Intentionality with the Television

“These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Summertime and TV-watching go hand-in-hand. Kids are home all day, so the television can very quickly become the babysitter. After all, it surely keeps the children occupied and quiet so you can get a few things done! I totally understand that mamas, as I currently have four young children in my home. However, I think we all know this isn’t best for them.

What if, instead, we created an environment in our homes where television watching could actually
provide something positive? My heart wants to show you that with some intentionality, TV can become an excellent learning experience for your family. It can also become a special time to share something together, create memories, and cuddle on the couch.

Today’s verse in Deuteronomy says to “teach them diligently.” In my opinion, that can happen all day long if we take advantage of the openings our children give us. Proverbs 23:26 says, “my son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” Our children are waiting to be instructed by us and here are some suggestions on how to use TV to make that happen:

1. TV can be a great conversation starter. “…Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4b). Some topics are not easy to discuss with kids, particularly with pre-teens and teens. Bringing up hard subjects can often turn into awkward moments. However, by choosing programs that address sensitive topics and by following His instruction, you will have the open door to train your child in the instruction of the Lord.

2. TV can be educational and fun! In our home, we enjoy cuddling up together to watch a show where something new is being
exposed or taught to our children. As the parents, we intentionally choose certain shows beforehand. We then watch together, laugh together, and discuss anything new we saw or learned. Watching quality television creates great memories!

3. TV exposes our children to different cultures. Many TV programs can be powerful tools in teaching our children about new cultures and their lifestyles and traditions. Documentaries or dramas filmed in other countries can also help our children feel empathy for those living in poverty, or develop curiosity about their traditions.

Go Deeper:
Pray about how you view television in your home. Ask the Lord to guide you towards shows that are edifying and in line with Christian teachings.

What’s Next?
I am praying that all of you mamas have a great summer of TV watching with your children. Below is my list of shows/documentaries we have watched in our home that I would love to share with you. All of these are available to stream on Netflix or Amazon.

Pre-School/Kindergarten
1. Wild Kratts
2. Creative Galaxy
3. The Hive
4. Word Party

Early Elementary
1. Odd Squad
2. Bindi’s Bootcamp
3. Zoo Clues
4. Space Racers

Upper Elementary
1. Brain Games
2. Annedroids
3. On the Way to School
4. Blue Planet 2

Rachel Jones
Latest posts by Rachel Jones (see all)

4 Comments on “Intentionality with the Television”

  1. I’m a mother of three, grandmother of fourteen and a great grandmother of seven. Your devotions that I have done on the Bible app have been such a blessing, I have sent some to my family because we all can relate and learn from them. Even us older momma’s can learn so much from the devotions. Thank you, you are a blessing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.