Comments on: Coping with TV Addiction in a young child http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/ permaculture on the new home front Wed, 02 May 2012 10:35:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cathy http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-1193 Cathy Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:51:43 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-1193 I have had a similar experience with my 4 year old son. I found that I could not give him "some" tv as he would just beg and beg all day for more and mope around when he couldn't watch it. So this summer I cut him off cold turkey. With the wonderful but short summers we enjoy up here, it seemed appropriate. Wouldn't you know it, after a few days of being "bored" and "nothing fun to do" he turned back into a cheerful, imaginative child who enjoyed the outdoors, reading, visiting with me, and just participating with the family in regular daily activities such as talking to each other. ha ha! Now that summer is over (we live in Alaska) and we are indoors a lot, I have started to implement limited television viewing opportunities--a minute for minute exchange of outdoor time and a video. THese are pretty extreme outdoor temps that we deal with up here, but it encourages at least an attempt, even when it's 25 or 30 below celsius. Of course when weather is more mild in the fall and spring, the exchange may be more vigorous such as 2 or 3 minutes outdoors for 1 minute of tv. :) I have had a similar experience with my 4 year old son. I found that I could not give him “some” tv as he would just beg and beg all day for more and mope around when he couldn’t watch it. So this summer I cut him off cold turkey. With the wonderful but short summers we enjoy up here, it seemed appropriate. Wouldn’t you know it, after a few days of being “bored” and “nothing fun to do” he turned back into a cheerful, imaginative child who enjoyed the outdoors, reading, visiting with me, and just participating with the family in regular daily activities such as talking to each other. ha ha! Now that summer is over (we live in Alaska) and we are indoors a lot, I have started to implement limited television viewing opportunities–a minute for minute exchange of outdoor time and a video. THese are pretty extreme outdoor temps that we deal with up here, but it encourages at least an attempt, even when it’s 25 or 30 below celsius. Of course when weather is more mild in the fall and spring, the exchange may be more vigorous such as 2 or 3 minutes outdoors for 1 minute of tv. :)

]]> By: Ruth http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-323 Ruth Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:49:46 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-323 Can't believe I'm having to start thinking about this already when little babber is only 16 months - and I feel we've hardly watched any TV. But one weekend with me poorly and the Wimbledon final on, and he's taught himself to turn on the TV, sit on his little chair in front of the TV and grab the remote...just like Mummy does. Interesting to see that you've managed to turn your TV addict round so quickly. Good motivation for continuing my plan of it not becoming a habit. Can’t believe I’m having to start thinking about this already when little babber is only 16 months – and I feel we’ve hardly watched any TV. But one weekend with me poorly and the Wimbledon final on, and he’s taught himself to turn on the TV, sit on his little chair in front of the TV and grab the remote…just like Mummy does.

Interesting to see that you’ve managed to turn your TV addict round so quickly. Good motivation for continuing my plan of it not becoming a habit.

]]> By: ackers http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-325 ackers Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:20:22 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-325 The child in question is now a totally different character after just a few tv-free weeks. He joins in, he plays games, he reads and reads and reads. we are busy trying to determine the tv watching rules for the sumemr holidays and so far we have agreed that it will probably be limited to CBeebies Bedtime Hour after their bath while I am getting the baby to bed. The child in question is now a totally different character after just a few tv-free weeks. He joins in, he plays games, he reads and reads and reads. we are busy trying to determine the tv watching rules for the sumemr holidays and so far we have agreed that it will probably be limited to CBeebies Bedtime Hour after their bath while I am getting the baby to bed.

]]> By: donna http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-324 donna Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:53:45 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2008/07/09/coping-with-tv-addiction-in-a-young-child/#comment-324 a great post! really interesting i know what you mean about the tv. i'm guilty too of using it as a babysitter but then not wanting it to take over, tricky getting the balance right. i liked what you said about maintaing the outdoor play time through the holidays as "planned " activity. i think i'll make a conscious effort to do this, we tend to spend quite a bit of time outside but the more the better i think- should wear them out and i think they seem to be happier and play better outside for some reason. thank-you for your inspiration! a great post! really interesting i know what you mean about the tv. i’m guilty too of using it as a babysitter but then not wanting it to take over, tricky getting the balance right. i liked what you said about maintaing the outdoor play time through the holidays as “planned ” activity. i think i’ll make a conscious effort to do this, we tend to spend quite a bit of time outside but the more the better i think- should wear them out and i think they seem to be happier and play better outside for some reason. thank-you for your inspiration!

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