I can not remember how many times I've had the
conversation with parents concerning the appropriate use of media while
traveling. I have read a lot about this from child psychologists, bloggers,
etc. Everyone seems to fall down on one of two sides: movies, games, and electronics
in the car will ruin your kid’s life and they will end up a hoodlum in the
streets and probably addicted to drugs; or electronics are the only way to
survive the trip with kids as no child could ever be expected to sit in a car
seat for more than 30 seconds without being entertained or bedlam will ensue.
As with most things in life I believe the
solution to electronics in the car is a hybrid. I would not trade the moments
we’ve had on our journeys without electronics. For example, Jennifer would read
to us. We’ve laughed with Junie B and cried with Jean val Jean. We’ve cheered
at Voldemort’s undoing and Matilda’s magical powers. Oftentimes we’ll listen to
music; one person gets to choose the playlist or the kids all belt out Defying
Gravity together. As a result, we all like a lot of the same music and that’s
fun. (Yes, I had to subject myself to more Hannah Montana than anyone should
but my children also have an affinity towards U2—bonus!). We’ve played various
games like the license plate game, the alphabet game and one we affectionately
titled, “yellow car” (wherein everyone yells “yellow car” when they spot a
yellow car--that’s it). There was of course much napping by everyone but the
driver.
But, we also watched a movie in the
evening, once it got dark. The kids hold out until late in the day before
watching a video. We’d try to time it to where the movie would end about the
same time we arrived at our destination--thus eliminating the “Are we there yet?”
conversation. On balance, I cannot remember the movies my kids watched in the
car, but I do remember many of our sing-alongs conversations games and books.
However, movies got us through the last two hours of some very long rides. Like
most things in life—moderation is the answer to the question: to DVD or not to
DVD?
