TV turn-off week at Son's school

[Hillbeans]

This week is voluntary TV Turn-off week at DS 9's school. To be a full participant there is to be no TV, Internet, Video games of any kind for 5 full days. That is for the gold level, there are also Silver and Bronze.

DS tried it yesterday but decided to do the Silver level instead - which is 30 minutes of one/all of the above a day. He plays baseball and gets exercise, and I definitely understand the meaning behind this but it's hard to go cold turkey. I don't think I could do it, as i'm on the DIS everyday. Anyone else have a child doing this at their school?

 

[paintnolish]

We did it last year but haven't seen anything about it this year. It wasn't too hard. There is a lot more fighting/rough housing without it, which made me realize I use it as a babysitter sometimes. It's just that this is finals week for me! Bad mom needs quiet to write papers. Anyway, you get used to it. When we first moved into our new house, we were broke and held off on internet and cable. We'd find dd with the tv on, displaying a very fuzzy golf tournament (we got maybe 2 channels!). She'd tell us she was watching it! That's desperation for you!

 

[Micca]

TV turn-off week turns me off. It assumes that there is nothing worthwhile on tv/internet or no redeeming value in playing video games. If the idea is to get kids more physically active or to spend time doing something constructive like reading, there are better ways to accomplish this.

 

[kydisneyfans]

tv turn-off week turns me off. It assumes that there is nothing worthwhile on tv/internet or no redeeming value in playing video games. If the idea is to get kids more physically active or to spend time doing something constructive like reading, there are better ways to accomplish this.

ita

 

[Pigeon]

We watch very little TV year round, have no cable TV, and limit screen time in general.

I don't feel any need to participate in a week's tokenism, so we decline.

 

[Robinrs]

TV turn-off week turns me off. It assumes that there is nothing worthwhile on tv/internet or no redeeming value in playing video games. If the idea is to get kids more physically active or to spend time doing something constructive like reading, there are better ways to accomplish this.

ItA!

Especially since TV pays my bills!!!

 

[C.Ann]

As far as I know it's never been done at DGD's school, but if they did decide to do it she wouldn't have any problem at all going "cold turkey".. She's pretty creative at finding other ways of using her free time..

 

[mickeyboat]

We do screen time turn off week here, and I think it starts at the end of next week.

I actually think it is a fantastic idea. It doesn't assume there is no value in screen time. It forces kids and their families to stop using screen time as a crutch and to explore other activities that they might not otherwise be doing.

And as much as I hate to say it, large amounts of screen time are not healthy.

 

[mhsjax]

Not happening here. Between the kids homework, and they each play 2 different sports, there is no way that I am taking away there down time in front of the TV or playing video games.

 

[Scurvy]

TV turn-off week turns me off. It assumes that there is nothing worthwhile on tv/internet or no redeeming value in playing video games. If the idea is to get kids more physically active or to spend time doing something constructive like reading, there are better ways to accomplish this.

I agree. I'm all for encouraging physical activity and reading, but not this way. My son's school doesn't do anything like that, fortunately. We rely too heavily on the internet in our household for us to ever go a week without it when we're home.

 

[debster812]

DS's school has not done this that I am aware of. However, he is currently participating in a 'no-TV or video games' week. He's at overnight camp with his soccer team, and there is NO tv, and he decided not to bring his DS for down time. So he's essentially going cold turkey

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

It forces kids and their families to stop using screen time as a crutch

I'm glad to hear it's voluntary, but I hate it when the school thinks they know what's best for someone's family. The school should be teaching, not pushing their agenda.

 

[disney1990]

I know that I saw an interview and the President's two daughters are not allowed to watch television on school nights at all. After that, going without for only a week seems pretty easy. I know I would have a hard time, but thankfully, I am an adult and can make that decision for myself.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Especially since TV pays my bills!!!

I'm not sure what you're job is, but that's a really good point.

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm glad to hear it's voluntary, but I hate it when the school thinks they know what's best for someone's family. The school should be teaching, not pushing their agenda.

I supposed I made a bad choice in words. It gives families the opportunity to explore other options for entertainment besides tv. It's voluntary. I see it as a challenge and something fun to try rather than an ultimatum. I also don't see how promoting healthy habits is pushing an agenda.

 

[Pigeon]

I happen to think that TV rots your brain and lowers your IQ, and there's is almost nothing worth my family's time on it. My kids certainly are not allowed to watch it during the school week.

But I also think that the school should keep its nose out of family time. As it is, they pile so much homework on that my kids have precious little free time, and it's my family's responsibility to decide how it gets spent.

 

[castleview]

They gave this to our kids on vacation week! C'mon, let us ease into and do it during a school week. Anyway, I was game. DH wasn't however. His take is that our kids are good students, are involved in sports and extracurriculars and maybe get 45 minutes of TV a night.

 

[Pikester]

The PTO at my kids school has celebrated TV Turn Off Week that last few years. During this week kids choose to do something different instead of watching TV. I've never looked at it as watching no TV what so ever, just cutting back. The kids here get coupons to fill out with the activity that they did instead of watching TV. A host class in the 3rd grade collects the coupons and they then graph them for the whole student body to see what everyone did instead of watching TV that week. The coupons are also drawn at the end of the day for prizes. There is also a Science Night that is held during this week (the kids write down that they went here instead of watching TV) and at the end of the week there is an Ice Cream Social held to celebrate.

I guess I never looked at it as someone pushing an agenda or telling me what my kids can do. Just saw it as the school trying to get families involved.

 

[Ceila]

I supposed I made a bad choice in words. It gives families the opportunity to explore other options for entertainment besides tv. It's voluntary. I see it as a challenge and something fun to try rather than an ultimatum. I also don't see how promoting healthy habits is pushing an agenda.

But, is watching the news unhealthy? Or checking weather.com? Reading e-mail about the kids' sports practice schedule unhealthy? What about doing research through the library web site? This kind of assignment seems to put down all forms of electronics equally, and TV and the internet are certainly used for more than mere entertainment, even by kids.

 

[luvmy3]

Up until this school year, my kids were not allowed to watch TV, play video games or use the internet (unless it was for homework) on school nights so going without for 5 days wouldn't be a problem here. We decided that this year we would see how allowing them limited time during the week would go, and we found that they still sometimes choose to read a book, draw or play board games.