A Father's Voice: Kill Your Television

There's a pretty popular bumper sticker around here: Kill Your Television. It's a sentiment I share for numerous reasons and I've been thinking about how to put it into words for some time. If I had one piece of advice for new fathers, near the top of the list would definitely be pitch the TV. The negatives of television are easily enumerated: lowered brain state activity, lack of communal interaction, exposure to unwanted imagery and commodification of people (e.g. consumerism) are just a few. Some of those things can be controlled for, others are simply built in to the technology. For this post, however, I don't want to focus on the negatives, but the positive aspect of being TV-free.

From birth, my son has seen very little television. There is occasional exposure, which we don't shy away from, but it is often limited and definitely not constant. At almost two, he is able to entertain himself with toys or, more often, books. He enjoys music, has an active imagination and loves going out to the park, children's museum or library. I don't know if television would have changed any of that, but it's not a risk I'm willing to take.

The advantages for my son, however, are nothing compared to the advantages for me. I purposely don't have the option of popping in a DVD for my son or turning on a show for me. When I come home, I must interact with him. I get to play with him and read to him. We color or play music together. My attention isn't divided and even when I am exhausted after a long day, I can't "veg out" - I must engage both my wife and my son. This is important, not only for the tangible benefits, but for the tacit message that is conveyed: "You are important to me and I want to spend time with you."

As my son grows older, the advantages will become even more obvious. The love of reading alone (which he already manifests) is worth it. He (and I) have more time to read both together and individually. His wants and desires will be formed out of his interests and who he is, rather than what Madison Avenue thinks it should be. Finally, the research shows that television viewing tends to be inversely proportional to physical fitness, academic achievement and attention span, which means the less you watch, the better of you are. As a father who wants the very best for my child, why wouldn't I limit television exposure?

Of all the advantages of killing my television, however, I have to go back to time spent with my family. It is little sacrifice to me to never have seen an episode of "Lost" if that means my wife or son gets an additional hour with me. The time I spend reading to Avi or rough-housing with him is far more precious than any pleasure I may derive from what comes out of the tube - it is also more lasting, even eternal.

I may return to this subject again, but I think there is reason enough here to boot the box. If fathers would take this one simple step, I think you would begin to see the roots of a revolution occurring. It is only a tiny and incomplete step, but an important one. So go ahead - kill your television, you won't regret it.