--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children will watch anything, and when a…" description: "\"Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/newton-n-minow-47230_attention_children-will-watch-anything-and-when-a_1345364.jpg" --- # Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses… ![“Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse than taking candy from a baby. It is taking precious time from the process of growing up.” quote by Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/newton-n-minow-47230_attention_children-will-watch-anything-and-when-a_1345364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/newton-n-minow-47230_attention_children-will-watch-anything-and-when-a_1345364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/newton-n-minow-47230_attention_children-will-watch-anything-and-when-a_1345364.jpg) > “Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse than taking candy from a baby. It is taking precious time from the process of growing up.” [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exposing children to violent media steals their developmental time, worse than a minor theft, harming growth. **In simple terms:** Violent media harms children’s development. Key Takeaway Limit children’s exposure to violent content. Themes media influence child development violence responsibility Mood concerned protective Type ethical social commentary When to use this quote - parenting - education - content regulation Key Concepts media ethics psychological impact public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance protection and freedom? - What alternatives teach children responsibly? A Different Perspective Complete bans may limit artistic freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candy/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Being close to nature, in general, helps boost a child's attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/being-close-to-nature-in-general-helps-boost-a-child-s-attention-span/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [No use to shout at them to pay attention. If the situations, the materials, the problems before the child do not interest him, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/no-use-to-shout-at-them-to-pay-attention-if-the-situations-the/) [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) > ['Sesame Street' was built on the idea that a show that could capture a child's attention could also give the child an education. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/sesame-street-was-built-on-the-idea-that-a-show-that-could-capture-a/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) > [The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-olinghouse/the-quickest-way-for-a-parent-to-get-a-child-s-attention-is-to-sit/) Lane Olinghouse > [“Basically, attention follows attachment. The stronger the attachment, the easier it is to secure the child's attention. When attachment is weak, the attention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/basically-attention-follows-attachment-the-stronger-the-attachment/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [As a young child my attention span was, as I remember it, rather short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/as-a-young-child-my-attention-span-was-as-i-remember-it-rather-short/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [A child is imprinted not by simply teaching. But their attention is like soft clay. The attention field of adults is stratified. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-child-is-imprinted-not-by-simply-teaching-but-their-attention-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [On TV, the children can watch people murdering each other, which is a very unnatural thing, but they can't watch two people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-tate/on-tv-the-children-can-watch-people-murdering-each-other-which-is-a/) [Sharon Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-tate/) > [Basically the children who watch it just see the little characters they love, and so they're not discerning about whether it looks great or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bluth/basically-the-children-who-watch-it-just-see-the-little-characters/) [Don Bluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bluth/) > [We are rather like children, who must take a watch to pieces to see how it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/we-are-rather-like-children-who-must-take-a-watch-to-pieces-to-see/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“❤Inspire your children and watch them shine as far as the stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/inspire-your-children-and-watch-them-shine-as-far-as-the-stars/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [I am a father, I am very aware of the things that I'm putting out in the world knowing that one day my children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-am-a-father-i-am-very-aware-of-the-things-that-i-m-putting-out-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I really like children to watch my movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-really-like-children-to-watch-my-movies/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [As a parent, if give yourself what you need, your children will watch you doing that and will give themselves what they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/as-a-parent-if-give-yourself-what-you-need-your-children-will-watch/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Now, children, watch closely. Hold your breath. Listen. And I will show you the components of calamity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kristoff/now-children-watch-closely-hold-your-breath-listen-and-i-will-show/) [Jay Kristoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kristoff/) ## More by Newton N. Minow > [In Germany, under the law everything is prohibited except that which is permitted. In France, under the law everything is permitted except that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/in-germany-under-the-law-everything-is-prohibited-except-that-which/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [Television is a vast wasteland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/television-is-a-vast-wasteland/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [What do we mean by the public interest? Some say the public interest is merely what interests the public. I disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/what-do-we-mean-by-the-public-interest-some-say-the-public-interest/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [We need imagination in programming, not sterility; creativity, not imitation; experimentation, not conformity; excellence, not mediocrity. Television is filled with creative, imaginative people. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/we-need-imagination-in-programming-not-sterility-creativity-not/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air . . . and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/i-invite-you-to-sit-down-in-front-of-your-television-set-when-your/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [We've gotten to the point where everybody's got a right and nobody's got a responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/we-ve-gotten-to-the-point-where-everybody-s-got-a-right-and-nobody-s/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) > [When television is good, nothing - not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers - nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minow/when-television-is-good-nothing-not-the-theater-not-the-magazines-or/) [Newton N. Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) [Explore all 8 Newton N. Minow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-n-minow/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse than taking candy from a baby. 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