The Plug-In Drug: Television, Computers, and Family Life [Paperback]

After reading this book, my feelings are mixed. The author (and the studies she sites from other's works) is decisively anti- television. She points out how families are not as closely- knit as they were in the past and how television viewing has caused kids to lose interest in other activities, like book reading and involvement in sports and outdoor recreation. She even draws the conclusion that the downward trend in SAT test scores can be atrributed to the rise of television viewing and popularity.

Breaking the "spell" of television can be difficult. Parents find that TV viewing acts as a built- in babysitter and is also handy for use as a bribe. It's also much easier to let kids watch TV than to actively take part in other activities with them. This makes it especially tough to turn off the set and look for other, more productive ways to spend time.

Winn doesn't call for the outlawing of television, and that's good because if she did, then I would immediately toss this book in the nearest sewer. Instead, she advocates watching television in moderation. She feels that, like anything, television can become addictive and that young children are the most vulnerable. Adults, too, can get hooked on TV but it's the children that are most susceptible to this "disease".

Winn's opinions and her stance on television are sometimes accurate and sometimes a little over the edge. I can agree that, overall, most people watch too much television and that this can certainly take away valuable time that could be spent elsewhere. But I disagree on some of the more radical points, like the suggestion that kid's shows like Sesame Street are useless or that families should try going "cold turkey" and shutting down the set for good. I can only imagine the negative, rebellious response that would take place in most homes if a television- free environment was proposed by a parent.

Overall, this is a decent book to read with a few good points to make about television viewing and keeping this activity in check. There is a good reference section in the back with names, addresses, and web sites of helpful organizations to turn to if you feel that yourself and/or your kids are television junkies. But much like Winn's suggestion that you moderate your TV consumption, you should also moderate how readily you accept her advice. Television has some good points, and there are some good, educational programs to watch. Complete elimination of television is not necessarily a good idea, in spite of what some psychologists and counselors have proposed. Moderation is the key to finding the right balance of television viewing vs. other activities for yourself and your family.