Parenting

How do you begin to cut back/limit tv?

Now that the weather is nicer and we will have a bigger yard to play in, I want to cut back tv time.

I admit, I usually have the tv on. I am used to it and listen for the noise. Lately, it's been mostly kid shows and Audrey wanders in and out of the living room while she plays or whatever.

How, do I do this without meltdowns?

Audrey Elizabeth 11-11-06 image

Re: How do you begin to cut back/limit tv?

  • Play music instead?
  • We are out a lot now that the weather is nice. Even though I work FT, when I get home at 5pm, I usually take her to the park or by the house with the other kids for about 2 hours.

    One way I cut is to not put it on as soon as I walk in the door. Like you, we always just have it on. Now when we come in, I just don't put it on right away and B goes directly to play in the kitchen while I cook in there.

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  • DD is only allowed to watch TV for the most part if it is raining when it is time for outdoor play, which we do most days, or her father is home (from 7:00 -7:30 AM).  These are specific events she can understand.  If she ask to watch it any other time, we will sometimes watch it, but only a select number of "mommy shows" like Alton Brown.  He attention is usually not very good to these shows and she will find something else to do.  I reserve these for when I know she is tired or needs a break, which is not too often.
  • E&B love to go outside but when they have meltdowns over other things, I just stick to it firm, they have their fit and then it's over.  Patrick makes life harder though by giving in because he doesn't want to hear it.
  • imagexbrooklyngrl:

    One way I cut is to not put it on as soon as I walk in the door. Like you, we always just have it on. Now when we come in, I just don't put it on right away and B goes directly to play in the kitchen while I cook in there.

    Ditto this. I find that if I just don't turn the TV on or suggest it, DS finds something to occupy himself.

    imageimage
    Alex (11/14/06) and Nate (5/25/10)
    "Want what you have, do what you can, be who you are." - Rev. Forrest Church
  • Just don't turn it on.  If she asks for it, distract her with a book, going outside or coloring/craft.  Consider cutting off the cable.  We did the latter to save money, and the kids almost never ask for TV at our house, because our selection pretty much sucks.  Saves us $40-$60 a month *and* gets them to do something else.

  • I allow him 1-2 shows (depends on how tired I am from this pregnancy) a day.  After his show(s) I turn on the music channels on our tv if we'll be inside. 
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  • imageAggieCouple:

    Consider cutting off the cable. 

    DH would have a stroke if I did this. lol. I probably would go through Food Network withdrawl myself.

    I guess I will have to keep it off during the day and turn the radio on for noise.

    Audrey Elizabeth 11-11-06 image
  • We just don't have it on. The kids get one show a day and we're hardly home when it's nice out. They may get two shows if it's nasty out or someone is not feeling well...
  • BTW, I have zero issue with how much TV my kid watches, honestly. But I find if I don't turn it on the second we get home, she gets more into a mode of playing and we chat more.
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  • DS is used to having TV shows only at certain times of the day. Even then, he just gets to watch something we have tivoed or a DVD for a certain amount of time. He know that when the show stops or the timer goes off that it's time to turn it off.

    He will usually ask for the music channels at that point, so I will change the channel to that or turn on one of his CDs.

  • We have been playing music.  There is a toddler music channel on cable and we have an ipod so we listen to the Laurie Berkner "channel" on Pandora.  That helps. 

    One day I just declared that it was a no TV day.  They grumbled, but we made it through it.  We had been reading "Too Much TV" from the Bearenstain Bears so that helped I think.

    They have a ton of toys outside, though, so lately they haven't really wanted to be inside.  It's bad in a way b/c DS is way too tired at school from never taking a rest lately.

    DS1 age 7, DD age 5 and DS2 born 4/3/12
  • Simply turn it off, turn on some music, keep her distracted with other things and try to be outside as much as possible. 
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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