Our Children Will Never Watch Television Again
By Anne Yate

I have always viewed my childrens television watching as purely educational and a contribution to their overall development and learning.

I started out early on with the Baby Einstein Videos in the bouncy seat, exposing my little 6 month old to Mozart, Bach, and vocabulary builder DVDs. Eventually my fine parenting introduced Teletubbies, Barney, and then to the finest of them all Sesame Street. Knowing all the while that early exposure to classical music would help them later in life with math.

My children ate with Elmo spoons. Wore Big Bird shirts, and happily played with sesame street branded toys. All the while, I sat back as a content parent, realizing that there was no better education the PBS. I soon found that there were children who watched Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, but, I stuck with PBS to make sure that the language that was creeping into the "other" networks would not pierce my little child's fragile ears.

Until on day, many years passed, my 3 and 5 year old boys declared their undying love for "Power Rangers". Neither child had ever watched a Power Ranger cartoon, but they were able to emulate the aggressive behavior, before first hand viewing of their "must have" new toy. I turned their eye away from the cartoon version of the Power Ranger and chose the ever growing toy version of their new found "hero".

I was horrified to find mini-guns, swords, and lasers. My delicate children knew EXACTLY what to do with these weapons! How could it be? My PBS Loving Children? I was left with two beautiful little boys, looking up at me with large brown eyes, and begging for "ONLY ONE GUN".

That was it.

I had to make a pivotal decision in my childrens lives. Right now, not one minute more.

I told my children that they were not being punished, but we no longer were watching television in our home, game boys were not to be had or played with, no media that had guns, swords, or any type of aggressive play matter was to come in front of my childrens eyes or within their grasp.

Overboard? Maybe?

Scared? Absolutely!

Surprised at the outcome! Beyond a shadow of a doubt!

There was exactly one minute of transition, and my children embraced not having the television on. They were free. They were moving. They instantly became more creative with simple "no name" brand pretend play toys. Simple items such as cardboard blocks were transformed into McDonald's drive through counters and fire stations. The capes, cars, trucks, and pretend play clothes were being worn 90% of the day. They loved being outdoors and riding about without worrying when the next episode would be airing.

I found that providing my children with resources that allow them to create, rather than watching others create was one of the best decisions I have ever made as a parent and now advocate of media free childhood days and nights.

I will never turn on the television on in our home again. Life is too short and guns are not for 3 year old.