The Plug-in Drug

Marie Winn has written a frightening book, that should be read by pediatricians, family physicians, and others involved with child development. It's important because, while not thoroughly scientific, it is nevertheless powerful and persuasive in its condemnation of the effect of television on all our lives. Quoting a noted professor of education "TV... has robbed them (the children) of their normal opportunities to talk, to play and do . It has interferred with their normal opportunities to grow. The big thing for me is the protection of children during their period of vulnerability... I think children under 5 should not watch television at all...". Can the North American family kick the habit? Winn says "... many of the difficulties parents encounter in controlling their children's TV watching are compounded by a lack of certainty about what role they wish television to play in their family life and a basic ambivalence about