After the child can read, then he or she should be encouraged to read several hours each day in books of gradually increasing difficulty in order to build reading skills and confidence. With no TV in the home, this reading will probably be spontaneous as it is in our home. Without good reading skills, self-instruction is not possible. Moreover, progress in any educational pursuits will be very difficult. After all, there are some good programs on TV, and it serves as a convenient babysitter for the toddlers.
Children learn by example.
If TV is mentally harmful, then it is harmful and should be avoided always. Children also easily understand that they are different from adults. While sugar and television are not good for adults, moderate amounts of these vices can be considerably less harmful to adults than to children in their formative years. During a period of rapid brain development and general metabolic development and during a period when the brain is learning fundamental abilities, the diminution of its capabilities through TV and sugar is especially damaging. Nothing could be more destructive to the mental process that is required for academic achievement in a home school.