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

[Rock'n Robin]

I noticed on the "banning TV" thread that many parents are thinking this is a good idea. We always do "turn off TV week" in the spring and it works out well (except for DH). Does anyone think we should start a "NO TV during the school week" support group"?
We could come up with general guidelines, like no TV Monday-Thursday, special exceptions allowed (news events, olympics), parents have privileges the kids don't perhaps (for the news, after kids are in bed, etc.)
Perhaps if we all band together we can fight the one-eyed Monster.
Robin M.

 

[BrerMom]

5 PM Sunday to 5 PM Friday - no kid TV, no playstation (except DDR), no computer games. Friday evening is fair game IF the room is clean and the homework is done.

It doesn't make me most popular mom, but I never said I was running!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My children can only watch on the weekends. It was the best decision we ever made for our children. It is amazing how many other things that they can find to do with their time.

Lori

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by BrerMom
5 PM Sunday to 5 PM Friday - no kid TV, no playstation (except DDR), no computer games. Friday evening is fair game IF the room is clean and the homework is done.

It doesn't make me most popular mom, but I never said I was running!

I Love it!!!! I'm up for this one!

 

[miche61]

We had this rule the last 4-5 months of school last year. It worked out really well. The homework got done, there were fewer fights, if you can believe it, and much calmer kids. They could watch Fear Factor (THEIR fave- not mine) on Mondays, but there was no tv Mon- Thurs. It was awesome! We're doing the same this year too!! Love it!

Michelle

I forgot to add- we don't have Playstation, and computer is limited also.

 

[mom2boys]

I'll join you. The best thing we ever did was ban the tv on weeknights. This year I plan to limit week viewing hours as well - at the end of last school year it got to the point that they would rush home on Fri & park themselves in front of the tv or computer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Usually the tv got turned on in the morning for news & weather and at 10pm when I watch "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart.

Now the computer.....now there is our problem.

 

[TheBellhop]

Umm...I don't think that's a good idea...you guys must not think about the side of the kids...

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
Umm...I don't think that's a good idea...you guys must not think about the side of the kids...

You're only a month older than my daughter. I won't give you the "when you have kids" line, but I will say that you can learn an awful lot when you're not glued to a screen. And if it takes a parent to encourage that, so be it.

 

[TheBellhop]

Oh believe me I know that mantra! But what about TV in moderation?

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
Oh believe me I know that mantra! But what about TV in moderation?

That's what the weekends are for! So far, I haven't had to limit screentime on the weekends because they're busy with other things. Their little brother may change that, though. He does love his cartoons.

 

[BWVDenise]

Last school year I banned TV in the mornings before school and there is no TV after school until homework is done. There is no gameboy for my oldest (gameboy addict) during the school week at all. (So he is really playing it a lot during the summer!) Most of the time last year we ended up watching something as a family at night-- like Animal Planet or something educational, so I don't mind that.

 

[TheBellhop]

Oh man..this is CRAZY!!!

 

[missypie]

I'm the mom who banned TV Monday night. Yesterday my 13 yr. old called me "the Mom from H-E-double hockey sticks."

Last night we went to the National Night Out party at our local pool. When we got back - when they'd normally be parked in front of the TV - we all had a very cool conversation!!! DS had read the Newsweek article about dreams and I went down Newsweek's checklist of the most common recuring dreams and we all talked about whether we'd had those or not. Totally spontaneous, totally fun, and never would have happend had the TV been on. (DS 13 also would not have read his first Newsweek article ever if he'd been watching TV all afternoon.)

I've survived Day 1!

 

[MAC3]

That's what is all about! Now I want to read that article. Hang in there missypie. We're all with you on this one. Well except thebellhop that is.

 

[TheBellhop]

That's right!

 

[JetMom]

We have had a policy of no TV during the school week (Monday-Thursday) for 4 years now. This will be the 5th school year. It is no longer even a question at our house.

We also limit computer/video game time to 30 minutes per child on school days. We do TiVo things for the boys, so they can watch Survivor on Friday night instead of Saturday!

It's not really a big issue. Maybe it's because our boys were 7, 5, and 2 when we started, so they really don't have any basis for comparison.

 

[missypie]

Last year I made a "no Gameboy except on weekends" rule and amazingly, it was followed. On Friday night DS would whip that Gameboy out, but that's okay. Everyone needs down time.

I attempted the TV rule last year but caved early on. We'd all just discovered the "Who's Line is it Anyway" reruns on ABC Family and I wanted to watch them as much as the kids did. (Even mean mommies are human.)

 

[mom2boys]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
Umm...I don't think that's a good idea...you guys must not think about the side of the kids...

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.

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by mom2boys
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.