I have a theory about families who don’t have a television in their home.
If I were a betting gal, I would be willing to wager a large amount of money that there is one demographic that is largely underrepresented. It would be introverted parents with an extroverted child.
In fact, I think it is virtually impossible for introverted parents with an extroverted only child to be a television free family and keep everyone emotionally happy and balanced.
By television free I mean not using a TV at all. We don’t have reception, but we do use the television for DVDs so we are not television free. We kept Caroline away from the television for the first two years because we knew that it was very important developmentally. But since then… We have used DVDs far more than I ever thought we would.
Now I realize we are a tiny demographic in this country. Work at home parents who homeschool an only child is not a big piece of the pie. But I think it would be virtually impossible to be in this situation and not utilize DVDs at the very least. And if for some reason the family doesn’t have a television, then they for sure are using a computer quite a bit.
Even play dates and co-op doesn’t really work because the introverted parent doesn’t get a break unless it is a drop the child off type situation. The extroverted child will get his batteries recharged with the social aspects, but if the parent has to stay around then there is no recharging happening for the introvert.
The only way I could see it working would be introverted parents who work away from home and extroverted only child who goes to school. That might work. Although I would think going from work to busy extroverted child at home would be tough on most introverted parents. Nah. I’m going to stick with my original hypothesis.
Introverted parents would not survive an extroverted only child without a television. It is simply not possible. 🙂
I always kept pretty silent on the TV argument because we (sometimes secretly) allowed our kids to watch TV moderately at a young age. Funny thing is, while they did like to watch DVDs as younger kids, they now beg to play outside and do other things and TV isn’t the bane of our existence as it once was! (hallelujah and amen)
I can’t fuss too much about the TV when there are 1-2 shows each season I like to keep up with myself. But I don’t think liking Masterpiece Theater on PBS is going to kill me or anyone else. Just don’t tell everyone, okay? LOL 🙂
We’ve done the pick and choose thing with Caroline. Some things I’ve liked to varying degrees (Little Bear, Pooh, Little Einsteins, early Leap Frog, Busytown Mysteries, Angelina), some things I’ve tolerated (later Leap Frogs, Bob the Builder – cute show but the voices just grate on my nerves…) and some things I simply couldn’t stand (Dora, Barney).
I haven’t followed a network television show in literally years. I’m not even sure the last one… But I confess I have watched all five episodes of GCB on Hulu because I find the whole show so fascinating in a train wreck kind of way. It’s really fascinating to look at the theology and stereotypes on there. I almost did a post on one of the conversations a couple had on the show. LOL!
I was one of the only homeschooling Moms who insisted on Cable (or now Direct TV) or no TV at all. Believe me, it came from homeschooling the only child. My children are twelve year apart which really means two only children even if they share the same parents.
There was no Netflix at the time and few DVD/VCR options which one could watch without buying. But as Christopher got older, he loved watching the History Channel, Learning Channel, etc. and what he learned stayed with him and influenced him in a good way.
Stephanie gets no TV reception, either, but she now uses DVD time more than originally planned (although now they are using Netflix more as they have expanded options).
She has said it is the difference between going stark raving mad and continuing on homeschooling. Her husband works long hours and commutes an hour each way, too. But she does control what they watch, she just lets them watch more than she thought when she first had kids.
They stopped receiving any TV reception when the commercials were too bad for the kids to watch!
I do wonder how this would play out if an only child was introverted. I’m wondering if it would still be somewhat the same?
I only have one true extrovert, though one of the other children is somewhat extroverted in that she doesn’t really like to be alone. (She doesn’t really like outsiders, though, either–she prefers family members.) We do little to no TV, as you know, but the children have *each other* so it isn’t a big deal. I have noticed that one of the things that is helpful is that my extrovert is my youngest, so he has always had five other people in his life to “bother.” 🙂 He sort of wanders from person to person, entertaining them or what have you. I really don’t know what he would do if he were an only!
My husband was a fairly extreme extrovert when we married, but he has gotten more and more introverted as time goes on, though I think he gets a lot of his socializing out at work.
Brenda wrote:
Stephanie definitely sounds like a kindred spirit. 🙂 I completely get the stark raving mad part. Really. We’ve had a super busy past couple of weeks and I can tell I haven’t had enough time to myself. Enough said.
Brandy – I don’t think it would be as difficult if the child were an introvert. As long as the introverted parents get some time alone, I think it makes a huge difference. I’m really hoping Caroline will be a reader so she’ll get lost in books for some time each day. The jury is still out on that one. I can’t tell at all if she’s going to be a reader.
I’m guessing if your little extrovert was an only you would get to experience the television versus going stark raving mad options! 🙂
Awwh, Little Bear! I loved that show and so did my kids. Franklin the Turtle was a favorite too.
I so miss those younger years these days — not the challenges but the fun moments like that.
You are absolutely on to something here. DVDs/TV has been a life saver for us with our daughter. Both me and my spouse are introverts and our 6 yr old daughter is an extrovert. We both work outside the home and so when we get home it’s just so hard to find quiet time. We also recently had a baby so now I am constantly on edge, grumpy, sleep deprived and overwhelmed by constant social interaction. Weekends at Nana’s (also an extrovert) also helps a great deal.