Today I made a new rule at our house. No television on school nights, at all. I’ll say up front that I am not a fan of television at all. It really does not hold my interest and I find the noise in the background distracting. I always find it funny when people say that they turn the tv on for background noise because they hate the complete quiet of the house when no one is home. Because I revel in the silence.
I had been allowing the kids to turn the tv on when they were done with their homework, but I noticed that this was causing a couple of problems. Namely kids who were rushing through their work so that they could be the first one to get the remote, or kids who “forgot” that they had homework until it was almost bedtime, or kids who were actually doing their homework but were distracted by the tv in the background. So now the simple rule is no tv during the week. It certainly makes my job easier as there is no negotiating.
Does anyone else restrict tv viewing during the week? Do you give out tv hours as rewards for chores or grades? I was thinking of doing something like that for my younger children, but not exactly sure how I would implement it. And what do you do when the weekend comes? Is it a tv viewing free-for-all?
We do not allow the tv to go on until homework is done, and the detritus of the day (backpack papers/announcements/random crud) has been organized and the backpack is ready to go for the next day. Which means very little tv gets watched during the school week. We used to allow the younger child to watch while the older one did homework, but we ran into the same problems…distraction, rushing, arguing, etc.
On weekends, we loosen it up. But tv makes my son wild (ADHD issues) so it is still parceled out for OUR sanity.
Comment by Ani — September 1, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
We watch very little TV, especially on school nights. This was also the case during the summer months, too, though. I find very few things on the TV anymore that are worth watching, so the best thing to do is just keep it off.
I fully agree, silence is Uh.Maz.Ing.!
Comment by Phoebe @ Cents to Get Debt Free — September 1, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
We’ve recently moved to a “no electronic media” on weeknights rule. This means no TV, video games, non-work/school related computer use. This was a hard call for me, because unlike many parents I know, I find that there are good skills learned in playing video games. Additionally, it’s important to me for both my children to be very comfortable with many forms of electronic media — and using them for fun is an important and primary way of ensuring that comfort.
BUT, while neither of mour kids is diagnosed ADHD (per Ani’s post), we also find that TV and video games get them riled up. I read somewhere that it encourages the production of adrenaline, without providing an outlet for it. What we noticed was that the kids had a much harder time settling down for bed on week nights that included media use – but primarily TV watching or video-game playing.
So two weeks ago, we started collecting the Nintendo DS players, Leapsters, Wii paraphanalia, etc., and putting it “away” on Sunday nights. We don’t have cable, so any DVDs we’ve checked out/rented are also “put away” for the week. We pull it out again on Friday nights, and often play games together to relax at the end of the week.
We have not ever used any TV or media as a reward for behavior or homework completion – something I’m hesitant to do because those activities are so sedentary. We are more likely to use family outings as rewards – park trips, pool trips, bike rides, bowling, etc. We feel like these types of rewards underscore some of our personal key values — that family time is a treasure, and physical activity is something to be excited about.
My kids are 6 and 8, though — so I’m sure what works now will be outdated before I know it.
Comment by Annie — September 1, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
We have a no-TV in the morning unless all chores/bag-packing/getting dressed etc has been done. That usually leaves them with about 15minutes of TV. In the afternoon, no TV or computer games until all homework is done. We do have problems with rushing but not because the TV etc is on so much, but because they want to get the most time on TV/computer as they can. I am very close to banning TV/computer during the week or at least saying that they can watch after 5pm (which would only give them about 30mins anyway before more chores are required), but my husband disagrees, so we are in ongoing “discussions” about it. THe morning routine works well, the afternoon, not so much.
Comment by sarah — September 1, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
We went through a similar situation in past years, where my 3 sons would rush through (or not even bother doing!) homework in order to watch tv/play video games and my resolution to this was to restrict as well. There is no television allowed in the mornings because they lag in getting their morning chores done and getting ready for school. In the evenings, tv/video games do not get turned on until 6pm, regardless of when homework’s done and they get turned off at 8pm. This allows 3 boys 2 hrs to figure out who’s watching tv and who’s playing videogames. One night a week, that doesn’t apply because we have Boy Scouts until 8:30pm and most evenings one or another (sometimes all 3) have a sport they’re involved in which pushes homework off a bit and impacts tv time too. Weekends are truly the only occasion they get a chunk of time to commit to electronics but I monitor that too, because I’d prefer to see them reading or spending time outside. I’d prefer not to have a television at all but I think my hubby might stage a revolt!
Comment by Nikki — September 1, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
My kids earn nickels on school days for doing specific things like getting dressed on time, cleaning their rooms before bed, etc. They can then use the nickels to buy “electronic time” in 5 minute increments. On the weekends, they don’t have to pay for electronic time. I’ve found that they spend nickels on Monday, but aren’t spending any by Friday. Then they get to save what they haven’t used and earn trips to the dollar store to spend their nickels. So far it’s working well, but my kids are only 8 & 5.
