TV

Another hot topic in the parenting world is TV. Should you let your kids watch or not, what should you let them watch, how much should they be allowed to watch?
Here are my answers
1. I think they should be allowed to watch TV
a. they will learn TV isn't real
b. they get a chance to see a world beyond their own front yard
2. I let my son watch anything I watch.
a. No Porn
b. No War/gun violence
3. My TV is on from the time I wake up until I go to bed
a. Creates background noise
b. Occasionally he will sit and watch 20 min of TV so I can get something done

I grew up in a house where TV wasn't a forbidden thing. So we watched it quite a bit, however we owned a farm so we spent a majority of our time outside working. Braxton and I go outside for no less than 3 hours a day and if possible we go to my parents to work in the garden so we don't watch TV at all. My parents allowed us to watch pretty much anything. In fact I saw Children of the Corn when I was 5 or 6. I think it is just important as they get older that they learn TV isn't real (news being the exception) and they will be fine.

I don't believe behavior is learned from TV I don't think kids shoot people because they watched Toy soldiers. I don't think someone is going to become a serial killer because they watched silence of the lambs. I actually hope shows like CSI open his eyes to future job opportunities and that THS investigates gives him some historical in sites to unsolved crimes.

I believe TV can be beneficial in the fact that now we have the History channel, and Learning channel as well as Discovery to allow our children to "go" to places in the world that we only saw in books.

Right now he mostly pays attention to Zaboomafoo, and Sesame Street, but when the time comes and he really pays attention to the other I won't limit him too much on what he is allowed to watch.