Has anyone tried self regulation with TV? - Page 2

[WinterStar]

Originally Posted by swampangel

The bottom line, IME, is that we are unique individuals and parenting is all about paying close attention to your child and adjusting yourself and your approach accordingly. I like the idea of self-regulation in theory, but I know it doesn't work well for all families. I would try to let go of your notions about what is philosophically best and look at your child and how this is affecting her, in particular. What do you think would be helpful for her? .

I posted before I saw your reply........

This is good advice, and I completely agree. Yes, it is tough when life doesn't quite fit with the philosophical ideal lol. This was what I went through 6 months ago, and I did "ban" cartoons then as it really seemed damaging to my dd.

I was hoping that things would be different this time around, and so far it's all looking good, all as it *should* be lol. But I'm in agreement with you, if that changes I will be taking my cues from my dd, not from what I *think* should be happening.

[aprons_and_acorns]

I will come back to read the whole thread later, but I just wanted to say quickly that self-regulation works great for our family. (time/amount of viewing, not content)

[my3peanuts]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Maybe I'm not very informed about the self-regulation train of thought, but my reaction is that we cannot reasonably expect a very small child to self regulate an addiction when grown adults struggle massively with addictions as well.

I personally feel it's my job to keep my child away from addictions until at least she's old enough to recognize and understand the addiction process.

I totally agree!

[IfMamaAintHappy]

Self regulation for TV works fine in my house. Most days they hardly watch any. But its vailable to them whenever they are too tired or hot or whatever and want to chill out. My oldest is the only one that really would watch as much TV as you'd let her anyway.

[WinterStar]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Maybe I'm not very informed about the self-regulation train of thought, but my reaction is that we cannot reasonably expect a very small child to self regulate an addiction when grown adults struggle massively with addictions as well.

I personally feel it's my job to keep my child away from addictions until at least she's old enough to recognize and understand the addiction process.

I'm not expecting her to self regulate an addiction lol, just TV!

I think maybe what you're suggesting is that TV is addictive for a child? The answer to this question was at the heart of my dilemma, and the question I was really asking I suppose.

The answer seems to be "no". Or "no, not necessarily"

As a person who has dealt with a few REAL addictions in adulthood (of which the very least one was TV), my aim with self regulation is to let my dd learn to regulate herself by being in touch with her own wants, desires and needs. I think that if we don't let children regulate themselves, but do it *for* them, then how can we ever hope for them to become skilled at it?

It's not for everyone, fair enough, but it's working out very well for us. I'm very pleased that I gave it a second chance. So is my dd! After two days of no cartoons, she watched about two hours today, and turned it off herself when she got bored - without a single word from me).

[DevaMajka]

I did for a while, then started to feel uncomfortable with the amount of tv ds was watching. Not actually the amount, per se, but he was watching tv just because he could, not really because he wanted to, if that makes sense.

I set a 2 hour limit on tv. It was a limit that I thought would be enough for him to feel satisfied, iykwim. Also, that's how long cartoons are on after he wakes up (we don't have cable). Often, he turns the tv off before 2 hours is up (though it probably helps that cartoons are on only one channel, and some of them he doesn't like as much as others). I rarely turn the tv off after cartoons are over- it's almost always him, and only sometimes do I remind him.
Sometimes he asks to watch a movie after he's watched his cartoons, and I let him. I'm flexible about it, but it seems to help him just knowing that *I* like to keep tv to 2 hours. He seems to be more picky about what he's watching.

I don't think it's ever caused a conflict at all.

[monkey's mom]

We've not any limits on tv or computer ever and my kids are 6.5 and 3 and they are perfectly capable of "self-regulating."

I'm not so fond of that phrase, b/c it seems like people (kids) only qualify as doing it when they choose an amount the parent is comfortable with. If they choose more for themselves than the parent is comfortable with, it's either "not working" or the kid is "addicted."

You might want to check out sandradodd.com and poke around the tv stuff under "unschooling."

[Ary99]

Originally Posted by WinterStar

I'm not expecting her to self regulate an addiction lol, just TV!

I think maybe what you're suggesting is that TV is addictive for a child? The answer to this question was at the heart of my dilemma, and the question I was really asking I suppose.

The answer seems to be "no". Or "no, not necessarily"

As a person who has dealt with a few REAL addictions in adulthood (of which the very least one was TV), my aim with self regulation is to let my dd learn to regulate herself by being in touch with her own wants, desires and needs. I think that if we don't let children regulate themselves, but do it *for* them, then how can we ever hope for them to become skilled at it?

It's not for everyone, fair enough, but it's working out very well for us. I'm very pleased that I gave it a second chance. So is my dd! After two days of no cartoons, she watched about two hours today, and turned it off herself when she got bored - without a single word from me).

I think TV is addictive! My older son really, really likes TV, but I choose to limit it for reasons others have mentioned. I really wasn't familiar with the concept of self-regulation for kids prior to this thread.