Which would you prefer?

Growing up my family and I would sit around watching television quite often. As I got older however I turned to books to get my imagination going. Once it hit 11 or 12 I started writing my own stories.

What are your ideas on television interfering with children's imagination?
Is television a better inlet then reading?
Would you rather your child read or watch television?

What are your ideas on television interfering with children's imagination? I don't think television interferes with their imagination. It definitely gives them a different way of looking at life....There are quite a bit of educational programs now a days for the children to learn from....However the programs only are on for a half hour where a book is there forever...2) Is television a better inlet then reading? No never ...when you pick up a book you are get more knowledge and remember more...In my opinion reading is the best way to get your mind flowing with advantage's , learning and keeps you thinking...3) Would you rather your child read or watch television? Definitely read they will learn more and have a better imagination...Books keep the mind going with words and knowledge and you can keep it forever....Television only last for a short time....So keep reading to keep the knowledges going....

Kellycakes asked - wrote:

What are your ideas on television interfering with children's imagination?
Is television a better inlet then reading?
Would you rather your child read or watch television?

1) Television did not interfere with mine, or my children. Now, however, I did not watch TV all day, and neither have my children. It is there. It gets turned on. It gets turned off.

2) No. Television is NOT a better inlet than reading.

3) Would you rather your child read or watch television. See #2. Read.

Let me say that I see in my children the same thing that happened to me. TV became boring. It is very repetitious, and eventually shows become very dull. If something catches our attention, we watch, but mostly we now predict the storyline after 5 minutes.

I agree Terish, television is quite boring at times. Most times here in our household the television is on but no one is really watching it.

Unless there is something special going on, such as a movie whose preview looks fascinating to me I doubt that I'd ever watch it.

As a child however; my parents allowed us to watch it, usually around the 8'oclock hour where family shows were of some importance. And we were given the opportunity to do what we want. I just wanted to know everyones opinion on whether or not it should be an important part of a child's growing process.

Kellycakes wrote:

What are your ideas on television interfering with children's imagination?
Is television a better inlet then reading?
Would you rather your child read or watch television?

Question one, most of the children I know who watch a lot of television play games, even imaginary ones, centered around the themes and characters of their favorite shows. So, yes, it is interfering with their imagination, but then I've seen the same sorts of games played by other children who are really into the Harry Potter books. I think the real problem is, and a better question would be, how much is popular culture interfering with children's imagination?

Question two, no, it is not. For the most part, books force children to imagine what a character looks and sounds like. They have to picture movement and action in their heads. With television it's all right there on the screen for them. They don't have to think about or imagine it at all.

Question three, we don't have cable television. I'm against it on almost fundamental level, both form myself and my daughter. So, when the PBS daily line up of children's programing goes off at five in the afternoon her choice for entertainment are reading, playing outside, playing with the cat, or board games. I personally think this has made all the difference in the world with her.

Obviously, books are better than TV. Maybe it's just me, but TV is the most boring invention ever. Haha. Seriously, I never watch it.. ever. Not that there's anything wrong with it, if it keeps kids quiet, I'm all for it. :P

x_paramore wrote:

... if it keeps kids quiet, I'm all for it. :P

I hope you don't have kids anytime in the near future, if you think keeping them quiet is, one, an important goal and, two, and obtainable one.

Lol, all I know is, whenever I babysit, the TV always keeps them quiet and out of the way. :P

And I'm 16 so hopefully noooo not the near future. Hahaha.

x_paramore wrote:

Lol, all I know is, whenever I babysit, the TV always keeps them quiet and out of the way. :P

And I'm 16 so hopefully noooo not the near future. Hahaha.

Well, if you're 16 and you've babysat you obviously know more about parenting then I do.

I never liked watching TV that much in my childhood. I always liked reading books, and in my opinion it is of a greater worth, because children learn to imagine the scene for themselves.
I watch TV once a week... when they're showing some funny shows.

I always perfer a good book to a great TV show. That being said, I would want my son (known from this point on as Little Rumpole: Future Ruler of Earth lol) to actually enjoy reading rather than me forcing him to do it.

Personally I think I'd prefer my children to read, because of all the joy and escape books have brought me. I don't think letting kids watch TV can be that much of a bad thing, though.