Ideas for open-ended-play toys, and cutting out t.v. watching? - Page 3

[LindaCl]

I had two little TV addicts in my home, and after trying various versions of 'limited' TV, it became clear to us that the only way to get them off the danged thing was to go 'no TV'. They were addicted big time, and would flip it on whenever they thought they wouldn't be found out, so I had to buy physical locks just to avoid the constant begging, whining, complaining, negotiating, all of it. I also learned that mom and dad had to get off too or it wasn't going to work.

I decided that I wasn't going to go that way with my younger children, so they had almost no TV since they were babies. There is no comparison, in my mind. The no-TV life is glorious compared to the too-much TV life, and unfortunately, I think the TV is so compelling that it is very very hard for most families (including ours) not to do too-much of it. The TV-in-moderation route was much harder for us to accomplish than the no-TV-at-all route.

Linda

[4evermom]

easy way to get off tv

Well, it looks like we are going TV free whether we want to or not. Ds (4) sprinkled it with water and it no longer turns on.

[ceilydhmama]

We have a variety of "kits" I pull out that encourage open play or take out and about:

1) 1st aid kit - with dr stuff, tensor bandages, slings etc. She does vetrinary checkups, accidently drop dolls and bandages them up...

2) exploration kit - has a magnifying glass, collection bucket, bug identity book.

3) letter writing kit - a variety of cards and a list of people she could 'write'.

4) special art kits - I put a random assortment of things in a bag and she decides what they create

5) puppet making - I save old socks, misc buttons and fabric and we make puppets when the mood strikes.