Relative Effect Sizes

I am feeling horrible. Just a bad cold, but with a horrid cough which means I am exhausted along with the aches & pains, and feeling just plain sorry for myself. Finding self extremely poor company.

Anyway. I have been finding Foxy pretty challenging this morning, clearly because of my state, and not him. 10 mins ago he asked for Thomas, so he is now plugged into the telly. Relief. This has got me thinking about something that I would like to bore you all with. I think the problem with a lot of parenting advice is that it's mostly too simplistic to take into account relative effect sizes.

For example. I could take on board the advice that telly really isn't good for kids. I know this, there's nothing wrong with the research, no arguments there. But if Foxy were not currently plugged into the telly, I would be shouting at him, he would be hanging off my clothes whining, and the only reason he wouldn't be being hit is because I have never had the urge -- I have no self-control today. The poor effect of too much telly today is clearly far less harmful than a day of shouting & crying would be, right?

Here's to grey, rather than black & white.