Television/video Games

My son is only 20 months old, so we haven't watched any TV or videos with him, although he watches a few minutes of Twins baseball with us once in a while before he gets bored and goes back to playing. I am not looking forward to the day when I can't shield him anymore from all the media influences, and I'd love to hear ideas from others who have gone through this with older children.

Hi J.

We watch dvds or public tv, nature shows primarily.

We have a 4 1/2 yr old lovely girl who loves to play with others. We live in Como Lake area, went to the zoo and conservatory Sat. and are always up for adventure.
Let us know if you are interested in playing more.

J.
____@____.com

We use our TV mostly for DVDs as well. On the occassions that our 3 year old does watch TV, we try to limit it to TPT, unless he's watching the headlines with Dad. ;o) When I had my second son I relied on the TV for about an hour a day, regretfully, so that I could take a shower and put my baby down for nap. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to tear my older son away from the habit, but it was easier than I thought.

I have found, though I hate to admit it, that there are some really valuable new shows geared for kids, but TV is just not a part of our lives so we don't ever "catch" them and we don't have a DVR or anything. We just got cable this winter so we could catch the debates and election coverage this coming year!

Anyway, it is good to hear that other families are not letting their small children sit glued to the TV. When my son is watching a video and his Dad comes home from work, he is SO crabby and doesn't want to be interrupted. When he's playing, he will run to the door screaming, "Daddy's home!" That's reason enough for me.

It SO edifying and encouraging for me to know there are others out there trying to keep the video influence down on their kids.

I don't know if I meet your standards of "no" television and video games. I'm a SAHM of 5 - ages 10 months to 10 years - and my 3-year-old watches "Mr. Rogers'" everyday (Does that REALLY count?). That's the only TV show. Movies on Fri/Sat nights if it works out and their homework is done; even then it's not a given. It can take us two or even three weekends to watch a movie because we'll watch it 30-40 minutes at a time. They (my three older kids) may only play computer games on the weekend and only about 30 minutes each.

Video is the new art medium. I want my kids to be able to discern quality from junk, so, like you, I'm still doing some video with them. Besides, I think watching movies is FUN. And that's what it should be -- not something to do just to fill up time when one is bored.

We allow our children to watch only what we have put on TIVO. We do mostly channels that have no commercials. They have watched movies, though. But that iis because they were surrounded by friends at school who all they talked about were these different movies. SO my husband and I have decided they can watch them, but only if we are present, and if their behavior is bad they lose that priveledge. One of the big ones has been Star Wars 4, 5, and 6, and just recently Episode 1, but not 2 or 3 for a while.

We struggle with the computer games, but my husband struggles with that himself as well. I applaud you for trying, I know I have and feel at times I have failed, but then I look at what most of the children out there have been allowd to watch and I know I have done a fairly good job, thr other key is the communication about what they have watched and what is inappropriate in the real world and what id pretend.

I am a SAHM of 3 boys, ages 6,4 and 2, and two exchange boys ages16 from Korea, and 17 from Vietnam.

I use our DVR to record shows that I think are age appropriate and that our kids really enjoy. We have a 4.5 year old and a 2.5 year old - they watch Word World (wonderful learning show!) Go Diego Go!, and a couple others. I think TV can be a great family activity when shows are age appropriate and chosen carefully. We also recently purchased a Leapster for our 4.5 year old. She has really learned a lot and likes it. The games we have are all learning games. Of course limits are necessary! I teach K and have learned that technology is a big part of our world and our kids' world too!

I was pretty much raising my child without tv but once she went off to school it kinda fell out of my hands. Peer Pressure, Peer Influence and Hannah Montana have pretty much changed that.

My daughter NEVER watched tv and randomly watched dvd's but now she's 6.5 and glued to the tube.