How did generations with unlimited TV and no enrichment…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:…succeed in life? Not being snarky, I’m just trying to understand. When I was young, children just watched TV and had no academic “enrichment” outside of perhaps an instrument and a sport. Certainly no Kumon or academic acceleration. They went on to have successful careers and great lives. Were standards lower? Are children going to be a lot smarter because of screen time limits?

Self-sufficiency is a wonderful thing.

[Anonymous]

We watched shows like Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo and later when we were older, Electric Company.

We went to libraries. Where we read what we wanted.

In fact, we read a lot.

There was plenty of enrichment. It was just less regimented and commercialized.

[Anonymous]

My parents were strict about grades and chores were required. As long as grades were good and chores were completed - there were no limits on TV. However, we got maybe 5 channels, tv was in the living room, and parents had priority if they wanted to watch something. TV often just wasn’t all that appealing. My sister and I played outside a lot and read a lot of books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents were strict about grades and chores were required. As long as grades were good and chores were completed - there were no limits on TV. However, we got maybe 5 channels, tv was in the living room, and parents had priority if they wanted to watch something. TV often just wasn’t all that appealing. My sister and I played outside a lot and read a lot of books.

This rings true. There was pretty limited programming geared towards kids. A little after school and Saturday mornings. That's about it. There wasn't much to watch and it all had commercials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:…succeed in life? Not being snarky, I’m just trying to understand. When I was young, children just watched TV and had no academic “enrichment” outside of perhaps an instrument and a sport. Certainly no Kumon or academic acceleration. They went on to have successful careers and great lives. Were standards lower? Are children going to be a lot smarter because of screen time limits?

Teacher here. Standards were lower. I went to kindergarten in 1980. It was easier then the pre-k is now at my public school. We learned to write our name, one letter each week, counting to 10. That’s pretty much it for academics. It was a half-day and that included a nap time. Now, students are expected to do so much more. I would’ve been far below grade level entering kindergarten if I started now.

That's the same today. Letters are expected in Kindergarten. Earlier than that is just preview exposure.

You are seeing UMC ultra competitive parents, not different developmental standards for children.

[Anonymous]

School taught a lot more.

I was never allowed to just watch tv nonstop. I definitely had enrichment. My parents used to drill me with flash cards every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:…succeed in life? Not being snarky, I’m just trying to understand. When I was young, children just watched TV and had no academic “enrichment” outside of perhaps an instrument and a sport. Certainly no Kumon or academic acceleration. They went on to have successful careers and great lives. Were standards lower? Are children going to be a lot smarter because of screen time limits?

I had one hour a week for TV. But there were these things called Libraries,! And, they had something called Books! It was so strange because there were lots of letters of the alphabet strung together to made words. All these words made paragraphs and after so many paragraphs then there were Chapters,!!!

I got so good figuring out how to use Libraries and how to do something called "Checking out books," that I often read a book every day and these were books that were called biographies, autobiographies, fiction, nonfiction.

You are an idiot!

Yet after supposedly reading all of those books you write like someone with a 5th grade education. Congratulations?? I'm sure we will all believe whatever pathetic excuse you make for your sad writing.

Again, You are an idiot.

[Anonymous]

There was enrichment in the 80s and 90s. As the child of an educated single mom, I took tap, ballet, jazz, piano, and flute outside of school. I also did external science programs in high school. I was not allowed to lounge all summer. I worked. I took classes at the local vocational high school during the summer. One summer I spent six weeks at a top engineering school and earned six college credits.

There was no need to limit TV. We didn’t have cable. I read encyclopedias when I got tired of watching TV.

And I grew up solidly middle class. My mom made it HAPPEN.

[Anonymous]

It was a lot easier to be middle class. Intensive parenting is a reaction to scarcity of good jobs with benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:…succeed in life? Not being snarky, I’m just trying to understand. When I was young, children just watched TV and had no academic “enrichment” outside of perhaps an instrument and a sport. Certainly no Kumon or academic acceleration. They went on to have successful careers and great lives. Were standards lower? Are children going to be a lot smarter because of screen time limits?

Teacher here. Standards were lower. I went to kindergarten in 1980. It was easier then the pre-k is now at my public school. We learned to write our name, one letter each week, counting to 10. That’s pretty much it for academics. It was a half-day and that included a nap time. Now, students are expected to do so much more. I would’ve been far below grade level entering kindergarten if I started now.

That's the same today. Letters are expected in Kindergarten. Earlier than that is just preview exposure.

You are seeing UMC ultra competitive parents, not different developmental standards for children.

I agree. That's all my Kindergarten taught my kids. They started with colors actually and one letter a week. I found it ridiculous and disgusting. I don't feel very competitive but that's what my kids learned in Pre-K. They both knew how to read going into K. It's like school and the teachers have zero expectations for kids. My 2nd is in 1st grade and my older one is older elementary. School test scores are abysmal. My oldest is doing absolutely everything that school is asking and teachers are doing, but she's not learning enough to even pass the state tests. This is why we started Kumon. School is basically just a cheap daycare I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had this years ago. Maybe not Kumon but tutors, parents working with us. You just had bad parents. We weren't allowed much tv.

I grew up middle class in the 70’s. Most families around us were blue collar. No enrichment and not even an instrument. My parents were fine parents but the world we lived in was different.

[Anonymous]

It’s not only what’s taught in school. It’s what kids engage with at home and then test out in social exchanges at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents were strict about grades and chores were required. As long as grades were good and chores were completed - there were no limits on TV. However, we got maybe 5 channels, tv was in the living room, and parents had priority if they wanted to watch something. TV often just wasn’t all that appealing. My sister and I played outside a lot and read a lot of books.

This is how I remember it too. I watched a few game shows on summer mornings, then rode my bike to the pool or the library. I read a ton of books. We didn't watch too much tv on school nights though. We had a small house and a lot of kids so I think my parents just liked it quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents were strict about grades and chores were required. As long as grades were good and chores were completed - there were no limits on TV. However, we got maybe 5 channels, tv was in the living room, and parents had priority if they wanted to watch something. TV often just wasn’t all that appealing. My sister and I played outside a lot and read a lot of books.

This rings true. There was pretty limited programming geared towards kids. A little after school and Saturday mornings. That's about it. There wasn't much to watch and it all had commercials.

+1 it wasn't an endless supply of mindless screen time.

A lot of unstructured time that was probably better for development than fancy "enrichment." I loved creative play, writing stories, read a ton, socialized with neighbor kids outside etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, we weren’t allowed in the house let alone, watching TV all day. Even if we did, we didn’t have cable so 4 channels (and only 1 TV).

What! Everyone I know watched tons of TV. We were latchkeys kids. Parents worked. We had the house to ourselves. I watch Oprah every day after school, plus hours of MTV. I had my favorite TV shows- Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place on Wednesdays. Friends, Seinfeld on Thursday’s. When I was younger I watched hours of TV on weekend mornings, plus evening TV with Cheers, Cosby Show, Family Ties, Who’s the Boss…I could go on and on…

I also read a ton, and spent time exploring with friends. I never had a tutor and didn’t do any extracurriculars until high school.

I agree that education was also better, with the exception of math, sciences and engineering, which are clearly better now.