Have you successfully cut way back on TV?

[Anonymous]

I'm a tv addict. I love the Discovery and History Channels. I do let my kids watch quite a bit of tv. I use tv in a number of ways; a reward, a break from homework or chores, punishment (tv is taken away), and education. We interact while shows are on. During Sesame Street we are discussing what's on the screen. Yes, there are a few shows that they like that turn them into zombies, but I keep these to a minimum. Both of my kids usually don't mind watching the Discovery or History channels. Also, no tv M-Th until all homework is done. M-Th, they may manage to get in one show before bed.

If I feel that the kids have watched too much tv, then I shut it off. They can complain if they want to, but that usually results with them being sent upstairs, alone. No one likes that. We are fortunate that we have a playroom (no tv in there), where the kids can go when we need to make calls or focus on something. We prefer to be together, so the room doesn't get used as often as DH had hoped.

I do have to force my oldest to go outside, but that's not as a result of tv. That's just his personality. He's always been this way. When my kids are outside, the play well with others and are well behaved at school. So, as long as you keep a reasonable amount of on control on what and how much tv is watched, I see no problem with it.

[Anonymous]

We have a no-TV-at-breakfast rule on weekdays. They were taking too long to eat and making it difficult for me when it was time to go to school. On weekends, and after homework is done on weekdays we will let them watch a lot of TV (like 2 hours straight.) Then it is bedtime or "TV off time to go play time." If they rage at me, they lose their privilege for the following day. However it took a couple of losses for them to realize we were serious. They can't believe we would be so mean ha ha! Your DH needs to be 100% on board. Otherwise you may come home to a bunch of TV zombies whenever you are not in charge at home. Because it is easier than parenting, as you have already discovered.

[Anonymous]

My kids have to earn their screen time every day. They can have 30 minutes at 6 pm if they have done all their chores and have not been a pain in the ass, kept the fighting to a reasonable level, and not given me any back talk. It works for us.

[Anonymous]

My kids don't watch TV at all.

[Anonymous]

My kids used to wake up super early and got tv in the morning and then some tv after school. I was in your situation. I stopped cold turkey in the morning and each child now gets 1 tv show of choice per day. I have 2 kids so each kid gets to watch the other child's pick so they get about 45-50 min per day. They don't get ipads or games either. This is a treat on bad weather weekends or if we go on a trip.

Now kids wake up and play super well in the morning. After school they play outside. They watch their shows while I prep dinner. Older child is now in 1st grade and actually has some homework. After Hw, kids can play again but don't ask for tv because they know I won't give them extra. We do reading before bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During the school year we have a no screen rule M-Th. On weekends pretty much anything goes, but my kids do sports and don't have much time plus they like to play. Probably 2hrs each day.

For us, having a no screen on school nights is pretty cut and dry. They don't ask.

THis is what we do. They can watch half an hour of an educational show in the mornings (Wally Kazan, Sesame Street, Dora) but only TV at night on Fridays. Their behavior is horrible if they watch too much tv so we started limiting during the weekend too (only during nap time and during breakfast).