Proposing a new Sub-Forum: TV-Free Families - Page 3

[captivatedlife]

I'd like to chime in my support for a tv free forum.

We've been tv free for over a year now, and man is it hard. I find myself using the internet as a crutch. I go in cycles, etc. It's hard. I'd love to discuss with others about how to do things, how to introduce children to what society is, ect without tv.

It would be nice. I can't use the fyt because it just is so big and unwieldy. It would be nice to have a place where questions can be asked and answered - all in an organized way.

Please reconsider. I think it would definitely be used for both a resource and a place to commiserate.

[muse]

Count me in as another suporter of a tv-free forum.

Just today I was wanting support; sick all day with 2 kids at home. Years ago I would have stuck some videos on; today I'm proud not to have/use that option but could have used some support and suggestions.

Also in battling the rampant commercialism children face. This is such an enormous topic that Mothering of all places should be supporting.

I think I'd vote for it to go in Natural Parenting, btw.

[cheeriotwins]

it seems so ridiculous to me that there isn't a sub-forum on this...almost as ridiculous as plopping your children in front of dora and diego and saying it's good for them.

please give us this forum...we need a place for us to discuss this very important topic.

[tifpaul]

What if we were to start posting about TV-Free in the TV forum? I imagine there are threads there about limiting or censoring what children watch, so conversations on taking a break (long-term or permanent) would seem to me to be appropriate.

[momofmine]

Originally Posted by tifpaul

What if we were to start posting about TV-Free in the TV forum? I imagine there are threads there about limiting or censoring what children watch, so conversations on taking a break (long-term or permanent) would seem to me to be appropriate.

That's a great idea!

[GinaNY]

I vote for a TV-Free sub-forum too!! I would love more info on the how to deal with being out of the loop. (as I am now )

Thx!

[Arwyn]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

Isn't it an oxymoron to have a tv free forum in Media?

EC is under diapering.


Just a quick mod reminder - let's keep this thread positive, and avoid any comments that might violate the User Agreement:

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Please do keep discussing why you would like and feel a need for this subforum, including specific topics you believe would be discussed there.

[zinemama]

I guess if there was such a forum I would check it out. And I'm sorry that so many of you feel such a lack of opportunity to discuss not having a TV. But I personally don't see the need.

Maybe I'm missing something. We don't have a tv, and I really don't feel like there's much to talk about concerning that. I'm very confident about my no-tv policy. I don't feel like I face special challenges or need special support or face an uphill battle. It's just the way we live.

But I do agree that it can be difficult to discuss specific issues in a Tribe thread. And that if the diaper-free folks can have their own forum, well...

[goldfinch]

Maybe I'm missing something. We don't have a tv, and I really don't feel like there's much to talk about concerning that. I'm very confident about my no-tv policy. I don't feel like I face special challenges or need special support or face an uphill battle. It's just the way we live.

That said, Zinemama, you may be the perfect person to help someone who is trying to make the transition from tv-using to tv-free. Just a description of your day, for example, might help someone who wants to turn off the TV but isn't sure how, for example, she'll accomplish all she needs to accomplish without it. I'm not saying it's your responsibility to do it, but you might have a lot to offer to other families in the forum.

In our daily life, yes, not watching TV is just "the way we live" and I don't question that choice for a minute. At the same time, I think that having a forum to support other families trying to make that choice as well as to discuss related topics with other mamas would be a great, great thing.

It's sort of like bf'ing; I knew it was the right thing for us. It was, for over 2 years, just 'the way we lived.' But that doesn't mean that there wasn't plenty to say on the topic!

[Shell]

Originally Posted by goldfinch

That said, Zinemama, you may be the perfect person to help someone who is trying to make the transition from tv-using to tv-free.

Thank you so much Goldfinch! I was thinking how to respond, but you said it perfectly!

There is a lot of nuance to the decision of going TV-Free. Like you both, my dh and I don't waiver for a second from our decisoin to get rid of the TV. But here is an example of a source of contention between us. My almost 3 year old dd was taking a bath at our neighbor's house. Her bandaid fell off and she freaked that her hurtie was going to get wet. Our kind neighbor got her a Dora bandaid. Now, while it wouldn't have been my preference, my daughter was thrilled and the problem was solved. Well, DH was pretty pissed, since we ban all Dora and character references from our house. While I wasn't happy about it, I also know I can't shelter dd from Dora or Disney forever, and if I make a big deal about it, it will just be confusing and upsetting to her -- and can backfire big time. She doesn't really have a clue as to who Dora is, except that she sees her everywhere else.

