Here’s an interesting read for anybody who owns a TiVo and is a parent. The article talks about how DVRs and other technology have changed the way in which our children perceive the world. Interesting if you are into that kind of thing…
In Sam’s world, whatever he wants to watch is at his — or, rather, his parents’ — fingertips. We have TiVo, and we’ve amassed a sizable collection of his favorite shows. He never has to wait for The Wiggles to come on; he asks and he receives. I feel bad when we can’t show him something because we didn’t think to record it the first time we watched it.
There’s much truth in the article. One thing I miss are the annual events, though. When I was growing up, you had one chance per year to catch “The Wizard of Oz”, or “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, or any number of other annual television events. The broadcasters even called them “Specials”, because they were.
Yes, Sam (and my own Jeremy) can watch their favorites whenever the parents say, “Sure.” And I love the convenience of my TiVo and DVD’s, too.
But the kids, and I, have lost some of the magic of these things, I think. Watching that scrawny little Christmas tree turn beautiful used to mean, “Yay! Christmas-time is here!” Now, it could just as easily mean “Welcome to May 30th!” or any other nondescript day.
Our kids watched “Frosty the Snowman” well into March. My 5 yr old asks us to pause the show when she has to go to the bathroom or asks us to “back it up” if she comes into the room after her 2 yr old brother was watching the show before she arrived.
And, of course, she doesn’t entirely understand why these same things can’t be done when she visits her grandparents.