Mindful Media for Children
Below is a writing work in progress by Earth Lande
Hey don’t steal my child’s imagination!
Alright, I confess, sometimes I let my children watch TV. I know how could I? Yes, I know that TV highly influences how and what my daughters think and feel. Of course I am aware of how  watching TV almost always invokes anxiety, impatience and general spacey indifference in my children, but every now again I feel like being a rebel mom and parking my daughters in front of the TV, so I can have some me time.
I do want to share that I don’t own a TV and have not for 15 years. TV and movies often cause me to feel, well panicked. After I watch an hour of mainstream programming, a nagging feeling of fear and distrust cloud my generally cheery disposition. So I ask the question is TV making our children feel insecure and fearful of the greater world around them??
Is it just me or is TV way creepier than it used to be? My daughters were watching TV the other day in the early afternoon and all the choices made me cringe. It was either weird and violent, strange and unsettling or an annoyingly aggressive commercial!   My mama bear instinct took charge “Quick girls turn that junk off!” What I expected to hear was “mom, come on we want to watch something” but the girls were basically quiet and seemed fine that it was off too. Reina and Asha know that TV is some sort of terrible treat. They enjoy it but are also aware of how in can consume their thoughts or even worst their play. Play is the cornerstone of healthy child development.
“The fact that many children only imitate what they see on TV for their pretend play is cause for widespread alarm and significant intervention methods…” from the author of…
When our child’s imagination is free of commercially driven formulas of play, brilliant & creative waves of ideas flourish. It is the process of play that allows the child’s brains to develop the neurological networks responsible for creating a unique being. It is rare that after watching Sponge BOB that fresh ideas are bouncing around your child’s brain.
Ok I know who has time to always play with child, or set a projects  or perform a show for them but we as parents are not here to entertain our children in fact our children are not here to be entertained, they are here to love, be loved, serve and create. And how are those principals supported by watching hours of mind-numbing often quite violent TV? I bet you are thinking I NEVER let my child watch violent TV! Of course you know letting them watch the news is A HUGE no-no, that watching the news can lead to depression, anger and information overload & yes your smart child does HEAR what CNN is saying about murder, crime and the stock market even if you think they are not really listening.