Is Television still a big part of children's lives?

[ding12]

Some shows on broadcast TV are appropriate for kids, such as:

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC
America's Funniest Home Videos on ABC
School Pride on NBC
No Ordinary Family on ABC
American Idol on FOX

Aren't all these PG rated? "Videos" used to get a G but ever since they changed it they can do more off-color humor.

"American Idol" sometimes gets a G but I'm surprised a lot of what Simon said could be included.

"No Ordinary Family" needs to clean up its language, and even then there's some violence that I just don't think kids should see.

ABC also has "The Middle". I'm not sure about the other show ABC has on the schedule that precedes "Modern Family".

I also think "Modern Family" would be ok to watch with kids, but I don't think today's generation of kids would really sit to watch it, nor would it be a must-see show for the parents to include the kids. The kids wouldn't have the attention span and would find something more targeted to themselves. It's probably not like it used to be where a family could all watch any number of shows on broadcast tv.

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

 

[quadraphonic]

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

Too many commercials, too many beer commercials, too much glorification of jocks, too many portrayals of people whose lives revolve around sports, and too much preening and self-congratulation and meism.

 

[JayR]

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

Too many commercials, too many beer commercials, too much glorification of jocks, too many portrayals of people whose lives revolve around sports, and too much preening and self-congratulation and meism.

Your point?

 

[landtuna]

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

Too many commercials, too many beer commercials, too much glorification of jocks, too many portrayals of people whose lives revolve around sports, and too much preening and self-congratulation and meism.

As someone who watches The NHL and NCAA football I disagree with your "too" points. As someone who watches (some) NASCAR I fully agree.

 

[LKellerIII]

My daughter (15) watches a number of TV shows regularly, but as often as not, she watches them on her laptop via Hulu, and other web sites.

As for trying to control what your kids watch - I think the horse is out of the barn on that one. This is an age where any kid can see free hardcore pornography on the internet by "certifying" that they're 18. The best you can do, IMO, is to keep the lines of communication open with your kids, ask them questions, and discuss right and wrong with them at every possible opportunity.

 

[landtuna]

My daughter (15) watches a number of TV shows regularly, but as often as not, she watches them on her laptop via Hulu, and other web sites.

As for trying to control what your kids watch - I think the horse is out of the barn on that one. This is an age where any kid can see free hardcore pornography on the internet by "certifying" that they're 18. The best you can do, IMO, is to keep the lines of communication open with your kids, ask them questions, and discuss right and wrong with them at every possible opportunity.

Wifey and I were somewhat aghast when, in 2003, our adopted girls arrived from Romania. Apparently over there no one cares what's aired over OTA and/or there were no restrictions on the renting/buying of pornographic DVD's or Internet access and it was common (so they said) for groups of children to watch whatever they wanted. Interestingly enough, it didn't seem to help their understanding of biology because they were still very much in the dark about the important aspects of sex, STD's and how sex affects relationships.

I think your last sentence is right on the mark.

 

[quadraphonic]

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

Too many commercials, too many beer commercials, too much glorification of jocks, too many portrayals of people whose lives revolve around sports, and too much preening and self-congratulation and meism.

Your point?

Live sports is probably overrated as something "safe for kids."
Let me add prima donnas playing a kids' game that feeds the betting industry.

 

[quadraphonic]

Among the safest things to watch is actually live sports.

Too many commercials, too many beer commercials, too much glorification of jocks, too many portrayals of people whose lives revolve around sports, and too much preening and self-congratulation and meism.

As someone who watches The NHL and NCAA football I disagree with your "too" points. As someone who watches (some) NASCAR I fully agree.

It was mostly based on major league baseball and NFL football, because those are the sports I tend to see on tv most.
In this area, NCAA football and basketball [at least the televised games/teams, not all of college sports are bad] are about the same.

 

[landtuna]

Let me add prima donnas playing a kids' game that feeds the betting industry.

While every occupation has its share of prima donnas (helloooooo radio!) the vast majority of sports athletes work in the trenches. Talk to virtually any NHL player and you will not find many, if any, prima donnas among them. NBA, NFL "stars", MLB and NASCAR - yes, by the bundle.

