Work Down the "Tube"

Television is a quick and easy form of entertainment for children that requires little adult or parental time.  However, if it is used in abundance and/or in place of reading, it will eventually become a contributor in the demise of our society.

When children are more television literate than reading literate, the wonder of childhood is taken away from them and they tend to become demanding in all aspects of their life. This is because reading allows children to create wonder as they build and strengthen their imaginations, whereas television and movies create it for them.  Books also engage children in the longer engagement of wonderment before the conclusion, whereas television provides the immediate gratification and reinforcement that children crave. The fact that books are becoming increasingly replaced with television time, many children are missing out on the opportunity of strengthening their imagination through reading.  Books tend to cause children to become more willing to explore, which often attributes to increased physical and social activity. Reading also increases literacy and makes children more productive and intelligent as it engages parts of their brains that nothing does.   

The biggest scare, however, is that the ease of watching television, rather than, “working,” our brains through reading is also taking an effect on  the work ethic of our youth, which is becoming diminutive at home, school and in other societal aspects.  What a scary thought when we remind ourselves that the children of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow!