No TV - will the kids missing out?

My husband and I have a television set, but we've had no cable and get zero TV channels for about 3 years now. The only thing we use the TV for is to watch movies. We don't really notice anymore that we don't "have TV" and we still watch The Office and Lost on the internet. I do, however, miss all the interesting shows on the Discovery Channel about pregnancy, medicine, children and families, etc.





The reason we opted to get rid of TV is because both of us would just watch it all the time! So my husband is very resistant to getting it back because he really wants to be productive in life and not waste away on the couch. So, I am supportive of this.





My question is, when we have children, will it be fair to deprive them of TV when all their friends have it? Will it actually be a gift to them to shelter them from all the terrible advertisements and inappropriate imagery? They could still watch DVDs of television shows... What is your opinion?

No TV - will the kids missing out?
My son and daughter-in-law have not had a TV since they got married 3 years ago and our grandson is now 2 and has not had a TV in his face since the beginning. Sure they use the 'puter for videos and stuff but for the most part he's not been introduced to having the TV be the babysitter. Most interesting to me is that when they come to visit us it's not like he plops in front of the thing and says "wow what is THIS thing that I've been denied all my life". He practically ignores it unless there is something that really catches his attention.





In my mind he's better off without it since he is getting more time with his mom and dad. I know it's only 2 years...but so far it's working great for him.
Reply:i agree with others that you're doing them a favor.





and regarding the comment that they'll be clueless about current events ... i don't watch tv news, but i do read a newspaper. by the time a kid is old enough to be watching the news, i think a newspaper is a better choice, anyway.
Reply:good job! I wish I had the guts to do it.
Reply:dvd's is fine, you can get sesame street, baby einstein, and any other shows, there really is no need to get cable, but they will want it when they are teens LOL
Reply:i wish we didn't have a TV. Your kids will be fine. TV is not culture, they will actually have... gasp!... imaginations!





(Can't get rid of the TV/ Dish because DH is an addict;-)
Reply:I would limit television to shows that are age appropriate, their friends will have television and your family will be different if they don't, you have to be aware of that but you also have to do whats best for your family.
Reply:I didn't have a TV for 3 years due to reception problems, so understand your issue.





However, isolating older children from TV isolates them from their peers as well as the world at large. There are many things to be learned from places such as Discovery Channel, as you well know. Younger kids it doesn't matter. No TV is probably a better choice, but keep in mind, they can become DVD addicts as well.





I went to school with a gal whose family opted out of TV. Their reasoning was based on life of the 50s and 60s. The kids were always out of touch with everybody at school as well as current events. TV of the 2000s is very different and very educational if you select wisely. You and your husband are now adults and certainly can learn to manage your viewing time.





Your choice of television shows may also be the problem. I see no point in either one, but then I derive no entertainment in either as well. I'm more the science fiction/history channel geek.
Reply:Idle minds are the devil's workshop! It will in no way be harmful or neglectful if you keep the television out of your home. I think TV is the worst thing in our homes. It has caused us to become a lazy country. It is so addictive! I recently got married and have 2 stepchildren and their mother uses the TV and video games for a babysitter. When they visit us, we limit their tv and game time to one hour a day and it is supervised. I was watching a show on Nickelodeon with the kids one day and on the ending credits it actually said hypnotist team! Our children should be enjoying life, family and the outdoors as much as possible. When they get older they will not have time to indulge in these simple pleasures! I think you will be a great parent!
Reply:No this will cause them the exercise Good going MoM
Reply:Good for you. Your future kids will be better off without watching mindless stuff on television. They will read more and play more and will probably be more physically fit. I don't know of any child who has a better life because they can watch Hanna Montana twenty times a day. There may be a point in time when they feel left out, especially when they start school, but they can always watch TV at friends' houses. Plus, there's books, the internet, and DVDs to keep them clued in to pop culture. As they get older and want to know about important things like current events, politics, etc. they can go online to read about it on the internet and read a newspaper. I think not having TV is something to be admired. Keep it up!
Reply:I think that you should stay cable-less until your child is at least elementary school age. TV for kids under 2 is not recommended at all, and its not that great for kids above that. If you would like your child to be exposed to some shows prior to that or some educational programming, rent movies or download off the internet. My husband and I got rid of our cable tv because we kept wasting away in front of it as well. Since we've gotten rid of it, we've been much more active in life and actually spend more quality time together. Now that I have a 3 month old daughter, I sit and interact and play with her rather than watch a tv program, which I may have been tempted to do before.





My husband and I order Netflix, so we have movies all the time. We can also rent and watch shows. They have children programming as well, so you could always subscribe to something such as that for television programming. Shows like the Magic Schoolbus and Bill Nye the Science Guy would be great choices for youngsters to watch!
Reply:...better watch that Disney channel...they can be unkind...





If youve rid yourself of it, Id keep it out. Kids were raised for thousands of years without the danged things anyway.





When Direct TV, or somebody makes a package with History channel types...only...You may wanna look into that. They dont now.





i think your children may have a much better imagination. Who knows, they may be just who is needed to come along and change television...


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Reply:i've grown up with tv but its really just a waste of time unless it the discovery channel or youre watching a movie with the family
Reply:They will be much better off!!!


We have TV with over 100 channels %26amp; we hardly ever watch it, there really isn't much worth watching.
Reply:Television + TiVo + Children = wonderful combination. My five-year-old has seen only age-appropriate television content and has never seen an advertisement.





We control 100% of what he sees and he gets to watch the Disney channel, as all his friends do.
Reply:No you won't be depriving them as long as you have LOTS of other fun things for them to do such as games, paints, toys, and movies. If the kids never knew there was no TV, then they'd have no reason to want or miss it!!!


And it can be helpful in raising them because TV will not be exposed to violence and sex associated with TV.


When they set old enough to go over friend's houses, that's when you have to worry...maybe at that point, if they really can't do without a TV, get them a small one in their room.