Nearly two years after TV limits removed
nellebelle
It has been nearly two years since I stopped limiting TV.
I have to share what happened tonight. It isn't the first time it happened either. I was so tired after dinner that *I* suggested we watch a movie. (Usually it is someone else suggesting that.) My 8 year old said please can't we play a game instead! This is a child who can watch TV whenever she wishes. When the entire family is home, she is much more likely to vote for playing a game than watching TV.
So we played yahtzee. When one child got a yahtzee, the other joined her in dancing for joy. Everyone was cheering when someone had a good turn and saying "oh too bad" but in a nice way when the roles weren't so great. And I won! I can't remember the last time I won at Yahtzee.
Mary Ellen
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I have to share what happened tonight. It isn't the first time it happened either. I was so tired after dinner that *I* suggested we watch a movie. (Usually it is someone else suggesting that.) My 8 year old said please can't we play a game instead! This is a child who can watch TV whenever she wishes. When the entire family is home, she is much more likely to vote for playing a game than watching TV.
So we played yahtzee. When one child got a yahtzee, the other joined her in dancing for joy. Everyone was cheering when someone had a good turn and saying "oh too bad" but in a nice way when the roles weren't so great. And I won! I can't remember the last time I won at Yahtzee.
Mary Ellen
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nellebelle
>>>> This is a child who can watch TV whenever she wishes. When the entire family is home, she is much more likely to vote for playing a game than watching TV.>>>I didn't mean to suggest that playing a game is always better than watching TV. I just wanted to put this out for those who are new to the idea of not limiting TV. It is one more example of a kid who does not have TV limits and does choose to do other things besides watch TV.
Mary Ellen
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Gary & Lisa Williams
Just another comment or two on the limiting topic...I just never had any
limits on much of anything and so my children never learned to think that
something was better than something else. Like cake vs. carrots at dinner
or games vs. TV for recreation. I never limited anything to make something
else look better. "If you don't eat those carrots, you can't have the cake."
In fact, when they were very small and noticed that I was making something
yummy and got excited, I'd put it right on their plate with the meat and
potatoes. Sometimes they would eat the cake first and then the meat. I
wanted them to see/understand that sometimes you want to eat cake and
sometimes you want the steak. Sometimes you want to read a book and
sometimes you want to watch TV. Sometimes you want to ride your bike and
sometimes you want to stay in and color. Neither choice is neccessarily
"bad" and your particular behavior doesn't make one thing better than
another. My husband has stories of falling asleep at the table because he
didn't finish his dinner and couldn't get down until he had done so. His
mom tries to withhold dessert from our kids if they don't "clean their
plate." I always override and "spoil" the kids! Geesh!
Lisa in IL
than watching TV.>>>
idea of not limiting TV. It is one more example of a kid who does not have
TV limits and does choose to do other things besides watch TV.
limits on much of anything and so my children never learned to think that
something was better than something else. Like cake vs. carrots at dinner
or games vs. TV for recreation. I never limited anything to make something
else look better. "If you don't eat those carrots, you can't have the cake."
In fact, when they were very small and noticed that I was making something
yummy and got excited, I'd put it right on their plate with the meat and
potatoes. Sometimes they would eat the cake first and then the meat. I
wanted them to see/understand that sometimes you want to eat cake and
sometimes you want the steak. Sometimes you want to read a book and
sometimes you want to watch TV. Sometimes you want to ride your bike and
sometimes you want to stay in and color. Neither choice is neccessarily
"bad" and your particular behavior doesn't make one thing better than
another. My husband has stories of falling asleep at the table because he
didn't finish his dinner and couldn't get down until he had done so. His
mom tries to withhold dessert from our kids if they don't "clean their
plate." I always override and "spoil" the kids! Geesh!
Lisa in IL
> on Fri, 7 Nov 2003 09:42:31 -0800entire family is home, she is much more likely to vote for playing a game
> "nellebelle" <nellebelle@... wrote:>
> >>>> This is a child who can watch TV whenever she wishes. When the
than watching TV.>>>
>watching TV. I just wanted to put this out for those who are new to the
> I didn't mean to suggest that playing a game is always better than
idea of not limiting TV. It is one more example of a kid who does not have
TV limits and does choose to do other things besides watch TV.
>
> Mary Ellen