I really doubt that many young kids watching any of these games are aware of the betting industry connection however.

 

[flytrap]

It's not "Sesame Street" anymore. It's "The Elmo Show". BTW, I'm still mad at CBS for what they did to Captain Kangaroo. Danged old news nerds. The CBS morning show has been in the toilet for years. serves them right.

 

[quadraphonic]

Let me add prima donnas playing a kids' game that feeds the betting industry.

While every occupation has its share of prima donnas (helloooooo radio!) the vast majority of sports athletes work in the trenches. Talk to virtually any NHL player and you will not find many, if any, prima donnas among them. NBA, NFL "stars", MLB and NASCAR - yes, by the bundle.

Yeah, they work in the trenches, but the ones in the trenches don't get much coverage. The kids see the coverage, not what's not on-screen.

I really doubt that many young kids watching any of these games are aware of the betting industry connection however.

"The spread" is all over ESPN Radio. How long will it be before it makes it to the tv too? Kids will know it then.

Kids probably shouldn't even be aware of the connection until they're older. But that doesn't mean that the parent has to support the connection by supporting either side of the connection.
But it's not just the betting connection, it's also the alcohol. Just like they don't need to see 50 Fushigi commercials a day, they probably don't need to see 50 beer commercials during an afternoon either.

 

[landtuna]

Let me add prima donnas playing a kids' game that feeds the betting industry.

While every occupation has its share of prima donnas (helloooooo radio!) the vast majority of sports athletes work in the trenches. Talk to virtually any NHL player and you will not find many, if any, prima donnas among them. NBA, NFL "stars", MLB and NASCAR - yes, by the bundle.

Yeah, they work in the trenches, but the ones in the trenches don't get much coverage. The kids see the coverage, not what's not on-screen.

I really doubt that many young kids watching any of these games are aware of the betting industry connection however.

"The spread" is all over ESPN Radio. How long will it be before it makes it to the tv too? Kids will know it then.

How many "kids" do you know who listen to ESPN Radio? And you're anguishing about something that may or may not happen (betting ads on TV)? How about existing poker-on-the-Internet ads already running on ESPN NASCAR broadcasts?

Kids probably shouldn't even be aware of the connection until they're older. But that doesn't mean that the parent has to support the connection by supporting either side of the connection.
But it's not just the betting connection, it's also the alcohol. Just like they don't need to see 50 Fushigi commercials a day, they probably don't need to see 50 beer commercials during an afternoon either.

I doubt young kids are aware of any sports betting connection but wouldn't it be up to their parents to explain what it is and how to do it safely (when they are legally able)? Personally, I think the plethora of casino ads on our OTA TV has a much greater potential for damage on our kids than betting on professional sports.

As far as beer commercials....kids are much more influenced by the actions of their parents and other adults in their lives than any commercial on TV. Although these ads are seen by children (as are ED treatments and all manner of personal products) kids will not relate to them unless and until they are influenced by their peers (or, sadly, in some cases by their parents). Again, it is up to the parent to teach their kids how these products play into their lives in a responsible manner. Pretending they don't exist is not the answer and blaming professional sports for the media ad buys is *ahem* off-base too.

In any case, I don't see young kids watching the NFL or NASCAR (etc.) as a rule. Certainly not in the same way my generation followed MLB in the 50's (where Falstaff beer ads were pervasive and major league players were marketed as genuine American hero's).

 

[charlestondxman]

Yes, I feel television is still very important, but not what it was like during the 90s, when it dominated. There are so many more sources to watch programs than there were 10 years ago.

I remember watching my favorite show, Double Dare, and waking up very early on Sunday morning (like 7:30) in order to see the late 80s and early 90s repeats. That was the only time you could see that show. Now, there's hundreds of clips on YouTube of that.

Shows like Global Guts and Legends of the Hidden Temple, great shows, also aired at weird times. Sports are a bigger part than they used to be, with so many more channels for them.