Many experts say kids watch too much TV today. But what can you do about this?
Frankly, you can’t stop your child from watching TV totally. This is simply not practical. Being too extreme is not the way. Somehow you have to allow some entertainment time in your kid’s life.
If you agree that we should allow the kids to watch TV, read on. I will share with you a tip that can turn TV watching into a powerful life lesson for your kids.
Laying Down the Rules
But first, let’s set the limits and rules:
1) limit the hours
2) you watch with them
3) you decide what they watch
Point 1 is pretty straightforward. Use your own judgment to decide how long your kids should watch TV in a day. Some experts say one hour per day is fine. Or half an hour less for younger kids.
What worries parents most is some TV programs portray the wrong image how the world works (eg: if I hate you, it’s okay to kill you) and the vulgar words used in certain movies.
All this can easily pollute the minds of innocent young people. That’s why you have to sit down and watch with the kids. When a scene conveys a confusing message (kids can’t tell reality from fantasy), you must jump in and explain to them right away.
So far, we have roughly taken care of Points 1 and 2.
Now Point 3: you decide what your kids watch. I must say this is challenging.
Why?
For babies, toddlers and preschoolers, there are many TV shows to choose from: from Baby Einstein to Barney, from Sesame Street to Preschool Power.
For older kids, they can watch Disney movies, Harry Potter and the likes.
I don’t want to comment on these movies. They are okay.
What Your Kids Watch is More Important than Anything Else
But kids don’t really learn the practical part of life from these movies. They live in fantasy land. With that said, don’t you want your kids to watch movies that enlighten and inspire their souls?
How many movies have you watched lately that really touched your heart?
None?
Not many?
It’s not surprising. Because many of the most inspiring movies made each year never make it to Hollywood. Some are never even released, so you never get a chance to see them. They are categorized as “no commercial value.”
That explains why you hardly see this kind of movies in theatre or on DVDs.
To give you an example, this is one such movie that I am talking about:
Dead End Job – While she sleeps, obituary writer Abigail Slay receives higher information telling her who her next story will be– and she is never wrong. This beautifully made short film, starring two veteran stage actors, tells us to open our hearts before it’s too late! (21 minutes in English. Written and directed by Samantha Davidson Green.)
Here’s another one:
Laundry and Tosca – Marcia Whitehead is a middle-aged woman working an average job, living an average life like the rest of us… but Marcia has a dream. Marcia trains her voice in the hopes of breaking into the small, elite cast of opera singers working on the stage. (30 minutes in English. Directed by Lauralee Farrer.)
Don’t you want your kids to watch movies of this kind?
• Movies that teach them the reality of life.
• Movies that empower and inspire them to achieve their dreams.
• Movies that open the heart and expand the mind.
It’s a pity that these movies aren’t easily available. But where do I know about these movies? Great question.
Inspiring, Mind Expanding Movies
I found this place by accident. The movies are from a website called Spiritual Cinema Circle. It’s dubbed as America's fastest growing DVD club. The two movies are taken from November selection.
Even big name authors like Jack Canfield and Deepak Chopra endorse the Circle.
But the question is: Are the movies suitable for children? Here’s the answer taken from SCC’s website:
“While Spiritual Cinema Circle films are intended for adults, many of them are family friendly and can be enjoyed with your loved ones. Some of our films may contain mild language or mature content that is not recommended for children. A monthly print newsletter included with each DVD will generally denote if a film requires parental guidance.”
Here’s how the Circle works:
"As a Member of our Inner Circle, each month you'll receive a new DVD with four wonderful, entertaining movies that will enlighten and inspire your soul. The movies will be a mixture of features, shorts and documentaries, all handpicked for their quality and content. You can be assured that each month you'll see more inspiring, meaningful movies than you can find on T.V. or at the local cineplex.”
If you join the Circle today and you get your first month of movies free. The fee is $21 a month (plus s & h) for 4 movies.
For more details, visit Spiritual Cinema Circle. To watch previews, click on "Our Films" tab.
I hope this tip helps you solve the problem of finding films that enlighten and empower your kids. Heck, even adults enjoy these movies. It’s a win-win for you and the kids. Check it out.
Latest Update for November:
Spiritual Cinema Circle now offers 3 Month Gift Membership for just $59.95 (plus S&H), you can give the gift of a 3 Month Spiritual Cinema Circle membership – that's 18 films in all (inclusive of 6 bonus films).