Today, my son was home sick from school. I stayed home with him and before my husband left this morning he said "Are you going to let him watch TV?" My answer was "No." My husband said I was brave. Because what does a person normally do when they are home sick? Curl up on the sofa and channel surf. We made it through the whole day with no TV and no video games. Connor asked me a couple of times to make an exception but I stuck to my guns. I knew if I made this exception, making more would be easy.
Instead of TV he spent the day resting, on modifying his Nerf guns, and drawing.
So on day three of the no TV and video games during the week adventure, I actually really like the lack of background noise and the whole house feels calmer.
We can tune back in from 7:00pm Friday until 9:30pm on Sunday. My hope is that as we get used to life without the TV and XBox, they won't play such a central role in what we do each day.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
We are giving up TV and Video Games - Day 1
A friend of mine recently posted some stats about television and video games and their impact on kids. Now these stats were not new to me - I had seen or heard them before. However, I have never been overly strict about what my kids watch. I mean, I don't take them to R-rated movies and I have a parental block on certain shows and networks. But they watch the evening news - which is probably as bad as any R-rated movie.
This probably won't win me any mother of the year awards but, my kids watch CSI with their father. They are fascinated by the science around solving crimes. They have learned that - crime doesn't pay - and you are going to get caught because there is always evidence. My son watches anything to do with World War II. He is fascinated by weapons. He is also learning history. We try to have a family movie night each week.
BUT, it has been nagging at me lately that some of my son's behavioral issues stem from what he sees and hears on some of the shows he watches. And not shows like CSI - I mean the teen and "tween" shows on Nick and Disney. The way the kid characters talk and relate to each other is ridiculous and rude.
It also has been nagging me that we get swallowed up into the sofa and lost in TV when we have things we should be doing around the house, we could be exercising, I have a business to run, and the family needs to relate to each other.
So, I challenged my husband (who is a HUGE TV addict) to establish and stick to a plan where we only watch TV From Friday at 7:00pm until Sunday at 10:00pm. I figure that with the DVR we won't miss anything we consider "must see". Instead, we'll watch it over the weekend if we have time. My husband asked if we could make an exception for the evening news (which in his mind starts at 4:00pm and ends at 7:30pm) and I said "No. That's why we subscribe to the newspaper." He grumbled but agreed.
Last night was the first night without TV. My son complained but when I told him that this was the new world order and he would have to start being creative with his time, he took out paper and pen and started to draw super heroes and characters from his video games. I also suggested reading (which he hates), yoga, board games, day dreaming, chores. I was thrilled because the dinner dishes were done, the main floor dusted and vaccuumed, and laundry started. PLUS we played Yahtzee - all while listening to swing music. I thought it was one of the better, calmer nights we have spent together in awhile.
Day one seemed easy. We'll see how the second day plays out.
This probably won't win me any mother of the year awards but, my kids watch CSI with their father. They are fascinated by the science around solving crimes. They have learned that - crime doesn't pay - and you are going to get caught because there is always evidence. My son watches anything to do with World War II. He is fascinated by weapons. He is also learning history. We try to have a family movie night each week.
BUT, it has been nagging at me lately that some of my son's behavioral issues stem from what he sees and hears on some of the shows he watches. And not shows like CSI - I mean the teen and "tween" shows on Nick and Disney. The way the kid characters talk and relate to each other is ridiculous and rude.
It also has been nagging me that we get swallowed up into the sofa and lost in TV when we have things we should be doing around the house, we could be exercising, I have a business to run, and the family needs to relate to each other.
So, I challenged my husband (who is a HUGE TV addict) to establish and stick to a plan where we only watch TV From Friday at 7:00pm until Sunday at 10:00pm. I figure that with the DVR we won't miss anything we consider "must see". Instead, we'll watch it over the weekend if we have time. My husband asked if we could make an exception for the evening news (which in his mind starts at 4:00pm and ends at 7:30pm) and I said "No. That's why we subscribe to the newspaper." He grumbled but agreed.
Last night was the first night without TV. My son complained but when I told him that this was the new world order and he would have to start being creative with his time, he took out paper and pen and started to draw super heroes and characters from his video games. I also suggested reading (which he hates), yoga, board games, day dreaming, chores. I was thrilled because the dinner dishes were done, the main floor dusted and vaccuumed, and laundry started. PLUS we played Yahtzee - all while listening to swing music. I thought it was one of the better, calmer nights we have spent together in awhile.
Day one seemed easy. We'll see how the second day plays out.
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