T.V. Monitoring

[Rapunzel]

Since we're kind of television nazis in my house my husband and I have concentrated on buying really good movies over the last few years. At last count we were moving towards 100. So, usually once or twice a week the kids sit down and watch a movie. We've got everything from the older "Neverending Story" to "The Iron Giant" to "2000 Leagues Under the Sea" to "Chicken Run". We have a TON of movies on this bookshelf in our living room and the vast majority of them (all but maybe a dozen) can be watched by all the kids. I kind of think it's like investing in good books - we'll have them for years, we can loan them out to friends, and our children don't grow tired of them (well, at least once you reach the number we have you can rotate through them so they don't see them that often...). This also gives us the chance to have ultimate control over our children's viewing habits without them really realizing it - I mean, they get to choose for themselves out of these dozens and dozens of movies so they feel pretty happy so far.

Jennifer

[SueC]

I use TV as a discipline tool also. Last night my 3 yo lost her privledges for TV watching today. I informed DH last night and DD this morning. Apparently, there is selective listening and remembering in my home. I went for a run and came home to find DD in front of the TV. When I made eye contact with my DH, he immediately went into a defensive mode that he couldn't remember if I meant movies or no TV and that DD was showing off her future skills as an attorney. She argued that mommy said she couldn't watch TV upstairs but could downstairs and that she couldn't watch TV just Noggin. So DH let her watch Noggin. I can't leave the house!

I had to clarify that TV meant no power to the box! I make a point to not undermine DH to the kids (to try and set a good example of parenting, not reciprocated!) so my discipline went out the window and DD racked up more TV time. It has been 3 years and we are still not on the same page.

Jennifer

We've been taking away TV privileges for discipline also, and I think it is pretty effective! If they don't do a good job picking up their toys before bedtime, no TV at all the next day. Since I've implemented this, they have averaged losing TV once a week.

[mommax3]

Another question -- for those of you who successfully limit the time your kids watch television, do you have to find other things for them to do i.e., special classes or activities? How do you keep them from watching?

It is a hard habit to break, that's for sure! But honestly, it hasn't been too hard or painful here. By the time the boys get home from school (between 3:30 and 4:00, depending on how long I have to stay and work) have a snack, and start their homework, it is almost 5:00. If they are done by then (and don't need to practice piano or violin) I *might* let them put in a video before dinner. But I do remember telling them "read, play with toys, color," etc. a LOT. After our garage sale in October, they KNOW I will sell toys, so when I tell them to go play and they say they don't have anything to play with, I tell them to start carrying their toys out of their room so I can sell them/give them to a mission for the homeless and that usually does the trick. I have had them in a summer program 2 days/week (there is no playing outside here in the summer.....WAY too hot) but except for piano lessons, we don't do anything right now after school.

Sally

[PrincessFiona]

I'm going to come clean...we watch way too much televsion...all of us...not just the kids. DH and I really enjoy watching movies in the evening (yeah, netflix!) and there is entirely too much technology buzzing in this house....We have been working to improve this situation, but it is a hard habit to break. The weather here can be grey and cold for long stretches and it can be hard to entertain the kids...the electronic babysitter often allows me cook the meal, fold the laundry or check my email. Unfortunately, it's one of those habits that slowly creeps up in time.

We have had to really get harsh about the gamecube issue...my oldest son plays on it way too much! The gameboys we finally caved in on this year and were surprised that they aren't as big of an issue. My 6 year old,interestingly, sees the world as his big giant video game. Today he was telling me "mommy, do you know how far I am with the sand letters at school? I just have to beat this one last level and then I get to move on to the reading level" He is dying to be able to read so that he can understand legend of zelda. In a way it's a good thing.

Do I think keeping them from these things would hurt them socially...actually...in a way yes. I kid you not, but on the playground, these kids aren't playing cops and robbers anymore...they are playing Zelda and Link or Mario and Luigi.....it's weird, but it is what it is. If I could get every other parent to put away the gameboys then I'd be all for eliminating them....but since they are out there and are such a real part of socialization today I just feel like I can't deny them the chance to play with them......but we do control the videogame time.

sorry for the ramble.....I think I have influenza and the cold meds I've ingested have all gone to my head.

Aside from the commercials, what is it about Nickelodeon that bothers folks? And is Nick Jr. included in that?

We began cutting down on tv with our oldest son when he was just past his 3rd birthday. Hurricane Isabel took out our power for 8 days.

During those 8 days,instead of turning the tv on first thing in the morning we turn on the radio. It became a habit.

These are someof thethings we do to keep time for tv down.

When DS gets home from school if its nice out we all go for a walk or he rides his bike or plays with his trucks and sandbox for about an hour.

Once a week we go to the library straight from school,and that usually takes one,sometimes two hours.

Other days we go to the MFA or the petting zoo or a park or something along those lines. I admit I can only deal with the art museum for about 45 minutes before his energy level exceeds my patience,but still,its a fun place to go.

Then there is homework (yes, that's right, homework in preschool) and a snack to do. DS also has to pick up his toys and put away his school stuff. He also helps me cook, or occupies the toddler while I cook.

If he hasn't watched tv before supper,he gets half an hour before his bath.

As for keeping him from watching,he fortunatley hasn't gotten ahold of the remote frequently enough to learn the complicated series of steps that gets the tv to his channels LOL.

We don't watch a whole lot of tv, and since DD is still young, we're in the 'trying to set an example' phase. We don't have cable, so that probably has a lot to do with how much the tv is on. Actually, I've found that there is often nothing good on even if you have 170 channels (DH would disagree since he could watch ESPN constantly ).

But when the tv is on and DD is awake, its on PBS. Like someone else mentioned, the tv will only hold her attention for about five minutes. Then its just on in the backround as she runs around and plays. I don't have a problem with that, since I believe the PBS shows to be educational (aside from J.J. the Jet Plane and Caillou(sp?) etc, which I can't stand to have on). I think that anything in excess is bad, tv included, but I don't agree with the thought that its best to watch as little tv as possible.

And yes, I do think kids can feel 'left out' because they haven't seen things their peers have. Obviously I wouldn't take my child to something I felt was inappropriate. Like someone else mentioned, movies and tv shows are a part of kids' social lives. I have been to gatherings where the only person I know is DH, and I've not been able to get in on conversations about the latest Survivor (or whatever show) because I'd never seen an episode. Thats not to say I sat in the corner all night, but its something you have in common with others, and its fun to talk about. On the other hand, I didn't go home and start watching Survivor either. I hope it doesn't become a battle in our house...maybe we'll just never subscribe to cable!

I'm not sure that I buy into this whole "cultural literacy" theory of tv. I really try to limit my own tv and yet I find I have no problem coming up with things to talk about even though I have never seen Seinfeld, Sex in The City, The Osbournes, or Six feet Under. (I do watch desperate housewives and the amazing race, just to come clean here).

Well, you're missing out on Six Feet Under. I love Amazing Race as well -- want to be a team?

[houseelf]

Nellie,

I would love to be your teammate! Let's do it!

Team Nellie & Kelly

Kelly

I was disappointed by the way it ended last week. I wanted the long-distance couple to beat whiny wimpy stick girl.
But we'd kick all their butts. :weight:

They had the football wives a few seasons ago -- why not the dawktah's wives?