Who wants to have a no TV during school support group?

[TheBellhop]

Originally posted by mom2boys
Bellhop, you're youth is showing.

The kids are exactly who we are thinking of when we limit their screen time. As the parents it is our responsiblity to teach our kids responsibility, priortizing, how to movtivate themsevles & how the be the best they can be at the things they undertake. Believe me, it is a lot easier on parents when we allow the kids to occupy themselves with tv, video/computer games - they leave us alone.
My 9 year old has told me on more than one occassion that he never said he wanted to go to school. Do you think I should just let him sit home & play video games? After all, from his point of view school is a big waste of time & catching a fish on the Zelda game is a huge priority.
As I tell my boys, it is my responsibility to make the decisions. Parenting is not a popularity contest and I didn't have kids so I could be their "friend" for the first two decades of their lives.

It's exactly that that gets me annoyed. Parents should learn to lighten up a bit. I mean limiting TV to weekends??? That's crazy! My youth may be showing but back in your childhood you didn't want to go to school either, did you??? I mean, I'm not saying that TV is good or video games are good but if you completly ban them.. ...you could limit the time to one hour a night or something like that.

EDIT TO ADD:::I also hate it when people label me a youth and think that because I'm younger that I'm naive...when truly I'm not as naive as you think.

 

[JayCT]

I have to agree with Bellhop and I am not a YOUTH by any means. I am a parent of two small school age children. As I posted on the other thread on this subject. This is OVER-REACTING. Granted kids should not be glued to the TV or a Game Boy or even a computer (this goes for the parents posting on this Board too). However, there is nothing wrong with watching TV after homework is done and a long day at school.

Bellhop is right, lighten up. I get very annoyed when parents try to make their children "perfect" by eliminating the "evils" of television from their lives. It only creates undue anxiety which does no one any good. TV is a part of modern American life (this is not 1950 anymore) and a large part of our society is TV. I am not saying that they should be allowed to watch anything, but there is a lot of good TV out there that children can get good things out of. I suggest you read my post on the other thread on this subject. Jay

 

[cheyita]

Another parent backing up Bellhop.

Kids wake up early and put in a hard day at school, which also usually involves some physical activities (PE and recess) as well as lots of brain work. I don't insist my child do homework as soon as she walks in - she's had seven hours of work, she needs a few minutes to unwind too.

Sometimes she spends it playing with her sister. Sometimes she wants to watch Sponge Bob and have a snack. I figure, whatever, let her have a half-hour to herself to unwind. Then I can get on her about homework and encourage her to go outside and play in the warm weather.

I do ban TV in the morning before school.

 

[TheBellhop]

I never watch TV before school!

 

[JetMom]

I am not trying to make my children perfect, nor do I think that TV is evil. I watch TV quite a bit too.

My DS's get home from school at 4:00 p.m. and go to bed at 8:30 p.m. They have homework and chores to do, They have to eat dinner and take their bath/shower. They each have a scout meeting once a week and the two oldest ones have music lessons once a week. We also go to the library together once a week.

They are allowed 30 minutes a day to play video games or use the computer.

We have game night once a week where we take turns choosing a game to play together.

All in all, we are talking about an hour or so per day that I prefer them to spend playing with legos,or riding their bikes, or building models, or reading or using any of the hundreds of other toys that they have amassed through the years.

Like I said earlier, in our house this is not even an issue. Do you really think they are missing that hour a day of TV?

 

[MAC3]

Sorry but my child will.............

Oops I forgot my book at home.
I'm all done.
I just found out that we had this project.
Not do her reading.

She will find all sorts of excuses and I've seen her grades drop if I trust her to "Do the right thing" .
If she has nothing else to do it gets done.

If she could Prove to me that she could do the work with an hour of TV I'd allow it. But I've seen it for myself.

 

[TheBellhop]

Honestly; all my opinions are my own and I will hold them strongly

 

[JetMom]

Bellhop--I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it.

 

[TheBellhop]

Thanks!

 

[mom2boys]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
Honestly; all my opinions are my own and I will hold them strongly

And you should. Just as each of us will make the decision they feel is best for their children regarding TV.
My kids watch plenty on the weekends & I allow them to tape just about anything. Funny thing is - those taped shows don't seem nearly as earthshattering come the weekend.

Robin - I feel I owe you and the others an apology. I never meant for this thread to be highjacked. I think a support group for those of us who choose not to allow tv during school is an excellent idea.

 

[ducklite]

We pretty much had a "no junk tv" rule on school nights, but an hour or so on many evenings of something educational on The Learning Channel, The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, etc. or even Headline News or C-SPAN certainly was an hour well spent IMHO.

Anne

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
Honestly; all my opinions are my own and I will hold them strongly

Absolutely bellhop!!! As I know my childs abilities and strengths as well as her weaknesses. I am not trying to make her a "perfect" child. Nor do I think the telly is evil.

If she shows me that she can handle homework, dancing 3 nights a week, and the normal nightly routine. I'll gladly let her watch. I have yet to see that proof. It's my job to make sure that she gets an education.