Parents: Do you think television is an educational tool, purely for entertainment, or a healthy mix of both?

[G8RMommy]

What about radio, books, the internet, and social media?.

Do any of them have to be all or nothing?

BQ: if you can guess my name, you win. Something. I'm not sure what yet, I haven't decided.

[AyeCee]

I use the t.v. as an eduacational tool. I have a 16 month old son and he very much enjoys the "Baby Einstein" DVD's. They are extremely educational! He watches one DVD everyday after breakfast and he's learned a great deal from them. However, that's the only "t.v." time I allow. A lot of regular programming is garbage; for lack of a better term!

[*EMMA LAURAS*MOMMA]

for children?
It is entertainment, but it can be a learning tool as well.

[mama b]

I think it totally depends on what's playing. Some programs are educational, but most are purely for entertainment, I think.

[mommy of 5]

They can be educational tools if you allow them to be. My kids love shows like swamp brothers, shows on Animal Plant, Pawn Stars, etc. All of them have an educational undertone to them.

I even think social media can be both. Just watch social sites can be a real education on how people can be. My daughter has watched some of the statuses posted on FB and she's like "mom why would someone put THAT out there for the world to know"

BQ: I'll bet your name is Mommy to someone.

[desmeran]

amanda? got a bad memory but that's what i'm thinking. probably mixing you up with someone else.

it's a tool. all of them are.

for us, the tv is a wii platform, so i'd call that less-than-educational.

[MasonMansMama]

I think it depends on what you are watching, and letting your kids watch. For Mason.... I think it's a mix. We usually only put it on shows we feel have some educational value, however he likes some fun shows and there is no harm in that (in my opinion). All in all, I think TV "can be" educational if you find the right programs, but mostly it is just for entertainment. I think the same can be said for all other media outlets as well.

[parent]

Why Amanda, of course everything we see and read on all of these things is educational. One way or another.

[luvmy4boyz]

I think it's whatever you use it for. it can be just for entertainment if all you watch is sponge bob but it can be just for education if all you watch is the discovery channel or it can be both if you mix it up. Same with the internet and books.

I am bad with names so I'm probably wrong and if I'm right then this might be considered cheating but your name is Amanda?


edit: HA like 3 other people said your name while I was typing my answer! No fair!

[anonimitie]

TV isn't educational (Mythbusters excepted) and very little of it is entertaining. It's a distraction that lazy parents use to occupy their children when they can't think of a better way.

Radio is entertainment. Internet is a useful technology that everyone needs to learn how to use - it's a basic human right.

Dorthy.