Study after study, and writer after writer concerned with and about children's development claim that family members may be in the same house but not interacting they watch other's stories unfold but do not share their own. With the proliferation of TVs, computers, stereo systems in many homes, family members become separated, each having their own experience with the media of their choice. Mary Pipher worries that from television advertising, children learn that they are the most important people in the universe, that impulses should not be denied, that pain should not be tolerated and the cure for any problem is a product. These ads, especially, socialize children to be self centered, impulsive and addicted. We know that it teaches values as clearly as any church.
All television is educational.
It teaches values and behavior. We know that TV can be a force for good. It has shown its potential to foster values that positively affect the lives of children. Think about programs that have helped us gain new insight and perspective, enlightenment and knowledge, introduced us to new ideas, entertained us with good music and theater, introduced us to stimulating people. What we must not do is to underestimate the power and influence of parents.