THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190034
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
KATIE'S BIRTHDAY card features the creatures from TV's ``Real Monsters'' cartoon show, but the picture is largely wasted on the 9-year-old.
Her family doesn't have a TV. On purpose.
``I really think we made a great decision,'' said Mark Lottinville, Katie's father. ``One of the best we've ever made.''
So Katie and her brother, Alec, 6, never argue over what TV show to watch. They miss a large part of the violence that permeates television programming. The advertising aimed at children misses the mark in the Lottinvilles' Virginia Beach household.
``Not having a TV is something you can do today,'' Mark Lottinville said. ``And it can help your mental health.''
Much of the material that builds strong families is intangible, Lottinville said, like good communication and love. But getting rid of TV is a physical act, a tangible step that families can take, he said.
It wasn't so difficult for the Lottinvilles. Neither Mark nor his wife, Roxanne, owned a TV when they married 12 1/2 years ago. They decided to keep it that way.
Which doesn't mean they are TV-ignorant. The kids watch shows at friends' and grandparents' houses. Mark's friends talk about what happened on ``Seinfeld.'' Alec knows all about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
But in the evenings, when the Lottinvilles are not pursuing swim lessons, volleyball coaching, Brownies and other activities, they're reading, playing games, working puzzles or doing what every other family does - except watching TV.
Roxanne and the kids have been reading aloud the Narnia fantasy classics of C.S. Lewis. A few months ago, they were reading Walter Farley's series of Black Stallion books.
They listen, Mark said, to a lot of music, and they all enjoy the programming on public radio. (``What's that funny show, the man that's always talking about stuff?'' Katie asked. ``I like him.''
But, Mark hastened to add, they're not a perfect family. ``There are arguments every day,'' he said, ``but it's never over what are we gonna watch on TV.''
Katie was a little concerned that her friends wouldn't have anything to do at her birthday sleep-over if they couldn't watch movies. They found plenty to do.
She and Alec can reel off the names of games they enjoy - to a point. ``I forget what that game's called where you make up words,'' Alec said.
``Scrabble?'' asked Roxanne. ``But you can't spell.''
Katie checked the game stash in a cabinet and found a video gift from a well-meaning friend. ``We even have a movie,'' she reported proudly. ``Casper.''
``We don't have a TV,'' Alec reminded her.
At times, the kids wish they had one, Roxanne said, adding: ``Every year, it's on the kids' Christmas list. And Katie has asked us if we were poor because we don't have a TV.
``Several people have offered to give us one. We could have had 20 TVs by now. The minute they hear you don't have one, people offer you one.''
Thanks, but no thanks. The Lottinvilles are not going to get a TV.
Still, Mark does not expect to miss the Super Bowl. He'll probably watch it at a friend's house. Katie enjoys watching ``Fantasia'' at the grandparents'. But one thing the Lottinvilles will avoid - happily - is policing the set to keep objectionable programming and advertising away from their children. ILLUSTRATION: TAMARA VONINSKI\The Virginian-Pilot
The Lottinville family does not own a TV. At their home in Virginia
Beach, Roxanne holds son Alec, 6, and Mark holds daughter Katie, 9
by CNB