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From: suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: kids without TV
Message-ID: <675@terak.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 17:32:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: terak.675
Posted: Wed Aug 14 17:32:25 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 07:14:49 EDT
References: <212@mhuxn.UUCP>
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 61

> I would guess that the first problem you would run into in raising kids
> without a TV in the house is that you would have a great deal of trouble
> hiring teenaged baby sitters for the occasional night out. Once they find
> out you don't have a TV to help them pass the time, I doubt they'll be back.
> 
> Susan Slusky
> mhuxn!segs
> -- 

Hear, Hear!!

We don't have a TV. When my stepkids visit for the summer,
they have to adjust to this. We don't forbid them to watch
when they have the opportunity, but we do discourage it.

Two years ago I was available to watch them. We had them
enrolled for swimming lessons and several community center
classes. We frequently went to the library. There was little
indication that they missed TV. We played a lot of games and
read. The last two weeks they were with us we borrowed their
grandparents' TV and atari. It is interesting to note that
they played Pac-Man a LOT, but seldom watched TV shows.

Last summer (1984) just the older kids (9 and 13) were with us.
We had them in an all day program at the Boys' and Girls' Club.
They rarely mentioned missing TV, though all their friends
thought it odd that we didn't have one. Once when they wanted
to watch a particular show we borrowed a portable from their
grandparents so they could. (We kept it a week, but felt they
were watching too much and returned it.)

This summer all four (5, 6, 10 and 14) were with us. The 10
year old brought her TV with her. Once again, we didn't
forbid, but rather discouraged their watching it. In the
evenings we were usually too busy for them to watch. However,
during the day they watched lots of game shows and a couple of
soap operas. Fortunately, we had them signed up for a lot of
classes at the community center, so a lot of their time was spent
in more useful activities.

We feel they would have watched a lot less if their nanny
hadn't been a soap opera addict. The first week only two of the
kids (and not the TV) were with us. It seemed like every day
they went to the nanny's house to watch the soap operas! We were not
pleased. While she never said anything to us, she did complain
about our lack of a TV to the kids. To say the least, we won't
hire her again. And our interview will include questions on
whether or not a prospective babysitter/nanny can live without
a TV. We won't forbid Robyn to bring her TV, but won't suggest
and, if asked, will discourage it.

We also found that a 20 year old is too young to supervise a 14
year old, the ages are too close; they were too much "friends"
and the youngest two didn't get the extra attention we
felt they should have.
-- 
Suzanne Barnett

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