June 03, 2010
About a year ago, I was spending time at some chat rooms and we were discussing the issue of children and freedom. I remember at the time posting about my experiences in giving up food control and feeling a bit self-righteous about how far I had come in letting go and not limiting choices.
Another person challenged my point of view and in essence said, we all limited choices in some way or another. Given the range of choices and options available, there was no way any parent could say they did not limit the choices of their children.
I went away feeling a bit offended, but have come back to that thought often over the last year. One of my newer articles is about giving the illusion of choice as a means to manipulate children.
The Illusion of Choice
When Martel (now 8) was very young, less than a year old, I remember reading in child-rearing books and on websites the idea that parents should give young children two or three choices in order to give them the feeling of power and control. At the time I did not critically examine this advice. I did, however, try and implement this advice sometime after Martel turned 2 years old. To read more of this article go to Manipulation and the Illusion of ChoiceOver the last few months Martel and I have made a habit of spending an hour or so at night watching some of his favorite shows on Cartoon Network. Some of these shows are ones I would have previously rejected for being violent or inappropriate, until I started really paying attention. I then had to ask myself…
Does Cartoon Network subvert the dominant paradigm?
I often read articles in the mainstream and alternative media about the dangers of children watching television. Whether it is the violence depicted in shows or the consumer mentality promoted in commercials, we are encouraged to limit exposure to television. To read more of this article go to Subversive TV...During this month I will be interviewed on a couple of internet radio shows. Look for the links on my website and I will send links to the archived shows in next month’s newsletter.
Thanks as always for your support of Parenting for Social Change!
All the best, Teresa
