No TV

My grandchildren have never had a television in their home. They play no video games. They have no concept of consumerism driven by commercials. The concept of asking mom or dad to buy something advertised on Saturday children's programming has never entered their heads. No whining in the grocery store. Indeed, I doubt that they realize that they could ask.

They are interesting, intelligent, and creative elementary school girls. Something exciting waits around every corner when a child's imagination has never been channeled (pun intended) by Tony the Tiger. They read; art fills the walls of their home; dance and musical performances spontaneously engage their afternoons; stories and jokes fill their conversation. I have never seen them be physically aggressive. They seldom argue, preferring to negotiate a solution to their differences. I do not claim their perfection, but the girls are awfully good company, albeit a bit exhausting.

It cannot be easy for our son and his wife to maintain their stance on TV. It would be so very easy to let the television be the "babysitter" for a few hours. I applaud their determination and dedication to the integrity of their children by keeping their childhood open, creative, and free. My son and his wife are busy, but engaged, parents who take their parental responsibilities very seriously. I admire their courage. The results have been very good.

While some will view a total TV prohibition as too severe, many others might benefit from a bit of media rationing in their own homes. Yes, there are some educational programs on TV. The quality of a few programs is good. Have my granddaughters missed anything really important? Not really. (Be honest!) Give your children more credit. Trust their innate creativity; nurture their journey through self-discovery, uninfluenced by media and dubious cultural influences. Say "NO" to TV, if only occasionally.