Alan & Brenda Leonard

> I guess the point is to get them out of the
> house and into the world, doing "stuff", playing etc. etc.

Jenny,

I can relate. I like rules, too. They make me feel in control. Hang
around here too long, though, and you start understanding that the whole
point is giving your kids control. Many of my rules are gone these days. I
miss a couple of them, but we're much better off.

If you want your children to choose stuff other than TV, offer other good
options. Take trips, get out the craft supplies, see if anybody will play a
game with you. But also expect that children need down time, too. My son
prefers not to watch TV, but there are days I'd love to throw the gameboy
out (even though it's wonderful for so many other reasons...). But some
days he wants nothing more than that. Gotta be a reason for it. My child
makes sense in other areas, so I have to trust him in this one.

brenda