| It was the big Easter Egg Hunt. My friend Christy and | | | | spouse look when watching TV? Take pictures if |
| I lined up with the other kids. We all gazed greedily at | | | | necessary. |
| the field of goodies before us. "GO!" yelled the | | | | Take note of how your children behave after they |
| announcer. En masse, we rushed forwards. For some | | | | have spent the afternoon in front of the TV set. |
| reason, everyone veered to the left. I stopped. I | | | | How do they behave after playing with their friends? |
| glanced at the untouched feast to my right. I ran | | | | How well do you behave after watching several |
| right, gleefully scooping the candy before the rest | | | | hours of TV? Your spouse? You may need to get an |
| caught on. At the end, I had a bagful of candy. | | | | outside opinion for accuracy. |
| Christy, who had followed the herd, had one piece. I | | | | Consumers 'R Us |
| was eight at the time, but I never forgot that day or | | | | How do your children behave at the store when |
| its lessons. | | | | confronted with the cool blue gizmo that has been |
| What did I do differently from the other kids that | | | | advertised for months on TV commercials? Are they |
| day? I simply stopped. I stopped, looked around, and | | | | whining and begging and nagging incessantly for that |
| analyzed the situation. And I left the herd. I saw | | | | gizmo? How much extra money do you spend |
| quickly that it was to my advantage NOT to follow | | | | chasing the latest fads and fashions, as shown on |
| the herd that day. | | | | TV? |
| Leaving the TV herd | | | | Feelin' Groovy |
| In 2003 I left the herd again in a much bigger way. I | | | | Observe how much you really remember of that |
| got rid of my TV. I am one of those rare few that | | | | educational program you just saw. How well do you |
| do not have a TV, by choice. And I am reaping the | | | | remember the last book you read in comparison? |
| benefits of being TV-free. | | | | Test yourself. Stop and consider how you feel after |
| The reason? In 2001, the kids and I were without | | | | watching several hours of television. Do you feel |
| TV for several months. Like I did when I was little, I | | | | alert, happy, and energetic? Or do you feel lethargic |
| stopped. This time I took notice of the changes in | | | | and depressed and ready to turn the TV back on? |
| my children and myself during the time we did not | | | | Keep a diary to get an accurate assessment. |
| have a TV. Then when we got it back, I took notice | | | | Family Time? |
| of the changes again. Based on my observations, I | | | | Most importantly, monitor the number of hours you |
| decided we were better off without a TV. | | | | and your family spend in front of the TV per week. |
| Stop and observe YOUR family | | | | Is it 20?...30?...40? The average American spends 28 |
| But it does not matter what TV does to me or my | | | | hours per week in front of a TV set. How much do |
| kids. It does not matter that numerous studies show | | | | you watch? Now ask yourself: Is this how you really |
| TV's links to obesity, illiteracy, consumerism, etc. The | | | | want to spend your time? Is this how you want your |
| real question is: How does TV affect you and your | | | | kids to spend their time? By age eighteen the |
| family? Find out by stopping and observing. | | | | average American will have spent three full years in |
| Zombie kids | | | | front of the TV? By age seventy the total is 11.67 |
| Stop and observe how your body and mind react to | | | | years. |
| TV. Look deeply into your kids zombie-like eyes as | | | | Stop and think if this is what you really want out of |
| they watch TV. Compare that to the look in their | | | | life. I did, and I got rid of my TV. |
| eyes as they play outdoors. How do you and your | | | | |