Kari's Keen Knowledge

Dinner is about to burn, your child is about ready to throw a temper tantrum and the dog needs to be let out A.S.A.P. before it whizzes on the carpet: what do you do with Baby?

Maybe you have six arms and happen to go by "Wonder Woman," for the rest of us, pressing that simple "on" button to the T.V. remote may be the momentary lifesaver we need in order to make sure the house doesn't burn down!

So you do. You turn the T.V. on, you let it play-or you slap in a Baby Einstein. You sit junior up in front of it or strap your little sweet pea in a swinger and let her watch.

Should the Parenting Patrol come knocking on your door? I think not. Even if you use the television for a small breather-I doubt junior will lose any IQ points.

On the other hand: abusing the mesmerizing capabilities of the television can severely handicap your child-at any age!

Why? What's the big deal? Our parents raised us with T.V.! The big deal is that by allowing your child to be raised by a machine, she's not getting the interaction and stimulus she needs in order to expand verbal as well as motor skills, along with cause/effect relationship.

By sitting her down in front of the television daily, for hours-her ability to think creatively and develop social skills are eliminated by the prolonged sitting and staring. Her socio-emotional schema are reduced to what she can pick up from the characters on T.V.

Children need to interact, play, create and experience new things. With the television babysitting, you're allowing public propaganda to raise your child. Forgive me for saying so-but, Ronald McDonald, Jerry Springer, and CSI should not be the main influences on your child's developing mind.

I completely understand the need for an hour or so to relax and have an adult moment. But maybe a picnic, walk around the block, or finger paints would allow your child to expend enough energy to need a snack and nap when finished. This would make room for a nice break or nap for you too.

Another way to avoid misuse of the T.V.: plan your day before it happens.

This doesn't mean your nights should focus on housecleaning and your days around activities for the children. Nor does that mean that you have to load your day down with both! Simply make a schedule and stick to it. Perhaps you didn't write down to do a load of laundry on Monday-so then don't try to squeeze it in. It'll all still be there later that week when you do decide you have time to get it done.

More organization will result in less stress. Fear not, you needn't strive to be Martha Stewart either...just relax and go with the flow. The important thing to understand is that your children will remember the things you did with them, not how many dishes you washed or perfect meals you made. They will however, remember if you were there for them or if the T.V. was.

For older children, try to make sure television doesn't become a false need. "Mom, I need to watch American Idol!" I can't imagine any child needing to watch television! Instead, make watching T.V. casual family time where together you either watch a movie after dinner, or play a board game, or simply share dessert on the porch talking. As long as T.V. is not the only item on the menu, and family is first, then your priorities are well in order.