The “experts” have found something new to warn us about – second-hand tv. However, this time they might be on to something. USA Today reports that the American Academy of Pediatrics “for the first time included warnings about “secondhand television” in its guidelines for kids under age 2.” The article also includes the following quote:
“Parents are distracted by TV the same way preschoolers are,” says Lisa Guernsey, author of the 2007 book Into the Minds of Babes: How Screen Time Affects Children From Birth to Age Five. She says young children learn much more from face-to-face interaction than a screen.”
Ms. Guernsey has it right. The danger from ubiquitous TV is not just the content on the screen but also the lack of face-to-face interaction.
Face-to-face involvement is the way God instructs that we are to instruct our children. Look at Deut. 6:4-7; Eph. 6:1-4; and numerous proverbs. We are to learn from instruction that is up-close and personal. Christ chose his disciples so that they would be with him. This has tremendous implications for parenting and understanding how your children learn.
I will link to the article below. Take a look at it. There will be several posts on this topic.