Since my regular readers know that we don’t have broadcast television and allow our son to only watch occasional videos, you might expect me to give a list of reasons to not watch TV. Been there; done that…
You can read a summary of some of the (negative)
side effects of watching too much TV here.
Or – you can read some of the (positive)
side effects of not watching TV at all here.
Or you can visit a hundred other websites this week to find out things to do instead of watching TV. I really can’t think of too many more projects…there are always lots of things to do instead of TV and lots of places to find them. That’s why last week, in preparation for The TV Turnoff fest, I wrote a step by step plan for vanquishing TV:
TV Turn-OFF Week –
Cutting Back is Good Enough Since this weekend, my son, for various reasons spent far too much time in front of the tube watching videos (we allow watching on weekends) I started thinking about WHY we “plug our kids in”. I mean, it starts in infancy or early childhood. They don’t just jump up one day and start whining about watching TV. It is WE parents who first place them in front of the TV. We watch them clap and smile over
Sesame Street .
And, of course, these things have a tendency to get out of hand. Before you know it, we’re flipping on that set for reasons we would have never considered ….had we thought about it. Which we don’t. Or at least I don’t very often.
Today I thought I would. Because we have strict limits on TV, not a “no TV” policy, I have to be on my guard. I actually DO think about why plopping him in front of the TV. I DO mentally add up the amount of time he’s watched. I DO try to figure out if my reason is good enough.
I’ve found that they vary but, here are my top 5.
When I’m packing for a trip
- To get some paid work done
- When I’ve been with him, by myself, for 48 hours straight and need a break
- When he is sick and I’ve occupied him for 5 hours straight.
- When I need to have a “discussion” with my spouse
And, I’ve decided this is a useful list. Rather than wonder endlessly what my reason is to plop him in front of the TV, if it doesn’t fall on this list, I won’t.
I’ll surely find plenty of other activities for him to do, or us to do or the whole family to do. And I’ll remember that childhood is so short I surely won’t want to miss much.
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You can read a summary of some of the (negative) side effects of watching too much TV here.
Or – you can read some of the (positive) side effects of not watching TV at all here.
Or you can visit a hundred other websites this week to find out things to do instead of watching TV. I really can’t think of too many more projects…there are always lots of things to do instead of TV and lots of places to find them. That’s why last week, in preparation for The TV Turnoff fest, I wrote a step by step plan for vanquishing TV:
TV Turn-OFF Week – Cutting Back is Good Enough Since this weekend, my son, for various reasons spent far too much time in front of the tube watching videos (we allow watching on weekends) I started thinking about WHY we “plug our kids in”. I mean, it starts in infancy or early childhood. They don’t just jump up one day and start whining about watching TV. It is WE parents who first place them in front of the TV. We watch them clap and smile over
And, of course, these things have a tendency to get out of hand. Before you know it, we’re flipping on that set for reasons we would have never considered ….had we thought about it. Which we don’t. Or at least I don’t very often.
Today I thought I would. Because we have strict limits on TV, not a “no TV” policy, I have to be on my guard. I actually DO think about why plopping him in front of the TV. I DO mentally add up the amount of time he’s watched. I DO try to figure out if my reason is good enough.
I’ve found that they vary but, here are my top 5. When I’m packing for a trip
And, I’ve decided this is a useful list. Rather than wonder endlessly what my reason is to plop him in front of the TV, if it doesn’t fall on this list, I won’t.
I’ll surely find plenty of other activities for him to do, or us to do or the whole family to do. And I’ll remember that childhood is so short I surely won’t want to miss much. Like This post? Want To Share it?
Submit it to one of the newer social bookmarking sites geared for women and/or the green lifestyle.
Even if you don't submit this post...check them out for posts on topics that interest not-quite-crunchy parents! Click on the icons below.
Or share this post on traditional social book marking sites.