I agree that our kids can learn from every activity they do and should participate in a variety of activities. I take ds to the local wading pool and zoo. We go to the parks and see nature. He wasn't able to swim at the beach last time since it was closed. He skipped rocks at the park and threw a stick with some people for their dog. They are fixing a roof next door and ds loves to watch from our balcony. That's what he is doing right now. He will play with the much younger girls at the sand pile. There are no kids his age here to play with. All that being said, ds doesn't really like watching tv. Occasionally he will watch Wheel of Fortune. I didn't want him to sit and watch tv for hours on end. So I didn't let him watch much tv when he was small. He will not sit down and watch a movie and he is 12. He will play racing games on his Playstation 2 along with Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. He has learned things from that game. On the computer he enjoys The Wheel Of Fortune and Deal or No Deal. Wheel teaches him how to solve puzzles. I try to read younger kids books and construction books with ds. He doesn't enjoy reading too often since he has difficulty understanding what he reads.
I grew up in the 60's and 70's. My siblings and I did watch some tv. We also played Atari. I loved told sitcoms like Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. These activities didn't hurt any of us.
lovemyboy39280.5993171296My household has been as you describe for quite some time. My 10yo DD is excited because her bday was sunday and she "moved up". Now she can have another chore( if she wants it) earn more allowance, and watch 30 minutes more TV a day! I have always had a tight schedule for my kids, very strict, very structured. It does help alot.
As far as electronics, if you don't buy them, then they don't have them. DD asked for a nintendo DS for her bday, she got a Bike instead.
I agree that many children do spend way to much time "plugged in." BUT I also think that elctronics have a very important place in our world and that being proficient at a young age helps in school. I think that that the skills (yes, I believe that video games teach skills!) kids learn playing video games are invaluable. My youngest is a keen puzzle solver, has a rampantly growing vocabulary, and an incredibly active imagination, all things well-served and abetted by computer and video games. Do I think that playing for hours unchecked is a good thing? Of course not. Nor do I think that reading for hours on end, sitting still and painting for hours on end, or really doing anything for hours on end is good for anyone.
I think that the crux of the issue always comes back to parental involvement for me. If the parents are tuned in and interested in what their children are doing, then the children can do just about anything and get value from it.
I also grew up in the 60's and 70's, and I have to say that I sure do remember lots of television and cartoons from that time (anyone else run down the stairs yelling "G Force!" ?) and my sibs and I all turned out pretty well.
I also think a nice balance can be struck, with time for every kind of activity. The kids bicycle, play in the woods, go to the beach, go to the water park, go to the pool, read, play make believe (they are researching dragons and magic and making wands), card and board games and gardening. They are also allowed a set amount of video game and TV time. We do most of these activities with the kids and have a lot of fun. Some of my youngest's favorite TV includes animal shows where she learns so much. During another discussion I mentioned how my husband and I decided to switch things up a bit...reducing the amount of toys and turning off the TV for our kids. He and I grew up in the late 60's and early 70's. I had no more than a few toys - only received on my birthday and Christmas. And Saturday morning cartoons for a fews hours was my only TV viewing as a child - 3 CHANNELS! Can you imagine or remember? So what did we rely on to entertain ourselves? Our minds!!! OUR IMAGINATION!!!!!!!!