Thinking about going TV free for the whole summer...

[Monica]

How do I do it? My 4 year old is a TV Junkie. He loves TV! He is only allowed PBS, Noggin and video's we select but he watches way too much. I have tried to limit the time he watches, but what I have found is that either we have to leave the house or I have to be actively engaged with him every minute. He is not very good at imaginative play and he doesn't like to play by himself. (These are his personality - not a result of watching TV I believe - His father is the exact same way and didn't watch much TV as a child) If I get a phone call, go to the bathroom, nurse the baby, go check the mail, put in a load of laundry, fix a meal, he finds his way to the TV. It makes me crazy and we have a lot of arguements when I tell him no TV. Admittedly, it is much easier to let him watch than to fight him all day long. Soooo....I am thinking of just unplugging the TV for the summer (tho I am thinking about keeping our friday family movie night) If he can't turn it on, he will just have to find something else to do. So what do you think? Has anybody ever done this? How did it go? I am a little concerned about his mornings, since he rolls from the bed to the couch and needs a good 30 min veg before he resembles anything human. The half hour alone with a video is like his cup of coffee. What do we do to replace that?

[sunshinesmommmy]

Absolutely! Go for it! We just got rid of our tv (again!). We didn't even have cable OR PBS and our DD (she's 6) still wanted to watch tv all the time. We rented movies from the library and my DH was begining to develop a nasty habit of renting her movies as a "treat" fairly often. DD even goes so far as to say things like, "I want to got spend time with Meme (Nana, aunt K, etc.)..." just so she can go and veg out in front of their cable (which much to my dismay is what my entire family considers quality time!!!). SO the tv is gone. And I don't think we are going to be bringing it back this time. I sure don't miss those advertisements for every suger coated goodie and disposeable plastic doodad or a nonmoving child glued to a screen.. or did I mention she was also begining to relate most of her play to televison characters?! ARG! :

As far as how did she take it? Well, there wasn't too much fuss (she is probably used to seeing the tv go bye-bye! LOL!) and we are the ultimate desision makers in her life right now so she has to fly by our house rules...

Oh, here is something that might help... go and find some articles on why you shouldn't let your child watch tv and read them. A few statistics always helps me feel better about my decisions. There should be some in Mothering or in Life Learning Magazine (all of their issues are archived online).

Your DS will be fine without that box all summer, I promise. There might be a bit of withdraws and a bit of whining, but with a little redirection or even the guts to just let him whine and be bored for a while will fix that. He will find something else to do. Good Luck!

[ccohenou]

I think it's the active engagement part that's hard. We've been cutting way back on TV with our 5yo and I think it's more challenging for me than for her . It's sure not doing her any harm.
She made a breakthrough in being able to play independently some azround 4.5. But she'd still rather have us play with her which is understandable. We get into a rhythm -- I'll play a game with you, then you'll play outside. You help me with chores, then play in your room.
For the morning, how about reading aloud to him?

Yours,
Cassidy

[OneTrickPony]

FWIW, we haven't had TV since before our dd was born. Yes, we *have* a TV and it is in our nasty, unfinished basement. We go down there to watch videos about once every 2-3 weeks and dd is not allowed to go down there alone. We have no cable and we get about 4 channels (I'm not sure!)

Sometimes I wish we *were* tv-watching people because I have the thought that I would be able to plunk dd down in front of the tv so I could do something else, but realistically, I know that no tv is the right choice for us.

(BTW, we got rid of the tv because both dh and I were watching WAY TOO MUCH and not doing other things we said we wanted to do, like taking walks, doing crafts, house projects, etc.)

So I am piping in to say it CAN be done!

[BusyMommy]

I really think it'd be easier to just remove it. If it's still there, it's going to remind him, etc.

We took ours out of the living room last year and just have a little one in our bedroom for family viewing. Could you do something like that?

I say, go for it!
And, if you make no viewing a daytime or solitary rule, never ever go back on it. They're smart little buggers.

[Monica]

Thanks for all the support. One of my huge hurdles is dh. He isn't really a TV watcher, but insists on having cable to watch racing and he is a HUGE movie buff. I love the idea of having a home theater for movie night, but all day - every day makes me crazy! Anyway dh is in the Navy and will be gone all summer, so I am thinking it is a good time to pull the plug. I don't know about physically moving the TV. Dh's entertainment system is pretty complicated and he may have me taping races for him while he is deployed. Plus, in all honesty, I am not sure I could give up Trading Spaces cold turkey. But limiting to episodes that are on after the kids are in bed would be good for me too. We need to spend the summer learning to entertain ourselves and then maybe by the time the fall rolls around, we can use the TV for occasional entertainment with out abusing it. That is my plan...thanks ladies!!

[napless]

It sounds like the perfect time to give it up!!

A bit more incentive - all the older kids I know who've been raised with little or no TV are able to entertain themselves for ages. All the kids I know who've had a steady diet of TV cannot. So...you'll make life easier for yourself in the long run by getting rid of the TV now!

[Cranberry]

I would love to go TV free! I would love to get rid of CABLE!!! If only I could convince dh...

(edited to add: is it OK if I wait until American Idol Season 3 is over before I go TV free?)

[Shantimama]

I would like to do it too. Our kids were TV free until about 2 years ago when one child had some serious health problems and Little Bear videos helped us all cope! Then my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers and I was doing a lot of long distance caregiving over the phone and we bought a few more videos. Then we had a challenging move (bought a new house and had my mom move in with us) and we now have quite a video collection. We do not have cable. (Gramma does in her granny flat and dh visits during playoffs:LOL ) - I still remember the day my son came home from a friend's house and said, "Mama! Jacob's TV has something called channels!")

We don't watch very much, but I tend to put a video in when I need a break, which I am not entirely comfortable with. My four year old is the one who likes it the most. I think I will give it a go.

[fairymama]

We're right with ya around her. It sounds like DD has a morning routine like your DS. We took the plunge and in honor of national Turn Off Your TV Week, we've been tv free since last Sunday night. DD is 3 and we talked about it for about 2 days before it happened. Both our televisions are in cabinets with doors, so Sunday night after her last Kipper DVD, DH put childproof locks on both cabinets (more for us than Carrie).
It's been a great week! We've played lots of music, had the crayons out more, and worked with tinker toys. We had planned on being outside a lot, but Tuesday rain moved in and has been here ever since. She has asked a couple times and we've just remined her what week it is and she's been fine with it. We got new library books and have read some of her other books we hadn't looked at for some time.
Morning was okay, she sat on the couch or her highchair and just kind of veged without the tv on. One day I think she flipped through a book. We gave her space and it was fine. Probably better than the days she would want to keep watching something and we needed to leave the house!
After reading the info at www.tvturnoff.org we had to go for it. Some scary facts there!! All with the total ring of truth. Right now we're discussing how to proceed next. We don't want to throw it out, there is some good stuff on tv, but we don't want to depend on it or feel like it has control of us. Haven't quite figured it all out yet, but we're having some interesting discussions.
Good luck,
Pamela

[momto l&a]

IMO if you want a tv free summer the move the tv somewhere where it cant be seen.

The old saying out of sight out of mind really is true though it will take a little time.


With summer coming up its a perfect time to do it IMO

[Quindin]

My inlaws don't own a tv set and when we spent 1 month with them it was GREAT!!! The first two days were a bit tough because the kids NEEDED the tv. But afterwards they had SO MUCH fun!!! They soon forgot tv ever existed and played more than ever.
I am considering getting rid of the tv as well, but I am not sure... I probably will.

I agree with the other poster though - you need to put the tv away if you want the tv-free-summer to work

Good luck and good for you