The Television Babysitter

Paper Summary:

The paper presents the view that television often acts as an uncomplaining and constantly available free babysitter in homes with very young children. The paper explains that parents often find that by putting their children in front of the television for entertainment purposes, they can find a few minutes in their busy day to relax and unwind. This paper examines the viewing habits of three mothers with pre-adolescent children: Stacey, mother to Holly; Pam, mother to Eryn and Ellie, mother to Mark.

From the Paper:

"In the 1950s and 1960s children's programming abounded. There were shows like Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo, The Shari Lewis Show and Howdy Doody, all of which were designed to shape children into well-behaved members of society through entertainment. Later on, programs like Sesame Street and Wishbone made their debut, providing entertainment almost inextricably linked with education. In between and even afterward were a plethora of other shows that focused on children, often with a mixed bag of redeeming value. Television often acts as an uncomplaining and constantly available free babysitter in homes with very young children. Parents often find that by putting their children in front of the television for entertainment purposes, they can find a few minutes in their busy day to relax and unwind. This paper will examine the viewing habits of three mothers with pre-adolescent children."

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