We have two kids, 4 and 1. We don’t have a TV and our kids generally don’t interact with screens at all except for FaceTime. One thing I’ve noticed is that the kids are forced to do more helping out when there isn’t a screen option. Like, I remember as a kid watching TV while my mom cooked dinner every night. Our kids can play by themselves while we cook but if they get bored of that the other option is helping us, so my daughter has learned how to do a lot on the kitchen. There’s just more time for other better things to do and more incentive to do them when screens aren’t an easy go-to option.

Anonymous wrote:We read the printed newspaper daily. We do not do TV. We listen to the radio, mostly WETA. We have books all over our house and reading books is the main activity here.

“Luddite” is another way to say “a person who is not adept with new technology”. I guess my grandma is a Luddite too.

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids?

This - are there kids in this scenario?

I have ES kids who don't have phones yet. We watch very little TV (but not none), listen to podcasts, read a ton. Very limited computer games. I am on DCUM and social media; I get my news online. Not a Luddite.

How old are your kids?

If it were up to me we would not have any tvs in our house. I had a phone for a few years but never used it so I had it turned off. Don't miss it.
I don't like labels. I really don't like people to be honest.

The printed newspaper is often out of date by the time you read it 😂

We don’t have a tv but I do spend a lot of time on my phone.

I joke that I’m a Luddite but I do use my phone a lot (admittedly 50% of that is reading/listening to books but also DCUM etc are there). No TV, but I sometimes watch shows or YouTube on my computer. I have little kids though so I don’t have *time* for much of anything.

Anonymous wrote:But you’re on DCUM?

NP. My thoughts exactly.

Fight the good fight fellow luddite! AI will soon give these pollyanna’s something to think about.

But you’re on DCUM?

Seems more troglodyte than Luddite.

No screens at all? No computer? No smart phone? No need for WiFi/Bluetooth? No audiobooks? No podcasts?

Books are great but there are amazing programs on Apple TV, Netflix, and Amazon. You could watch wonderful BBC shows. And to miss out on Ted Lasso is terrible.

Nice try

Why the hell are you spending time posting on this site? You sound like a wannabe Luddite.

I lived without a TV for most of my college years and a number of years in my adulthood as well - I had a TV for watching rental videos, but no hookup to broadcast or cable TV. Those years were definitely the best in my life.

The years when I had TV but only broadcast were okay too, because there was often nothing on I wanted to watch. I spent a lot of time listening to public radio and reading books.

I would happily cut myself off from TV and smartphone if I could - the smartphone is a requirement of my job sadly and my family is resistant to eschewing TV.

Are your kids ok?!

We read the printed newspaper daily. We do not do TV. We listen to the radio, mostly WETA. We have books all over our house and reading books is the main activity here.