The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co. In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.
So what happens when this “mean mom” says, “No” to TV during the day?
Relationships are solidified, creativity blossoms, and imaginative play dusts off it’s silent, lonely webs.
Yes, it’s a mess.
Yes, it creates more work.
Yes, their “territories” have been established (that’s what they told me was being done).
Yes to real life being lived regardless of the dust bunnies, carpet crud and dog hair. 😉
Now to just get them to clean up as soon as they are done. I’m still working on that one.
How often do you turn off the TV and let real life reign?
Love this post.. too cute! I don't allow TV during the day and it forces the kids to use their imagination… I love it!
Thanks for sharing!
HI Jen, long time!!! Okay, I love this post too because I couldn't wait for school to start so that I could turn off the tv. It started on Tuesday, so we have had 2 days of no tv. It is only going to be on during the weekends or a special occasion. And we will so stuff as families on the weekends so it won't be on a lot then either! It is nice getting back to a routine…of sorts!
That's so great! My fiancee & I recently cut our cable in hopes of cutting back in our finances, hopefully it'll spark some nice quality time together as well. 🙂
So true & how did you know about my dust bunnies, carpet crud & dog hair?
Our local Christian radio station was having people call in and talk about this on my drive to work this morning! One of my favorite ideas was "Little House on the Prarie Night." You don't use any electricity and do everything by candlelight (including cook–aka the grill, aka the hubby does dinner). (:
Great post! When I was homeschooling the boys they were only allowed a few hours a week- never during school days.
When we moved to CO almost 2 years ago we couldn't get any kind of tv reception and me, being the cheapskate that I am, didn't want to pay for it. My DH misses the news sometimes but that's about it! I have enjoyed not always know what is going on around the world! And I think I get alot more done!
blessings
mary
We turn the TV off all the time–as in we don't have one. (We can watch DVDs on the computer tho') People wonder what we do but we still don't seem to have time for everything! 🙂 Our boys are only 1 and 3 but already they use their imaginations constantly. It may not work for everyone but it is great for us.
we havent had cable in 3yrs . My kids can watch DVDs or some free website stuff but there are rules. The first being after school you have the choice go play with friends/siblings or computer time. After dinner all electronics are off unless needed for homework and then its bedtime.If no homework then free play or reading but no DVD/computer time. So that leaves weekends;fridays are open after school for computer/DVD, Saturday afternoons after chores but Saturday night is family movie night and then Sunday afternoons.Truthfully my girls almost always choose playing with friends or even siblings over the computer/DVD option. You're right its more work for mom, but worth it.
Alright girl, I've spent all afternoon clipping & printing coupons, looking through my flyers, and planning my outing. I'm armed and dangerous with all these coupons! Will let you know how it goes. Can you tell you inspired me?
Like another poster we don't buy cable, haven't had it in 5 years. WHEN our kids watch tv it's PBS or a movie we own or netflix. That way we can control what they see. We do not watch it much at all. We could go 2 days w/out having it on and then they could watch PBS after school 2 days in a row so it varies and is inconsistent. What amazes us is the imaginations our children have when compared to their peers who need electronic stimulus. Their peers don't know how to "play pirates" or "rescue the princess"… it's sad really.
We didn't have a lot of room in the moving truck last month so some things got ditched, the TV being one of them. I don't think we're going to replace it. We already didn't have cable and only watched DVDs but the behavior and attitudes are so much better without the TV. I don't miss it
We hardly watch tv – sometimes mom and dad get too much computer time – but only the occasional, not even daily, video for the older kids. I don't miss it.
It is good to know other Mean Mommies struggle with this too. I am anti-tv and my husband loves it. It is hard to strike a nice balance for our daughter.
That totally looks like my house. Currently we have zoos and stables full. Plastic animals of course, but anything and everything turned into their "stables". Will my dining room chairs ever be the same?
We don't even own a TV!