Mother Tongue

By Kristen Taylor

The Mother Tongue is a parenting column that Kristen (Juvie's owner) writes. It was published monthly in the Ventura County Star from 2004-2006, and now appears in the Los Feliz Ledger. Kristen's other publishing credits include the Christian Science Monitor, Because I Said So, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and elsewhere.

May 27, 2010

Time to Take the Kids to Some Actual 3-D Entertainmnet

I never thought that I would welcome busy weekdays stuffed with school and homework, but I feel like I spent most of spring break acting as an electronic device gatekeeper. The entertainment delivery systems (computer, video games, smart phone, and television) were always there, always tempting, and always ready to start an argument over the limits that their dad and I have set. I may have won this battle, but I do worry about the war.

A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that kids ages eight to 18 spend almost four hours a day watching TV, and almost two more hours on the computer or playing video games. That seems like an absurd amount of time, considering that kids today are supposedly wildly overscheduled, but if kids on average are spending even half this amount of time in front of screens we should be worried.

If you’re family who’s stuck in the same pixelated rut that we are, and you would like to do something with the kids that’s more arts-based and experiential, you are in luck. There are two children’s theatre productions, by two different companies, going up in our neighborhood in May.

Hamlet, Prince of Puddles is all-ages adaptation of Shakespeare’s play that opened April 10 and is running on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am through May 9. The show is put on by a new theatre group, l’Enfant Terrible, dedicated to creating family friendly plays while pushing the boundaries of children’s theatre. You can call 213-389-3856 for reservations.

Jail Birds, an original Silverlake Children’s Theatre Group production, will also play to all-ages audiences, but its cast members are kids ages 7 to 17. The play is a musical about life in a girl’s juvenile detention facility promising drama, laughter, and lots of musical numbers that your Glee fans will lap up. Performances run May 14-16 and May 21-23. Call 323 634-2595 for show times and ticketing information.

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