Tips for Weaning Children Away from Television

Today, parents do not have the faintest notion of what sort of childhood their children are spending. This is indeed sad. In Bangalore, most schools are closed on Saturdays but the weekdays are so hectic that children are exhausted by the time Friday afternoon sets in. So, the weekend becomes a kind of picnic with time only for fun and frolic. This is good in a way but also a dampener because most of the weekend is spent in surfing the Net, watching television or getting engrossed in play station. Is this a healthy sign? No. Today children have got addicted to the idiot box. Children are exposed to the Internet, video games etc to such an extent that it is easy for them to develop a diversion for studies. To make matters worse, we have the education department toying with the idea of doing away with the Std X CBSE Board exams. In the process of reducing the stress due to examinations, we cannot compromise on the quality of education. It is very vital to wean away children from watching too much television. Children who watch too much television end up eating a lot of junk food and become obese. They get so attached to television that they end up throwing lot of temper tantrums and become deficient in paying attention towards their studies. I am confident that most parents in Bangalore must be facing the demands from their sons for buying them bey blades. Craze for these bey blades (a modern replacement for the good old top that we used to spin) is also due to the promos on television. There is a famous maxim that goes - ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. While this is very much true, the converse is also not a favourable proposition. In today's competitive world, can parents afford to ignore studies and have more attention paid to extracurricular activities of their wards?  There has to be a balance. In those families where the mother  is at home, there is at least amodicum of discipline. In those families where both parents go to work, it isvirtually a free-for-all for the children. There is no point in regrettinglater on. There is no point in pressurizing the kids when they come to higher classes if we have chosen to ignore their tantrums in the younger days. It is very important to have a solid foundation in subjects like mathematics and science and to some extent in languages. Hence, if we do not pay sufficient heed to the warning signals, we as parents have nothing else to do other than regret our inaction at a later stage. So, what exactly are parents supposed to do? Jaya Shettigar, a home-maker who has two children studying in primary school says - "Today parents have to draw the line as regards allowing the children to participate in extracurricular activities and watching television. Too much of anything can turn out to be harmful in the long run. I have a fixed time schedule for the children to watch television and though I am flexible about it, I prefer to stick to the schedule rather than make a habit of bending the rules". Many parents in their over enthusiasm encourage the children to take part in so many extracurricular activities that leaves little time for studies and homework. So, I reiterate - a balance is very essential. Many children end up spending an additional 2 hours extra in the school after normal school hours - for karate classes, music classes, chess classes. So, by the time they come home they are totally exhausted - physically and mentally. So, rather than playing outdoor games they prefer to watch television - an easier option! To wean away children from television, the following tips can come handy for parents: 1. Never put too many restrictions. Have a set time for watching television. 2. Have an idea of what your children are interested. Too much violence or sex on  television can make them go astray.   3. Be flexible, but at the same time, strict about what you expect from them - whether it is completing their schoolwork or project work. 4. Appreciate children for small achievements every day. Be generous with praise but be stingy about criticism. Hug children as often as you can and mutter to them that you love them very much. 5. When they make a mistake, explain to them how the mistake could impact them rather than admonishing them. 6. Monitor your children's diet closely. If your child is physically undernourished, do not push him/her into afterschool classes. Wait until their health improves. 7. Take a keen interest in your children's education even if you do not wish to micro- manage. At least, open their calendars/ note books once in a day to understand what they have done in school. 8. It is vital to ask the children what they did in school. Let us not be overprotective and at the same time let us not be so complacent as to not even have the time/ inclination to talk to them regarding their school activities. 9. Spend quality time with children - read books for them, tell them stories, play games like chess, carom with them. If a parent retorts saying that he doesn't have time for this, then he/she is making the biggest blunder. If you love your children, you have to create that space for children. 10. Lastly, parents should themselves restrict their television viewing and set an example for their kids.