admin | 
10 8th, 2009| 
Prior to writing The Smarter Preschooler, we believed that heavy television viewing and computer usage was not good for children and therefore limited our children’s media usage. And as we poured over the research for the chapter “The Electronic Age: Do TV and Computers Really Help”, we found that the research supported out belief.
While many parents believe that the latest Baby Einstein video was good for infants and toddlers, pediatricians recommended that children under the age of 2 do not watch any thing at all. Findings also show that those kids who are heavy television watchers have problems with attention and have lower academic performance. As a rule we allow 30 minutes total a day for any electronic usage. Our kids may use the thirty minutes and choose between computer games or television. And for television, they can choose from out personal DVD and video selection or those we have selected from the library or from Netflix. We have classic shows such as Andy Griffin Show or Looney Toones. We also choose nonfiction titles that are educational in nature like science or history shows.
Software games are also preapproved. We look at the ratings and review the contents to make sure the shows meet our standards. The kids never get on the internet without a specific reason like for research on a history or science project. And either mom or dad help with the internet searching so that the kids stay on task.
There have been a few media usage changes that we made. We cut down some of the cowboy shows that our kids watched because we found that our boys were more aggressive and fought more after watching these programs. Even The Three Stooges had to be reduced as the kids would emulate the antics they saw after watching. We also shelved a Lego computer game. The age requirement was for 10 year olds and against our better judgment we bought it for our 8 year old. It seems harmless, but we noticed out son getting very stressed while playing; he had a red face and would sweat every time he played. His body was tense and he began screaming when he was trying to fight alligators. After that scene we put the game away until he was older.
In general, we promote alternate activities to electronic media in our home. We encourage reading, playing, board games, sports, and outdoor play in our kids. And even though some families think we are too strict on television and computers usage, our kids have exceptional attention spans, do well academically and really enjoy alternative activities.