These are the kinds of weird issues that need to be discussed... and I would love to get the experience of families that have been there done that.

[quelindo]

My DH and I are also very confident in our decision. However, he has three teenagers from his first marriage, and we keep a TV in the basement for one to play video games (ugh) and the other to watch the occasional movie. I hate this, but it's a compromise, and I'm worried about what will happen when our son who is two starts catching on a bit more.

So, even when you're confident about what you're doing, there can still be issues to discuss or resolve.

[tamagotchi]

Originally Posted by Shell

Our kind neighbor got her a Dora bandaid. Now, while it wouldn't have been my preference, my daughter was thrilled and the problem was solved. Well, DH was pretty pissed, since we ban all Dora and character references from our house. While I wasn't happy about it, I also know I can't shelter dd from Dora or Disney forever, and if I make a big deal about it, it will just be confusing and upsetting to her -- and can backfire big time. She doesn't really have a clue as to who Dora is, except that she sees her everywhere else.

It sounds like you are envisioning this forum as having a little broader scope than just TV. It is relatively easy to get rid of the TV, but it is more difficult to eliminate character references and commercialism. Would it be more accurate, then, to describe the proposed forum as something like "Media Free Families" or "Commercial Free Families" (like the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood)?

We are TV free, which in itself isn't much of an issue for us (it's just something we don't have), but character references are starting to be an issue in some ways. For example, DS's speech therapist only has character toys. Each session of speech therapy is all about Thomas trains, or Big Bird and Elmo, etc., and it's often difficult for DS to understand what she is trying to teach him, because he isn't familiar with the characters' names or stories. I've tried to explain to her that he doesn't know what she is talking about, and she just doesn't get it. It is so frustrating!

[goldfinch]

That's a perfect discussion for the new forum...

To what extent, if any, do you 'ban'/allow TV-character-themed products/books?

Just one of the many "angles" to the issue...

[goldfinch]

There's an interesting article in the New York Times today about children's television, product tie-ins, and the changes in what kinds of toys get made for kids between the 1970's and today. I'd love to discuss it with some no-tv mamas... if only we had somewhere to talk about it...

[muse]

never mind. hadn't had coffee yet. off to buy a NYT.

[<~*MamaRose*~>]

Originally Posted by tamagotchi

Would it be more accurate, then, to describe the proposed forum as something like "Media Free Families" or "Commercial Free Families" (like the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood)?

That's not what I'd be looking for at all from a tv free forum. If people wanted to discuss those issues fine but that's not what I'd like to see the whole forum be about. I'm very interested in tv free but my son can still read his Disney books kwim....

[goldfinch]

It sounds like you are envisioning this forum as having a little broader scope than just TV. It is relatively easy to get rid of the TV, but it is more difficult to eliminate character references and commercialism. Would it be more accurate, then, to describe the proposed forum as something like "Media Free Families" or "Commercial Free Families" (like the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood)?

I think the decision to try and eliminate character references is a sub-topic under the general TV-free heading. I am sure some people try to eliminate all references, some allow books with the characters, etc., and I think it would be an interesting conversation to have... but I think that not having (or not watching) TV is the broad topic under which this, and other, conversations could happen.

[<~*MamaRose*~>]

ITA with that goldfinch.

[tamagotchi]

Originally Posted by goldfinch

I think the decision to try and eliminate character references is a sub-topic under the general TV-free heading.

So, what other kinds of topics would be covered? Other than the issue of character references, it wouldn't really occur to me to visit a TV-free forum. We don't have a TV, so TV just doesn't come up in our lives as an issue unless someone outside the family makes a reference to it. What am I missing?

[Hesperia]

I would use the tv-free forum to talk about movies, and how/when or if they are used in a tv-free home.

Personally DP and I love movies, and we would need a tv to watch them (or continue watching them on laptop), this is something I'd like to talk about with other families who are TV-free or aiming towards this goal.

When we have a TV-free home, I will allow my children to borrow movies from the library looking for educational movies or ones addressing our current intrests.

Again, please think adding a TV-free sub forum.