's nothing better to entertain a child than an empty box!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00617071162420365558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-14823376274921894082011-07-11T15:41:31.170-07:002011-07-11T15:41:31.170-07:00@Anonymous (and others who've asked) . . . I&#...@Anonymous (and others who've asked) . . . I've not had a TV for quite some time but recently returned from a vacation where I had one in my room and and I noticed how "drugged" it made me feel. When I returned I started reading and this post came out of it kind of willy-nilly. Today (Monday) I wrote a follow-up in which I included links to the articles I found most useful in writing this piece: <br /><br />http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-dont-know-what-it-means-but-its-true.html<br /><br />Sadly, blogger won't make this into a clickable link, so you'll have to copy and past it.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-43048107942601250612011-07-11T15:32:19.221-07:002011-07-11T15:32:19.221-07:00I had no restrictions for tv while growing up in t...I had no restrictions for tv while growing up in the 80's and because of it I would honestly watch it from sun up to sun down. I look back at my childhood and see that I missed soooo much. I missed out on books, climbing trees, crafts, and just playing outside and getting dirty. Sure I did all those things a little bit, but the majority of the time I spent watching the screen.<br />With my own boys it's quite different. From a young age I noticed the obsessive quality with all things screen. So I quickly started restricting tv time to one show per child a day. So they each get a 20 min show. I have found this to be a happy balance in our household, especially since they watch their shows in the morning while I'm getting breakfast, making coffee and waking up. And that way I'm also not hearing 'can I watch tv' all day. It's good to read about what happens to your brain while your watching tv. It makes me sad that I would spend 8+ hours a day as a child.<br /><br />I've shared this post with some of my friends and a few are looking into the sources/research you used. Are you able to share?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-20325170295190511272011-07-11T10:16:54.831-07:002011-07-11T10:16:54.831-07:00This is an absolutely wonderful article. I can nev...This is an absolutely wonderful article. I can never read too many of them. I was raised in a pretty mainstream family, however my parents (in the 70s) got rid of our family TV. Gosh, you can imagine the criticism and skepticism they faced. They heard, every single day, that we would become addicted to it, because it was restricted. I am so incredibly grateful for this experience of my childhood. I read and rode my bike all day every day. My husband and I have raised our teenage daughters without television as well (in our community, it is not uncommon) and I have two incredibly engaged and healthy young women now. I agree wholeheartedly!<br />Go outside and play!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-28441566823598159122011-07-11T10:16:26.559-07:002011-07-11T10:16:26.559-07:00This is an absolutely wonderful article. I can nev...This is an absolutely wonderful article. I can never read too many of them. I was raised in a pretty mainstream family, however my parents (in the 70s) got rid of our family TV. Gosh, you can imagine the criticism and skepticism they faced. They heard, every single day, that we would become addicted to it, because it was restricted. I am so incredibly grateful for this experience of my childhood. I read and rode my bike all day every day. My husband and I have raised our teenage daughters without television as well (in our community, it is not uncommon) and I have two incredibly engaged and healthy young women now. I agree wholeheartedly!<br />Go outside and play!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-54627925058354842052011-07-11T09:39:10.461-07:002011-07-11T09:39:10.461-07:00@DMDR, Thank you for sharing your experience. I am...@DMDR, Thank you for sharing your experience. I am doing the same with my kids, who are only 2 and 4 now, but I have already seen what you are talking about as well. My kids are not stupefied by the television. They both have healthy relationships with it, and I have no reason to doubt it won't continue that way.<br /><br />Maybe the kids who are only allowed to watch for an hour a day feel like they have to focus more intently on it for that time, knowing it will be their only opportunity to do so.Vickie@Demand_Euphoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706946767924290485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-91904913312306038992011-07-11T01:49:30.597-07:002011-07-11T01:49:30.597-07:00This was very interesting - thankyou for sharing y...This was very interesting - thankyou for sharing your thoughts. I will be looking further into the topic for sure. We just had a week's family holiday with no TV and we found many benefits, including less grumpiness, easier bedtimes and many more cuddles from the kids!Emily @ play talk learnhttp://www.playtalklearn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-26321932968525304802011-07-10T22:04:25.114-07:002011-07-10T22:04:25.114-07:00Wow, thank you, Tom. This is brilliant and brave. ...Wow, thank you, Tom. This is brilliant and brave. I understand why parents resort to TV, even for babies, but I've seen it create the very problem the parent is trying to resolve -- a child who finds it difficult to self-entertain and can't tolerate boredom. When innundated with screen time, some children seem to lose their natural ability to invent play. <br /><br />@dmdr Your concern about restricting TV use has not been my experience with 3 children. "When you restrict things they become treats and desires so by restricting these things we make them more enticing." My 18 and 14 year old daughters have only an occasional interest in TV, and my 9 year old follows the family rule to only watch on weekend evenings. None of them were introduced to TV or videos until they were 3-4 years old and then it was severely restricted. They've never complained. In fact, they seem to appreciate this "brain" protection. They notice how much easier school is for them than it is for many of their peers. They are far less stressed about learning than most of their friends, and I believe that is because they have solid listening and retention skills. Screen use has a desensitizing effect that hinders those important learning skills. (Jane Healy shares plenty of research on this subject in her book Endangered Minds and there has been much more since that book was written.) <br /><br />To the commenter asking about books on CD, etc., Those are wonderful! The child's brain is active when he is listening to music or stories -- he's creating mental images. Those things are perfect for entertainment during down time.janetlansburyhttp://janetlansbury.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-69968904302771191582011-07-10T16:30:20.730-07:002011-07-10T16:30:20.730-07:00Can you post your sources? I'm curious to rea...Can you post your sources? I'm curious to read more.Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68971717254951386852011-07-10T14:47:19.592-07:002011-07-10T14:47:19.592-07:00Are refering to all screen time or just television...Are refering to all screen time or just television? I spend a lot of time working on a computer, and it is hardly a passive state. Additonally, since you used screen flicker as an entry point to this discussion, could changing that,like you can do with a computer monitor, reduce or eliminate the effects you are discribing?ndkapgan@hotmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-75252630896036958082011-07-09T22:21:12.975-07:002011-07-09T22:21:12.975-07:00Great post. Just wondering if you can suggest som...Great post. Just wondering if you can suggest some alternatives for relaxing a child without the ill affects of the tv. Currently I'm having some success with books on tape (or record!) and building projects, but I'm sure that will get old after a couple months too. With a very active 5 yr old and a 2 yr old besides I'm wondering about ideas for times I need that "peace and quiet". I involve them with what I'm doing when I can, but sometimes I need something to occupy for a bit.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05338158313322932940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-32433253113423158362011-07-09T21:00:09.073-07:002011-07-09T21:00:09.073-07:00Do you think this same state is true with internet...Do you think this same state is true with internet browsing? I'd be interested to know.<br /><br />Sigh. Trying not to feel too guilty that Dora is the only thing that will keep my little one on the potty long enough to have success!Amy @ simply necessaryhttp://amypayson.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-39196286086135761932011-07-09T18:49:17.859-07:002011-07-09T18:49:17.859-07:00Great post! Interesting facts too. We got rid of c...Great post! Interesting facts too. We got rid of cable last year. My kids are limited now as to what they can watch - we don't have a digital box either. Once the weather gets nice, they are outside all day. But I agree, tv is addicting. I'd rather watch tv myself than doing what I need to do. One of the reasons it's gone.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Mel<br />Please feel free to stop by: <a href="http://melindatodd.com" rel="nofollow">Trailing After God</a>Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410114935534301370noreply@blogger.com