Product Description

In The Plug-In Drug, Marie Winn demonstrates "with devastating persuasiveness" (The Washington Post) that television has a negative impact on child development, school achievement, and family life. But rather than focusing on program improvement as a solution, Winn proposes that the problem lies within the seductive act of TV watching itself. Extensive TV watching alters children's relations with the real world, depriving them of far more valuable real life experiences, especially playing and reading. Ever sympathetic to parents' need for relief, Winn proposes ways to control this addictive medium and live with it successfully. This 25th anniversary edition addresses the variety of new electronic media that have supplemented television in the home and increased children's bondage to screen experiences. It includes new sections on:

* Computers in the classroom
* Computer and video games
* The VCR
* The V-Chip and other control devices
* TV programming for babies
* Television and physical health

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67497 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-26
• Released on: 2002-04-30
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

From Library Journal
After 25 years, Winn (Children Without Childhood) has completely revised and updated her landmark study of the influence of television on children and family life by incorporating findings based on recent research and investigating the impact of the home computer, the VCR, and the video game terminal. She has also shifted the focus from the TV programs children watch to the negative effects of television on children's play, imagination, and school achievement. Although Winn pinpoints many key shortcomings of television, this study is not argumentative; Winn instead aims to stress the quality of family life without television, to show educators and parents how to control the medium, and to offer practical suggestions on how to improve family life not dependent on television. This refreshingly candid and inviting study is highly recommended for both public and academic libraries. Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L. Dist., FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Marie Winn has written thirteen books, among them Children Without Childhood, Unplugging the Plug-In Drug, and Red-Tails in Love. She currently writes a column about nature for the Wall Street Journal. She has two grown children and four grandchildren who are growing up without television.

Customer Reviews

Shocking Parents with Common Sense
Other reviewers here have done a good job of discussing the book, particularly in regards to academia and science (whether arguing a presence or lack of).

As a young parent who grew up around the TV, and someone who watched a lot of TV as a teenager and young adult I feel it would be best to describe what the book means to someone who is looking for easy to apply common sense in raising their children. This book has a lot of clear, easy to understand anecdotal and "just plain common sense" examples of how TV _may_ cause harm.

This is not a book against TV, this is a book against using the TV as substitute for needed life experience.

Rather than addressing the content of the TV as an issue, the author addresses the lack of content. Specifically... the lack of real-world, 2 way interaction.

An early example given by the book is Nature programs. The author points out, that of everything on TV today this would seem a wonderful, safe choice for your children. But the author goes on to point out that a nature TV program is a poor substitute for real outdoor experience, where your child can personally see, touch, hear and smell, in an experience far more valuable to your child than any 2 dimensional image on a TV. The author goes on to argue that too much of such programming could actually interfere with a child enjoying the real out-of-doors as a hike through the woods to see a waterfall pales in comparison to watching tigers chase down a gazelle or water buffalo (on the T.V.).

The author provides a myriad of valuable insights into the previously 'unconsidered' damage too much T.V. can do, as well as pointing out the value of the T.V. when approached carefully.

I can find little fault with this book that other 4 star reviewers have not pointed out already. This is an excellent book for anyone that wants the best for their children but understands and accepts that they'll not be eliminating TV or other non-interactive entertainment from their child's life.

you may not want to know this...
this book was really eye opening. it isn't so much what is on, but the fact that the tv is on that is the problem. i have noticed with my own children that the tv causes them to behave differently. people don't want to admit that, but it is true. i feel that the book is even more relevent now then when it was first published. now that there is so much more tv to watch and stuff being pushed as "educational" more screen time in general with computers, gameboys, cell phones, yada yada... it's too much. we have gotten to the point of needing it NOW so much that we forget how important the journey is. turn off your tv/computer and turn on life!

mother of 5

Irresponsible
This book is ultimately an opinion piece.
The studies and science used to drive the author's point home are not explored objectively.
One area of study the author focuses on what she feels is a detrimental effect to left brain thinking - by illustrating that television viewing engages the right brain more than the left... this point makes no sense in her argument when considering that right brain development is also important to the whole mind, and has a history of neglect in the education system.

Most of her claims are borne out with 'evidence' she gleans from anecdotes. She especially likes to rely on retired teachers and other people who are unaccustomed to modern living. Surely their experience has value - but when presented with no observations from other people (giving that retired teachers must surely make up a small percentage of the educated population) is entirely irresponsible. One brief mention of her reason for this is given - that anyone younger has been brain damaged by television, and hypnotized into being its devoted disciple.

Television is presented as a mindless activity - regardless of the fact that some of the most creative, talented, artistic and educated people the world has ever seen are responsible for what is produced on television. Surely there is trash TV - but there is irrefutable value in other programing, including children's programing.

Her assertion that children are passive zombies (her actual words) while watching television does not bare out in the experience of many people. If a parent is disconnected enough from their child to not understand the motivations for their viewing specific programs - that parent is failing to connect - the television is not to blame. For the people that do have an actual problem, are out of touch with their kids, allow them to have televisions in their rooms at a young age and watch as much as they please - this book is of value.
Most people can evaluate their own lives and find simple solutions. The assumption of this book is that they can not - and since some people watch more television than is healthy (for their social development), everyone should get rid of their televisions.

She also insists that computers are just as bad, have no value, and should not be present in schools. Perhaps she has not toured many workplaces in the last 20 years, to see that computer skills are practically a necessity in order to put food on the table.

The book preaches. It does not present facts, but opinions - and one-sided interpretetions of fact. Read the footnotes and see that her sources are entirely undependable - and often out of print. Incorrect and irrelevant information eventually dies - it is sad commentary that this book saw a reprinting.