Television - uggh

[Boosmom1]

How does everyone handle keeping the amount of television viewing by their children under control? I swear if I were a single parent I would just get rid of it. But my DH is a TV addict and he has introduced our 2-1/2 year old to the joys of vegging out in front of the tube. She has started asking to watch all the time and telling me she doesn't want to go out to any of our other actitivities (playground, storytime at the library, etc.). I swing back and forth between setting arbitrary limits (no TV during the day and only 1/2 hour at night) which I never stick to (and DH never EVER sticks to) to just throwing in the towel on a rainy day and leaving it on all afternoon so I can get a big project done around the house. Neither of these is comfortable to me. Ideally I would like to allow for some limited viewing when it seems apppropriate but not with a rigid rule structure that will just cause conflicts and tensions. How does everybody else handle this? Thanks!

[Rebecca]

When my dh was watching a lot of TV when he was home, I made the rule for my child (I only had one at the time) that the TV was going to be off during the day. I couldn't control what happened in the evening without creating an incredible degree of conflict at that time, so I worked to make the rest of the day TV free.

At one point, we moved the TV out of the main room and put it into a room out of the way a bit so it wasn't the center of the house. Eventually, we were able to phase the TV out and my dh switched over to a computer, which was at least less obtrusive. The focus at that point for my conversations was not the TV itself, but rather time together as a family since he was away working all day. He was able to start to make the shift from that angle.

At this point with my older children, we have a no TV or computer during the school week rule and limited access on the weekends. We no longer have cable or any channels coming into our house (we're in the middle of nowhere and our antennae picks up nothing), so we're left with only DVDs or videos, or something that we find on the computer during the weekends.

It is a difficult situation to navigate- trying to meet the needs of your toddler while not being disrespectful to what your husband wants. I'd love to hear what works for other families around the TV (or what doesn't work?!). Let us know what you decide!

[CookieCookie]

i'd say no more than 5 hours a day is good!

[vsbieber]

I am just thinking February 17,2009 the tv in our house will not work if we don't get a converter box, This maybe a good thing. But, I am finding my boys using the computer more and more to watch movies and some tv show.
One weekend I shut the computer off and it stayed off all weekend. We got lots done as a family, It helps build relationships working together and not staring at a screen. Just some thoughts,
VirLinda

Love never fails Love can change the world

[booboo]

Our screen time rule is 1hr/day except now that my boy is in middle school
6th grade. When he has a friend over all they want to do is play Wii or go on the computer. As they get older it is harder to get them outside. If we plan it out a bit ahead of time it helps, "when your friends get her play Wii for 1 hr then go out side"........But my 8 yr old now wants to go on the computer to play games. It helps if I get involved and find something interesting to do with her to reinvigorate her interest. Like dolls, drawing or playing cards. Often with her friends I'll tell her no screen time while a friend is over,"there is simply too many other fun things to do". She knows that it is true.:wave

[Snuffy]

make a schedule each week with limited hours and make sure everyone sticks to it!

[KidsRMe]

put them in an afterschool program or sports

[MommyDayCare]

I don't like to be too strict with TV. If it becomes a forbidden fruit, then they just want it more. The only think I look out for is if they watch TV for the sake of watching TV. If there are a handful of shows they really like and relate to, I don't want to cut that off.

[heatherinsc]

I would LOVE to get rid of the TV, but my husband is not in agreement at all!

I am now trying to have them keep the TV off until after everyone's schoolwork is completed, but sometimes the one who finishes first begs and I relent just so they will let me concentrate on working with the other child.

I hate bickering about the TV, and don't they show the same programs over and over on the Disney Channel and Nick anyway? I know there is a way to block certain channels on the satellite...since there are several of each of these 2 problem channels, maybe I could figure out how to block it down to one Disney and one Nick, and see if they notice. I obviously haven't found a good solution to this problem yet!

[MommyDayCare]

Too much TV is already a big problem in the U.S. Children in the U.S. spend fifty percent less time outdoors than they did twenty years ago, according to the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. I think TV and the proliferation of computing have caused this drop in time spent outdoors.

the marketing company I work for started a campaign with the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council called "Where the Other You Lives" which is designed to get parents and kids more interested in the outdoors and nature. You guys can check the website here (http://youcastcorp.com/discovertheforestlink), it has activities for kids and parents to do outdoors as well as some games to play.

I try my best to limit the ammount of time my kids spend in front of screens, and this past summer has been pretty active for us. What activities have you guys been doing to keep the kids active and away from the TV.

[Rebecca]

Something else that has helped me keep it positive and away from TV is to develop some sort of rhythm to our day. For example, by planning ahead and having some activities in my back pocket, it makes it much easier to have the TV not even be a factor. I focus on a basic rhythm to the day- something active followed by something quieter, followed by something active. Morning- dressed and breakfast (quieter), outside play time (active- hopscotch, play on playground, etc.), inside playtime followed by a story (that I pick out in advance) and snack, inside playtime (set up a kitchen center or legos or blocks) while I start lunch... By having some sort of a skeleton plan in my own head, it makes it easier to watch him for signs that he is ready to change activities and have something else ready. If you set it up on a weekly schedule, it makes it easier since you only need to come up with it once and then repeat. This can be down to the snacks repeating on the same day each week. This sort of thing felt overwhelming when I first heard about it, but once I understood that I wasn't going to have to be constantly entertaining my child, but just creating the atmosphere for him to have things to do that would repeat, it seemed less daunting.

Just wanted to share something that has worked for me. He doesn't even ask for TV anymore unless it is the weekend and we have totally abandoned our rhythm. Maybe that will help someone... if not, leave it behind!

[greenbeanbanshee]

“T.V.” 02-02-02

What do you see when you turn off your t.v?

Images of you and me reflecting on reality

Television programming, remote control

Broadcasting for free but it’s taking a toll

In a palace or your jail cell,

this could be heaven or a personal hell

What should we do with all this extra time?

Pickup our instruments and start singing rhymes

Take yourself on a walk around the block

Begin to talk, forget about the clock

Don’t keep emotions all bottled up inside

Release the cork, there’s nothing to hide

We’re the survivors with breath in our lungs

Savoring every moment under the sun

Meditation, serving medication

Revelation, calming restoration

Circulation, sensing rotation

One nation, on a permanent vacation

Never give up, Never give up, Never give up

Where should we put all our excess energy?

Invest in our children, not your affluencies.

[bigkid]

don't worry about the tantrums they don't last,I've found that with my six yr old son once that tv goes off he finds all kind of creative things to do.So do the tough,love it would good for them in the end.

[Rebecca]

Love that TV poem, Bethany. Did you write it?

[greenbeanbanshee]

Nope, that was Ryan's. I was just going through some old stuff and I saw that one and I thought it needed to be shared with our little community! :D

[dolphins]

I LOVE the TV poem TOO! About a few months or so ago, the internet and videos, as well as mail order type of movies, has become the source of TV watching. Besides all the dramatic and inappropriateness commercial (wordings and actual contents), I had felt some of the shows being aired are the same as well. So far, I LOVE the change! As for my live-ins, at first- they are not all that thrilled when they hear there’s no cable here. As time goes on though I am finding that they are showing much eagerness to see what we can find as we surf.

Robyn