The Plug-In Drug by

The Plug-In Drug

How does the passive act of watching television and other electronic media-regardless of their content-affect a developing child's relationship to the real world? Focusing on this crucial question, Marie Winn takes a compelling look at television's impact on children and the family. Winn's classic study has been extensively updated to address the new media landscape, including new sections on: computers, video games, the VCR, the V-Chip and other control devices, TV programming for babies, television and physical health, and gaining control of your TV.

Reviewed by daltonlp on

5 of 5 stars

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This book sat on the shelf for a while, because I assumed I already believed everything it had to say. I was wrong.

The best parts are the stories of families who have removed the TV from their house, either temporarily or permanently:


The first weekend was brutal. In the absence of television, it is very difficult to keep three children occupied from sunup to sundown. We were desperate for relief. A note I made on the first Saturday captures the ambiance of the household: "I'm so exhausted I could vomit...Toys are being scattered faster than I can pick them up."



Our children are playing together, real old-fashioned playing. The two middle children made up an entire musical entitled Dolphins in the Desert.



When the kids had nothing to do, they went out and made a secret hideout -- played there for many days.



Personally I find I can tolerate Saturday housework as a working mother a lot better when I don't see my husband loafing near the TV.



The kids really sat there for quite a while, just as if they were watching. It was pathetic. But it made us absolutely certain we'd done the right thing by chucking the set out.


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  • 14 November, 2013: Reviewed