Television Parenting and Motherhood Skills

When I think of motherhood and parenting lessons learned from television, there is one thing that immediately comes to mind. The Cosby Show ran from 1984 to 1992. This television show taught me a lot about motherhood and parenting in general. This was quality television that helped a lot of people deal with the parenting issues of the day. Motherhood was a little easier thanks to this television program.

Parenting lessons learned from television - Using games to teach.

Right from the start in episode one, it was obvious that television, motherhood and parenting would never be the same. In this episode, Cliff uses Monopoly money to demonstrate the cost of living to Theo. Cliff's son watches his Monopoly money slowly disappear. This episode made me realize how much is learned in childhood simply by playing board games. I vowed to supplement the skills of motherhood by playing games with my kids.

Parenting lessons learned from television - Don't be afraid of creative parenting methods.

The Huxtables were always using creative parenting methods to teach their children. I remember an episode of The Cosby Show in which Theo and his friend Cockroach arrive home extremely late from track practice. Since the Huxtables had already received an incriminating call from the coach concerning their whereabouts, a debate begins. The boys insist they are innocent. Claire decides to use her motherhood and law skills to hold a mock trial. After watching The Cosby Show, a few creative parenting methods of my own surfaced.

Parenting lessons learned from television - Parents need their own space too.

Motherhood is a rough road and Claire Huxtable walked that road with grace. The popular television program demonstrated that even she couldn't do it all. Good parenting means taking a break once in a while. Motherhood is overwhelming and Cliff knew that when he scheduled a "You're not a Mother Night" for Claire, taking her out for dinner and dancing. On another episode, Cliff plans a room in the house that is strictly for Claire only. Everyone should have a man like Cliff to help them deal with the pressures of motherhood. This television show taught parents to take time for themselves.

Parenting lessons learned from television - Use lessons from the real world.

The Cosby show often demonstrated how to let your children learn their lessons from life. There is one episode in which Theo decides he is ready to be on his own. The Huxtables respond by turning their home into "The Real World Apartments", like the television program, "The Real World". Theo learns about bills and responsibilities he hadn't thought of, due to his anxiousness to leave the parenting structure of the Huxtable household. Reality became a big part of my motherhood and parenting skills, thanks to this television show.

Parenting lessons learned from television - Use your sense of humor.

Undoubtedly the best motherhood and parenting lesson ever learned, came from television, by way of The Cosby Show. Every episode had the Huxtables using their sense of humor and lighthearted instruction to keep those kids in line. Single motherhood was much easier for me when a sense of humor was injected into my parenting and motherhood skills. My children would much rather be taught with comedy than by outdated "do as I say" parenting. We had fun together and parenting was no exception to that rule.

Source :

personal experience