Goal setting for kids

I was so upset this morning, when I heard on the radio while driving to work that results of a UK study just out found that the average British 6-year-old had watched 1 YEAR of TV. Maybe that's silly. After all, it means that a child had spent on average 4 hours a day watching telly - of which I'm sure some was helpful and educational.

But it just sounds wrong. Goal setting and goal achievement is, as far as I can see, the crux of what's good in life. And sitting watching TV is such a passive activity that it can only harm our development and our potential to achieve what will make us happy in life. To teach a small child that it is a sensible choice to spend 1/3 to 1/4 of their waking hours watching television just seems to be an insane thing.

I have a challenge for you. Watch your kids this week and see how many hours, on average, they spend watching TV. If you decide it is a healthy amount, good for you for making an informed decision. But if you think a little of their time could more productively be spent on their goals, please help them in the future to put goals before TV watching.

As well as structured activities, kids need time (away from the TV!) to just BE - to relax, use their imaginations, and switch off.

Happy parenting,

Cassie