TV vs. Video Games vs. the Babysitter

Everyone is looking for inexpensive ways of doing things, from necessities like food, shelter, and clothing to frivolous entertainment.

Families in which both parents work can definitely feel the strain of trying to support not only themselves, but also their kids. Who can determine the appropriate place to draw the line between frugality and a refusal to face responsibility?

I’m not speaking against games at any rate, but there is a difference between entertainment and parenting. This past week, the fine television programming on Lifetime taught me that parents who spend a substantial amount of time working when kids are home and running rampant, are going to be investing more money in child care services than those who can devote time and energy to homemaking.

Parents could take the time to hire a babysitter. But, depending on the sitter’s level of responsibility, he or she might be too busy throwing a party or talking on the phone with strangers all night to be concerned with whatever kid their supposed to be taking care of. Plus, there are just certain things a sitter should not let kids do in real life, namely driving stolen vehicles and toting firearms.

The cost of daily (quality) childcare can be staggering, with weekly expenses adding up to anywhere from $100 to $400. This is substantially more than the rate of cable and Internet, two other fundamental child-rearing services. The cost of owning even one gaming system differs greatly console to console, but the average is around $400 to $500.

Factoring in the purchase of games throughout the year, the price tag goes up. It can range from $600 (about one game per month) to $2000 (three games per month). Compare that to the average cost of after-school childcare programs, many of which have a hefty price tag of around $15,000 a year. It’s no wonder that families with limited income are willing to spend money on gaming in an attempt to be fiscally responsible.

I think everyone, at some point, has become familiar with the concept of media as a form of education or even training. There have been hundreds of kids television programs, designed to teach basic math, reading, and even more complex problem solving.

I mean, why hire a nanny when your child can learn everything from cartography to zoology by simply staring at a screen for an extended amount of time?

Instead of dropping fat cash on a sitter, plopping a kid in front of the TV and hoping they do not find anything else in the room interesting has been a progressive form of childcare since its conception. (The TV, not the kid.)

Let’s look at the numbers for a minute. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), anywhere from 19 to 37 percent of children are left home alone after school to fend and forage for themselves. That’s a lot of tykes taking care of number one.

While most who fall into the category of ‘gamer’ are between the ages of 18 and 34, 35 percent of the online gaming community is made up of younger folks. Kids who aren’t enrolled in some sort of after school program are left to entertain themselves, and games like World of WarCraft offer endless, sprawling worlds to explore and conquer.

I know from my own experience. Once I successfully made a grilled cheese sandwich without lighting anything on fire, I was given free reign over the house. It probably helps that my mom, as a teacher, kept hours similar to mine.

Unfortunately, some kids don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of time with their parents, which can drive them to seek other forms of interaction and support.

There are always sports, which offer a diverse choice of social networking, yet they can sometimes be more time- and energy-consuming than letting kids stay at home alone.

To try and illustrate, one day, while watching Wife Swap (what? It was on…), a 6-year-old kid, craving attention from parents who were simply too busy or distracted to give him the proper amount, turned to video games as a way to gain acceptance and approval.

This is not necessarily a reflection on shoddy parenting skills, but rather the effects of trying to raise a family on a low or limited income. After participating in one father/son activity, the six year old tearfully told his father that he never wanted to play video games again, and would rather devote time to doing things with his old man.

That’s sweet and everything, but I mean, either he will keep his word and we lose a gamer, or he will make like most six year olds: After proclaiming his love of cookies, he’ll return to a life of casting magic, getting into sword fights, and stealing cars.