Comment by Jennifer Lanehart — September 2, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
I don’t let mine watch it till bed. After school they do homework and snack then go outside till dinner. After dinner bath and movie. I have 2 kids so one picks one night and the other the next. They have this choice or they can play for an hour quietly coloring or reading a book before bed but it seams to get them calmed down in bed and ready to go to sleep easier. If they are in trouble at school that day they get skipped on their turn to watch tv and have to do homework and less time to play. The only downfall to this is that they share a room so punishing one with no tv for the night doesn’t work when the other was great that day. Hopefully they will have their own rooms soon and that problem will be solved.
Comment by christina — September 3, 2009 @ 10:39 am
We don’t watch any TV (or use any media) during the weekdays, for many of the reasons listed above. My biggest challenge was in transitioning the kids from TV to any other task. They were a whining, crying mess. On Friday evening we have a family movie night–pizza and a DVD. On Saturday mornings they can watch 1 hour of cartoons. Sometimes we will also enjoy sports games or another family movie on a rainy day. Life is much more peaceful, relaxed and creative. Now, I have to admit that in the summer time, I do let them watch between 30 min. to 1 hour a day while I exercise or take care of important phone calls. I don’t miss it at all and the kids accept the routine without question–it is just one more back-to-school adjustment.
Comment by Robin — September 3, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
I have three kids, all in school. No TV, no computer (unless being used for homework), no video games, no anything until snacks & homework have been completed and put away; planners signed, forms filled out, notes read, lunchboxes emptied, etc… etc… All have to be done before the TV comes on. Three nights out of five, there is a sports event/practice of some kind for someone in the house, and we’re usually getting ready for that with dinner shortly before, so we’re rushed enough without having the TV as a distraction.
We have a DVD system in our cars, so when we’re running all over town for various practices & games, they watch DVDs (helps mom keep her sanity while driving!), and that’s really more than enough for a week.
On the weekends, if chores are done and errands completed, they are allowed to use the computer, play games, watch tv, etc… We live in Florida and they spend a lot of time outside, and right now the heat and humidity can be draining, so it’s actually a nice break to be able to sort of collapse in front of the TV for some mindless entertainiment. Moderation is key, as in all things.
Comment by Missy — September 7, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Nope, no telly on school nights, only at the weekends in the morning. i actually ban all screens, that is, DS, platstations and computer9only homework)until the weekend. After doing all that so much in the Summer, they are really annoyed now they are back to school, but they won’t be long in finding other things to do.
Comment by J from Ireland — September 7, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
I can’t stand having the TV on. I used to watch it with my husband to catch the news and weather, but I found it to be more entertainment than educated current events. So now I subscribe to the WallStreet Journal and found myself better educated, current and not having to put up with whines about television. The kids do not get to watch television during the day or school week. They can watch their shows on the weekends and we always have NETFLIX movies of the most recent releases.
Comment by Crystal — September 7, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
You all have made some very valid points and after reading this post, I am implementing a NO TV during the week rule starting today. Thank you for the ideas, I think this will work for me!
Comment by Tiababy — September 9, 2009 @ 7:55 am
We don’t have much time for TV, anymore, and have been nearly tv-less for a few years (since starting elementary school) and even before that-we were limited the time that shows to watch were on. Most of my kids’ 8 years of life have been with the tv off or on a music channel; and not MTV-type but those ones that are music and a still picture. lol
Standard around here is that the kids get up pretty early (around 6am, give or take 15 mins) and they head into our bed (if they aren’t already there lol) for good morning hugs and tv watching while my husband and I catch a few extra zzzz’s. When it’s time to get ready for the day (school, church or just to UP), the tv goes to music (children’s music like Raffi, Greg & Steve, etc, or Christian Rock) and we are out of there. For a couple years, we didn’t have cable in the bedroom and then early morning was reading during the week or videos on the weekends. Living room TV is off or one of those 2 music channels.
Comment by Anonymous — September 13, 2009 @ 12:31 am
Last year, I decided to limit the tv during the week. I soon realized there were other issues, namely the ones you mentioned. This year, there is no tv on weeknights. Period. It isn’t up for debate. There isn’t much time between getting home from school/work and going to bed! My child has approx. 3 hours to complete homework, eat dinner, bathe and get ready for bed and make sure everything is together for the next day. No tv has made it much easier to complete everything without an argument about watching the rest of a show! She can watch tv on the weekends if we are at home and even then I sometimes say “I think you’ve had enough tv today.”
Comment by Jennifer — September 21, 2009 @ 5:29 pm