Okay, I will admit it. Sometimes I just want to kick back, put my brain in neutral and veg out in front of the television. But as a mom, I have found that I can never let my guard down when it comes to what comes over the airwaves and right into my home. Each time I turn on the TV, I am inviting a myriad of influences into my home and into contact with my family. Sometimes good, but most of the time these days, inappropriate to say the least.
According to the Parent Television Council, television programming continues to show an increase in violence, including violence against women, profanity, s*xual content and unhealthy s*xuality. There was even a recent TLC program showing a 3-year-old girl dressed s*xually for a beauty contest! You can read more about these disturbing trends here. It might surprise you to know that when television was in its infancy networks had an obligation to promote programming that would be beneficial and for the good of the public. How far we have wandered from those ideals.
As we settle into our schedules this fall and another season of programming kicks off, consider taking advantage of the family guide to primetime television offered by the Parent Television Council. The guide has an easy to follow color code rating: green to watch; yellow for caution; and red for unfriendly family programming. While I do not believe a rating system should completely determine what you think is appropriate for your family, such a tool can offer valuable information when making viewing choices.
The Parent Television Council also advocates for better television by politely and respectfully sharing their thoughts and values with advertisers. They have made a positive impact countless times by their approach and strategy. That is a model we here at ROCK will always be quick to applaud.
There is also the "drastic" measure of turning off the television altogether. (I can hear the collective gasp of horror from children everywhere- and even some adults.) Several organizations are promoting Sept. 18-24 as a week to turn your television off and participate in other activities to reconnect with your family. Another idea our family implemented was to select certain nights of the week as "TV-free nights" which can be expanded to "electronic-free nights". Get creative with how to replace the time on those nights normally devoted to being entertained by technology. Allow each family member come up with a suggestion for spending time together. Those times of reconnecting over simple fun activities will likely be favorite memories in the future. Light that "family spark" in your home! You'll be glad you did!
