Cable & DVD/VHS hereā¦
Interestingly enough, we never really banned our children from tv.
Thereās a lot to be said for being part of an eraā¦the 60s had the music and the hippies, the 70s had the drugs and disco, the 80s was grunge and money (all about me), the 90s hip-hop, bling blingā¦
Since my children attended public school we felt it important for them to be part of their environment, so yeah, they watched the Simpsons, Family Guy, that 70s show, and others along the way.
The key was that we watched tv with them and we used each episode as a springboard for conversation afterwardā¦weād talk about the commercialism, the messages being put out there by secular media.
Now theyāre teens and while we still have cable, they donāt watch much tv at all by their own choosing. My son is into DVDs - a broad range of films from classics to indies. That, actually, has been more of a challenge to work with - but itās handled the same way - he picks the movies, we all get to watch it (unless itās too adult for his sister) - and then we discuss the filmās content/points/purpose so that each film becomes an opportunity to discuss Catholicism.
My daughterās an MTVer, which I still frown upon, but her real favorite is Joan of Arcadia, then the OCā¦and we all liked Monk in the beginning.
Iāve been pleased to see the kids āpassā on the various sitcoms and reality shows. It just doesnāt appeal to them. When I have the remote itās either on CNN or EWTN and sometimes the kids sit down to watch whatever Iām watching. They like the old Fulton Sheen shows and Father Corapi.
So for our family, TV has always been a conversation/teaching opportunity, and we believe weāve helped our children grow to be discerning consumers this way.
