Unplugging the TV

[retooferab]

...I just want us to have more time to be productive. I want us to do more things together, get more work done, have more GOOD playing time. I want us to interact with each other and not just vegitate in the general vicinity of each other. I want my daughter to be better at kicking a ball than flipping the channels on the television. I love it when my daughter snuggles into bed at night and begs me to tell her a story. I've never been a storyteller, but it's kind of fun. I'd like to do more of it, and read more books together. I'd like to see more of the sunshine, and spend more time outside. I'd like to know my neighbors better than I do the people in hollywood. I want our tv time to be special, the kind of evenings that you make popcorn and lay blankets on the floor for. I want my daughter to take a bath at night, and fall asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow, because she played real hard during the day. I want to be able to tell daddy that Anna made him a special treat because she helped me to cook during the day. I want to have more art for the fridge, fun things to look at, not dependant on whether she is old enough for school or not. I want to turn the lights off at night and slip into bed, knowing that everything is clean and neat because I made it my priority instead of liquifying my brain all day. I'd like to sit down to lunch and feel calm and at peace, knowing that I can talk with my daughter without trying to talk over the television. I want to know that I can ask her to do something, and she'll actually look at me instead of over my shoulder, where the tv is on.

I am going to be so happy to be out of this house, and able to control my environment and that which my child grows up in.

Jenna, you rock! I just took the time to read through that post, and want to let you know you're appreciated in my world! Peace, sister! -retoof

 

[tonya]

Well, I have a very active 2 year old...the T.V. may be on Sesame Street or Snow White but she is up running around coloring etc. She will stop and watch and take off again so at this point I do not feel as though she has too much...BUT it is a learning tool also...she and I have quiet time at night and we will watch BABY EINSTEIN and talk about it...we watch sesame street and too we watch the Disnaey vidoes but we are together snuggling and it is quality time...

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Jenna, you rock! I just took the time to read through that post, and want to let you know you're appreciated in my world! Peace, sister! -retoof

I agree wholeheartedly with REtoof...you are a mom to be reckoned with

 

[Jenna]

Aww shucks.... *blushes 5 shades of red* Y'all really are too kind. I'm not some great Mom or anything. I just know that I want to do better than what I am.

*hugs*

 

[andiesmama]

My daughter watches the Noggin channel in the morning, or Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, etc., while she's eating breakfast, etc. Then we're usually off on errands, to the part, etc. Then it's lunch, she may watch another show on Noggin, but after that it's naptime, and in the evening it's mainly family time with her spending time with Daddy (after he's been at work all day) & playing, coloring, etc. I love the Noggin channel, no commercials, and all the shows are educational! But she turned 2 in June, and I've discovered that she's weaning herself away from the TV...yay!! I may turn on one of her shows, and the next thing I know she's run off to another room to play by herself, she doesn't even miss it when I turn it off. Dare I hope things will continue to be this easy?? lol

 

[NoneyaBiznezz]

My wife and I removed our televison from our house a few months ago and haven't missed it one bit I do get a little bluesy when the guys at work are talking football but oh well. The change in our house has been amazing!! Our children, ages 3, 5 and 12 are adjusting quite well and the TV isn't even mentioned anymore. The 5 year old was drawing family pictures that included the TV for the first few week but even that has subsided...LOL. Our evening are now spent reading books, working on little projects, rolling around on the floor and interacting with each other much more that I ever thought possible. We don't prevent our children from watching TV at the babysitters or their grandparents house. Given the opportunity, the kids usually choose to do something else. The challenges without TV may become more obvious as we enter the colder months of the year. I can honestly say that removing the TV has been the single largest improvement my wife and I have made in our household. My wife and I actually talk now instead of vegging on the couch together not communicating.

TV or No TV I feel that all of us need to limit our childrens exposure.

Peace in Christ,

-Brian

 

[MashadaR]

I really can't imagine my house without a TV. My wife likes it too much. It's not the fact that she "watches" it all the time, but it is always on because I'm working all the time, and she hears the interaction on the shows. I suggested music...but she says she doesn't hear any stimulating conversation.

But, once in awhile, I DO like my movies. Just watched Harry Potter again yesterday after the kids fell asleep. I'm adicted to trading spaces.

I hear some of you eliminating tv altogether....I can't imagine! I don't know how you all do it.

 

[tonya]

My daughter watches the Noggin channel in the morning, or Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, etc., while she's eating breakfast, etc. Then we're usually off on errands, to the part, etc. Then it's lunch, she may watch another show on Noggin, but after that it's naptime, and in the evening it's mainly family time with her spending time with Daddy (after he's been at work all day) & playing, coloring, etc. I love the Noggin channel, no commercials, and all the shows are educational! But she turned 2 in June, and I've discovered that she's weaning herself away from the TV...yay!! I may turn on one of her shows, and the next thing I know she's run off to another room to play by herself, she doesn't even miss it when I turn it off. Dare I hope things will continue to be this easy?? lol

HI!! I agree with ya about NOGGIN...we watch that lots too..or atleast that is what the TV is on, but my 2 year old is like yours..she will watch for awhile and then she's off and she is not as interested as she once was. I think TV is like everything else...it must be watched in moderation.

 

[super_mog]

I honestly believe there is nothing on TV worth watching, big waste of time when you could bedoing something useful. Now if only I could shake this internet addiction.

I watch Daystar network, VTN, HGTV, TLC, and ESPN. They have some good programs. Check them out.

 

[Melbelle]

What I plan on doing with Seth is when he gets old enough to watch cartoons when he first wakes he'll eat his breakfast watch some toons then go out and play, when lunch time comes around he can come in watch some tones then lay down for a nap, wake up get a snack then go out and play until time to come in get cleaned up for bed time. I think makeing them play out side will extend the imgination.