InkyThink

It does seem, sometimes, that children would much rather watch their favourite show or movie on television rather than pick up a book and read. However, if you really look at the situation, it is understandable. Shows on television are made to keep the attention of those who watch them. For littler watchers, shows consist of lots of colours, music and sounds, lots of movement and even interactivity. It keeps their attention fairly well. That being said, is this a blessing or a curse?

An article written for USA today states: "Every added hour of watching TV increased a child's odds of having attention problems by about 10% ... The researchers accounted for many factors beside television that might predict problems concentrating, but the TV-attention link remained." Honestly, that is astounding, though percievable. This can affect every aspect of their lives, most importantly their ability to concentrate on school and learning. As parents, what can you do? How can you make reading more fun, and/or draw your children away from the "T.V. Zone"?

Don't worry! There are a few things you can do.

#1, and my personal favourite, is to turn off the cable altogether. If it's not there, it can't be used, right? If you go this route, it doesn't have to mean chucking the T.V. Schedule movie nights, for instance, where you sit down as a family with the intent of only watching one movie you've rented specifically for that purpose. An added bonus to the kids is letting them pick out their own movie.

#2, which I highly recommend using in conjunction with #1, is to keep a lot more hands on activities around the house. Keep things readily available, like colouring books with crayons or paint, legos and building blocks, and most importantly: books. Keep all kinds of books around the house. As Arthur Koestler is quoted saying: "Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual." Let them teach themselves. If they really need help, let them know you are there for them. If they take to a particular craft or activity, nurture that. Let them know they are allowed to do it all they want in their spare time.

--#2.b. Try letting your children challenge themselves when it comes to reading. If they're reading fairly well on their own, try handing them a book you know is slightly beyond their reading level. Tell them to come to you when they get to the first word they don't understand, or cannot pronounce. You can look up the word together, use it in context, and see how it is used in the book. Also, if you've read the book yourself, you can talk about the book together, and relate on a personal level.

#3 Go! Do! Be! Plan a trip to the science centre, library, park, a play, or local museum or cultural fair. Kids are very hands on, and seeing how things work, or used to work, is fun for them. It keeps their minds going. This is especially important during the summer months where they're out of school and need to keep their brains active.

Most importantly, keep your children informed. If they ask you why their friend's allowed to watch T.V. but they're not, give them an honest answer. The best thing you could ever give your child is your time. Children crave attention, and by giving them the right kind of attention from an early age, you let them know that spending time together can be a fun and rewarding experience. Before you know it, they'll be picking up a craft or book without even thinking about the television!