Warning...this one may not be for little eyes and ears.
Have you noticed (or is it just me) that TV is everywhere? It seems like I can't walk into a waiting room or a office or a restaurant without a TV playing. I mean do we really need a TV at a Burger King? Has everyone else noticed this? It used to be you would go to the doctor and look at the fish tank and read the Highlights and instead there is a TV on and some show you are being exposed to (like it or not). Now you get to watch and listen to what ever is playing.
We try to avoid it as much as we can. I have found that it helps to place my kids with their backs facing the TV but even then when the volume is turned up, it is hard to ignore. This morning we had to sit in 2 doctors offices (getting our adoption physicals done) and I was horrified of the story that was being played. Typical morning news show had a woman on who was going into details about her sexual relationship with her father. UGH. The story was really disturbing and I kept trying to have my kids keep their noses in their books. I even had them step outside for a moment to call Daddy on the cell phone (mainly as a distraction). Then the next story was how to talk to your kids about sex. Again...a little more details than I was comfortable with.
Maybe I should have asked to turn down the volume. As you can imagine, we have pretty conservative values on TV, but these were just news shows (sometimes those are the worst). I would rather not have my kids listen to a story about murder and mutilating human beings. If it freaks me out, I am sure it will give them nightmares too.
Now I know...bring books and headsets with music to distract the little ones. Lesson learned.
We try to avoid it as much as we can. I have found that it helps to place my kids with their backs facing the TV but even then when the volume is turned up, it is hard to ignore. This morning we had to sit in 2 doctors offices (getting our adoption physicals done) and I was horrified of the story that was being played. Typical morning news show had a woman on who was going into details about her sexual relationship with her father. UGH. The story was really disturbing and I kept trying to have my kids keep their noses in their books. I even had them step outside for a moment to call Daddy on the cell phone (mainly as a distraction). Then the next story was how to talk to your kids about sex. Again...a little more details than I was comfortable with.
Maybe I should have asked to turn down the volume. As you can imagine, we have pretty conservative values on TV, but these were just news shows (sometimes those are the worst). I would rather not have my kids listen to a story about murder and mutilating human beings. If it freaks me out, I am sure it will give them nightmares too.
Now I know...bring books and headsets with music to distract the little ones. Lesson learned.
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15 comments:
I agree. I have asked the dentist office to turn off the tv, when we are in the dentist chair. But have not asked it in the waiting room. I have walked outside. I just can't stand what tv (on the businesses that play it) thinks is appropriate for all audiences. I think people get desensitized. We do not have tv channels in our home, only rented or bought videos. SO it goes get shocking what is on the airwaves.
Sad really.
The TV's in every location drives me CRAZY! They installed two televisions at our grocery store at the check out line. It is ridiculous in my opinion. Do we really need to be entertained by television at every moment? I don't think so!
I completely agree with you. Fortunately we don't have to go to the doctor too often, but we did go last year to a dermotologist for JD's back. Simlilar to your experience, they had Maury Povich or Jerry Springer on or something. I asked the receptionist for permission to turn the channel. Not everyone has our high standards, but I think they should limit their channels to something that no one would find offensive (is there such a thing?)
So agree with your post! Enough already. Sensory overload, not to mention the ugly details of some information. Love our Christian radio station, the only one we listen to, where the commercials and news minutes are all kid-friendly too.
I am also disturbed by this and am VERY sensitive to the nature of shows and what my children are exposed too. Many times in the evenings I am disturbed by the commercials or the context of the shows on ( as my husband flips the channels) until I have had enough and ask him to turn it off. I really could do without the TV :)
P.S. Have you ever tried to pick a movie out at the local movie store.... very stressful :( Hate what my children see as we look for a movie....
This is so true! It is frustrating and you just feel trapped by the TV! My husband will turn them off or the volume down if they are within reach. I usually just try to sit as far away as possible , facing away, or wait outside. Sometimes I feel like we are over sensitive to it so it is good to hear how many other families are bothered by it.
Hmmm. We do not have TV in our waiting room (OB/GYN office). Nor, is there one in my kids' ped's office. At our dentist, they have the soothing nature films above the exam chairs, but that's it. Maybe you need to move to Michigan! =)
I agree with you Cris. That is just terrible. I don't know what I would have done. Headphones are a great idea. I don't even watch the news at home because you never know what they will say next.
I couldn't agree more!!!! I hate seeing TV everywhere. In our temporary housing there is a TV furnished in each room. I have unplugged them and forbid them to be turned on unless I approve it. I frankly think I could use a break from it altogether. Blessings to you~
Great post! I get so frustrated with the news! I want to keep up a little with current events - but, the details of the latest murder or whatever......too much!
I agree, Cris! They are showing up everywhere, and I have run into the same problem a couple of times when the kids have been with me. I was able to change it one time to PBS that had decent kids shows, but that is not always possible. I was thinking while I was reading that maybe headphones with music might work - then you mentioned it! Sad that we have to go to such great lengths to protect our children in everyday environments, but of course the effort and extra work is worth it.
That bothers me a bit too...the last time we ate at Arby's we were all gawking at the loud-big TV...something about Dr. Phil and disfunctional families...real uplifting and apropriate family dinner topic, huh?
Oh, also what about the TV on airplanes...yes, it's nice when there is the small individualized screen for each seat...but when it is on the big screen. We have had to say no to most of those supposedly "family friendly sitcoms"....but even not listening...they still see the cleavage and the kissing...oh, dear!!
Oh, I just thought of something funny on this topic. I've mentioned to you before that I'm an OB/Gyn, right? Well, we DO have TVs in the patient delivery rooms at the hospital and I can't tell you how often the TV is on in the background while someone is having a baby. And it KILLS me! How can you bring your child into this world with something the likes of Jerry Springer on in the background?!!! I try to get people to turn it off. (In a nice way of course - "let's have a nice quiet, soothing environment so you can focus on this awesome occasion".) 'Course I can't help it if there child is exposed later in life, but at least I can try to prevent them from being BORN to it!
I understand the psychology of why they have TVs in all these places... TV is a hypnotizer & a pacifier. It captures people's attention, draws them in and calms them down. People who are watching TV lose track of time and are probably less concerned about waiting for doctors than those who have nothing to watch but the clock. -- The content, however, is another issue... and I agree completely. We need more christians making television!
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