Come Down from Your High Horse, TV Boycotters

                Television gets a pretty bad rap.  Many of you incredibly intelligent young men and women may not watch a moment of TV in a given week.  Some of you may waste away your hours following along as Scooby and his gang set traps for the always-predictable bad guy.  But I don’t think either of you are correct in your use of this resource, as each of you come from a group either to aloof to take advantage of a valuable information tool or a group to numb to turn off the tube and participate in daily life.

                However, simply the existence of those two groups demonstrates the true culprit in this situation.  The screens ought not to receive the blame for an individual’s lack of industry.  The television does not force them to schedule out chunks of sedentary time in their days, nor does it keep the “off” button from operating.  Spending upwards of 1500 hours a year watching the tube rests on the shoulders of children—and their parents, much like McDonald’s shouldn’t have blame for the obesity crisis in the United States, but rather its patrons.  However, like obesity, television viewing shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing issue with children.  Kids shouldn’t eat only carrot sticks and All Bran cereal, but rather a balanced diet involving healthy foods and a good ole ice cream sandwich every so often.  Likewise, while parents should take children on walks, help kids make up their own physically active games, read books with their kids, and do homework and brain teasing activities, parents should also allow children to enjoy an age-appropriate television show or movie.

                While I babysat a pair of twin three-year-olds this summer, we made a proper event of watching a Disney movie.   On a rainy day, they helped me set up an indoor tent on their living room floor into which we piled books, sleeping bags, pillows, glow sticks, and flashlights.  We read a story together and made a snack that we enjoyed around our fake campfire before cuddling in the sleeping bags and enjoying the classic film.  Television didn’t kill those kids’ brain cells, scar their childhoods, or hurt their relational connects.  On the contrary, I hope that day was a memorable one for them about fun that can be had inside on a rainy day.

                When used in moderation, television can bond individuals and teach moral lessons.  Additionally, television provides children and adults educational opportunities.  While I pack the next day’s lunch, I love to watch The Daily Show or CNN, both of which help me feel a bit more up-to-date on the happenings of my world.  I can watch shows or news reports in Spanish to help me prepare for the AP Exam in May.  I can learn new information from history to science to professional careers and beyond simply by deliberately selecting respectable television programs.

                No one should spend more time on the sofa than they spend participating actively in society; however, when used correctly televisions can open doors and provide a myriad of benefits for the viewer.