Co-viewing basically means parents and kids watching TV or movies together. But, just as there are many levels of interactivity to kids' programming, there are many degrees to which parents interact with kids as they co-view. TV time may seem like a passive activity, but when parents get involved and get discussions going, watching TV or movies can be a real learning experience, and it can even be an effective way to solidify family values or teach kids to be savvy consumers.
As a busy parent, I freely admit that I sometimes use the TV as a "babysitter." Last night, for example, we had three extra kids at our house to play. What did we do when we wanted the whole gang to wind down and be occupied for a while? Put in a movie, of course. I think we are similar to other parents in that we don't always watch TV or movies with our kids, mainly if the TV shows are preschooler shows or the movie is something we've seen before, but often we do. During those times when we are watching TV with the kids, sometimes, we actually remember to make the experience more engaging, and we have found that talking about TV/Movie characters' decisions or circumstances leads to some great family discussions. Here are some articles with more ideas about co-viewing and making TV time more engaging:
- Effective Co-viewing
- 10 Ways to Instill Healthy TV Habits
- Ways to Make TV Time Beneficial for Kids
- Combat Commercials: Teach Kids Truth About Advertising
Have you had any great family discussions or teachable moments that came from a TV show or movie? Tell us about it using the "comments" link below.
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