European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pulling the plug for no to november insights on life beyond the tube by Nancv Shulins associated press ome 20 years ago. A Manhattan Mother was parking her to preschoolers in front of the television set Ofta i she suddenly Felt compelled o take a closer look. Not Al the Sal at the kids. While a year do Mike and 3-year-old Steve took in tie Flintstones and i love Lucy their Mother tuned in to their Slack jaws glazed eyes end dazed expressions they seemed zonked out. Almost like zombies Maria Winn recalls. I thought this is a Little weird. This in t he Way they look in Normal me " from those casual observations a career was born. First came Long years of research followed by the Fufai cation in t977 of the plug in drug Maria Winn s landmark Book slotting parents to the dangers o television addiction in children. Now 10 years later after Mote research comes unplugging the plug in drug a Guidebook Lor earless parents and adventurous children who want id take part in a daring Experiment surviving a week without television. Accompanying the new Book fill be the sort of hoopla that generally surrounds major publishing events As publicists like to Cah them. Already there Are press kits and buttons and lists of schools and libraries planning to participate in what Viking Penguin books has dubbed no to november at the Prospect of additional americana discovering the world beyond the tube Winn is excited. At lha Prospect of being viewed As a carry nation for the 60s, she is less than thrilled. I m very eager not to be seen As a fanatic anti to Type she says wearily. For the record Marie Winn does own a television set thai has on occasion been tuned in to dynasty. She likes l. A. Law and Hill Street blues. And never once has she suggested that All to sets be banished. I believe in it As an entertainment and a relaxant she says. I be eve that it s less damaging than Vafi urn previous to tur Nolfa in Denver and new York provided the grist for the new Book Winn s t2lh volume Lor parents and children. It offers everything ram lips for Selling the Idee to addicted adults you mean we would have to Luin it Oil too one teacher demanded to survival hints for families about to Lake the plunge. Excerpts from the diaries of television less children shed Light on the magnitude of the problem when i came Home i cannot stand it writes one hardened id lie addict. Dear diary i feel like i m dying says another. I gotta Walch tvs but i wont amid the recipes lot linger paint and play Clay and alongside the Sample no to contracts is a serious message too much television can be hazardous to family life not to mention Reading Homework parental problem solving and All manner of creative endeavours. In s a Quality of life Issue says Winn who believes that excessive television watching has had a notice Auto Impact on american life parents who use television As electronic baby Sitters alien fail to develop effective ways of shaping their children s behaviour she says and children who spend Loo much of their Lime parked in Iron of the set Aii to develop the resources skills and interests that can Lead to enriching careers or hobbies in adulthood very Young children also May Imd heir verbal development stunted for the simple reason that families , in watching television Are not lading to each other she says ii is by participating in conversations not merely observing them that toddlers develop verbal skills. People Don t think about telex Melon in a Lucid Way Winn says it s just there. Irom your earliest Days obviously one week without television can t change people s lives but it can Start them thinking  a successful to turnoff. To Winn brings about insight and illumination about Lala Vialon. In some families it s a confirmation of what they already practice and believe for others Tho Impact is that they begin to understand the need to control it  the experiments also enable families to discover new activities to do some of the things you Don t normally do because you spend too much time Wal Cong to. To see thai there Are Gratifying Way to spend your  she Hdldn r always View television As a mind altering drug. In lha Early Days of he marriage to Academy award winning documentary list maker Alan Milf Fly formerly a conductor evenings at Home often included me Danny Kaye of Tolivor Mission impose be. After Long tiring workdays the couple would sometimes Settle in for what Winn Calls a co a Little  later As a Young Mother i used to watch Lucy with the his i remember turning on shows nought were dealing with child i con Nawa services hat does dim child do that drives you crazy is it incessant whining or Trtat he ignores your Calls to come in irom outdoors annoying behaviour sometimes prevents us irom enjoying a child end noticing what he s doing right. Tantrums Send every Parent up the Wall. When do tantrums begin do they always Start at age 2 and end at age 3. Or can they persist Limo the earsome 4s and beyond two year Olds Are learning to assert themselves so sometimes their will gets in our Way. Other limes tantrums occur because a child is overtired or frustrated by o i Licul task Bui often the trigger is one simple word no. A child has e Tantrum because it works ii he yells loud enough or kicks Tong enough. Mommy will relent. Out in Public the child learns he has even More Power. Giving in to a Tantrum buys a mile temporary peace but to gain peace of mind a Parent must change the pattern. Try this approach systematically in crore the Tantrum. When your child won t accept no and throws a fit give your answer and Lime end then ignore the Tantrum. At Homo ensure the child s sately and walk away. If your Kex Adlei allows you you icon the right track with ignoring Many limes tantrums Ard attention getting devices so be suit not to look Al your child time Iho tantrums we fun you Igno a a Tantrum Page 14 the stars and stripes tuesday octo