tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post8440553905956715234..comments2023-12-18T03:00:04.192-05:00Comments on The Concrete Gardener: Unschooling TV and Two Year OldsConcrete Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368862362127742038noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-86985805896639114932012-07-25T10:49:38.365-04:002012-07-25T10:49:38.365-04:00Thanks so much Sim, I really appreciated your comm...Thanks so much Sim, I really appreciated your comment. I've also been thinking about that quote a lot, and the way you summed it up helped me think some more. <br /><br />Thanks again. Bless your life in SF!Concrete Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368862362127742038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-39890132503180932622012-07-24T19:08:19.784-04:002012-07-24T19:08:19.784-04:00hi jo, just wanted to say that i love the john hol...hi jo, just wanted to say that i love the john holt quote. it was such a pleasant shock into awareness to read: a single (complex) thought that suddenly shifted the focus from "how the world thinks about them" to "how they receive messages from the world". thanks for that. been enjoying reading about your adventures in school, parenting, and green(er) living. <br />xoxo <br />sim thadani~*sim*~https://www.blogger.com/profile/12686431817625159970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-24748562976716259332012-07-16T18:49:13.662-04:002012-07-16T18:49:13.662-04:00Okay, you've inspired me. Here is our best of ...Okay, you've inspired me. Here is our best of list for kids television. This list was compiled in conjunction with Carla. Others may differ in their list, but here is ours:<br /><br />Kipper (yes, we liked the dog with slipper as well)<br />Sid the Science Kid<br />Pinky Dinky Doo<br />Super Why<br />Arthur<br />Phineas and Ferb (maybe one of the funniest best written kids shows on TV)<br />Martha Speaks<br />Word Girl <br />Between the Lions<br />New Electric Company<br />Little House on the Prairie<br /><br />I also have a special category of shows. These are shows that teach good lessons, have good values (for the most part), but if you chose to watch these shows with your children, could possibly drive you insane:<br /><br />Barney<br />Dora the Explorer<br />Diego<br />Blues Clues<br />Sesame Street<br />Bernstein BearsDarrenhttp://www.momentarydelight.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-47461349697865171652012-07-16T05:16:36.498-04:002012-07-16T05:16:36.498-04:00May I suggest some Muppets if you're looking f...May I suggest some Muppets if you're looking for variety? :) I'm not sure how age appropriate it is, or how wholesome, but it's really fun to watch for both kids and adults. Lots of Youtube clips of the old shows as well.<br /><br />The Nickelodeon shows are gag-worthy in so many ways... As a kid I grew up on Pumpkin Patch, which I found awesome, sure maybe a bit cringe-worthy now, but not bad for a kid.<br /><br />Haven't heard of Kipper, but it sounds good :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875782789496737338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-74434962744296529982012-07-16T02:16:00.750-04:002012-07-16T02:16:00.750-04:00Hi Clare, Thanks so much for your comment- I loved...Hi Clare, Thanks so much for your comment- I loved browsing your blog. What a great resource!<br /><br />I got the same thing from the unschooling sites- thanks! <br /><br />When I think of saying "yes" more, one of my big fears is that I'll say "yes" in a way that is unsustainable, and I'll go crazy. Or that my saying "yes" will make Noah have an unrealistic view of his world. I'm praying for wisdom in this, because I actually think many positive responses don't drain me as much as an day in which Noah feels unfulfilled. <br /><br />Thanks again for your comment- I'll definitely keep checking your blog as a resource of someone more experienced at parenting!Concrete Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368862362127742038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-82453000428525959672012-07-15T17:38:02.524-04:002012-07-15T17:38:02.524-04:00I think that with unlimited TV, the point is not j...I think that with unlimited TV, the point is not just to plonk them in front of it (although that is v useful too sometimes). I think it's to sit with them, to find out what they like and are interested in, which will then help guide your choices of what new ideas/places/books/toys/activities etc to present them with. If it's a shared activity and you're involved, they're less likely to binge. <br /><br />I'm a new possibly-unschooler too, and my kids are still in the loving-their-tv-freedom stage. But that's what I've gleaned from reading about it. <br /><br />Oh, and also, if it's a new thing, it helps just t say yes more when they ask for it (sounds like you're doing that anyway!) rather than just put it on and say right, now you can watch it all the time.<br /><br />Good luck with your experiments!Clarehttp://smoothandeasydays.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-22583562489497986882012-07-12T22:48:23.293-04:002012-07-12T22:48:23.293-04:00Hey Jo:
Can't say we have an expertise, maybe...Hey Jo:<br /><br />Can't say we have an expertise, maybe just lessons from all the things we did wrong.<br /><br />I often have this ideal, where when we watch television, my kids and me will have deep discussions on life and moral decision-making. For example, we will discuss why things in a given movie are good or bad.<br /><br />"Johanna, what do you think about the choice made by that little girl."<br /><br />"It was terrible Papa, how that little girl talked to her Mama."<br /><br />"Yes it was, honey."<br /><br />I imagine myself having these kinds of conversations, but this is what happens instead.<br /><br />"Johanna, what do you think about the choice made by that little girl."<br /><br />"Can we just watch the show, Papa."<br /><br />Anyway, we try, and sometimes we fail, but we're still trying.Darrenhttp://www.momentarydelight.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-19937228204196028992012-07-11T08:20:45.742-04:002012-07-11T08:20:45.742-04:00Hi Darren,
I'm with you, actually. I don'...Hi Darren,<br /><br />I'm with you, actually. I don't think it came through too well in the post, but I'd say we've largely stepped back from our "unlimited Kipper" experiment. (though if Noah asks and it seems to be the way to have peace in the house during dinner or breakfast, then we go with it). Our starting point was no digital media whatsoever. <br /><br />Kipper is a super-tame British cartoon from the 90s, and since we don't have TV Noah has only been exposed to Kipper thus far. We're trying to watch with him a little more, so he's not watching because we want to be able to ignore him.<br /><br />I really don't know what we'll do when Noah (and Eli) get a little older- what we'll expose them too or shelter them from - or how we'll go about doing that (by outright banning or by discussion). At least in theory, I like the idea of being a bit flexible than is in my nature- maybe because I've been learning so much recently from giving up some of my strong grip on trying to have rules and outcomes set in stone. So I really appreciate more experienced parents like you and Carla's perspectives on this.Concrete Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368862362127742038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8026557319568945115.post-47547602098575320312012-07-10T21:46:36.909-04:002012-07-10T21:46:36.909-04:00Hey Jo:
Can't really speak to the unschooling...Hey Jo:<br /><br />Can't really speak to the unschooling thing. <br /><br />Johanna if left her own desires would probably watch all of the garbage on Disney and Nickelodeon (ie. Good Luck Chuck, I-Carly). <br /><br />For myself, I remember watching "Our Gang" Black and White shorts. I had all of these fond memories of watching them as a kid. When I watched them as an adult and parent, I was horrified.<br /><br />On the whole these shows, I-Carly, Good Luck Chuck and even Our Gang all show adults as total morons. In the first two shows, girls are often shown as obsessed with boys. Just terrible stuff.<br /><br />As a result, I've taken a little more of an interventionalist route. Banning certain shows. Always try to give the kids better alternatives. Okay, you can't watch I-Carly, but you can watch PBS shows Cyberchase or Electric Company. Certain videos have also mysteriously disappeared. Don't know what happened to them. ;) <br /><br />Just wondering how you might handle the whole age appropriate issue. Do you let your kids watch anything that's age appropriate, or anything regardless of its age appropriateness?Darrenhttp://www.momentarydelight.comnoreply@blogger.com