Saturday, October 25, 2008

Mission aborted

From my previous post, you saw that we were gong to disconnect ourselves entirely from the media flowing into our household.
I decided to go a different way.
I know, but what do you expect? I am a Gemini after all.

Instead of terminating our services, which was going to affect my business, we are simply enforcing more viewing rules and guidelines than before (and before, I actually was pretty strict about what and how much TV was watched). They do not ever have unmonitored access to the Internet so that isn't a worry for us yet, but now they are not allowed to turn the tube on until 7 p.m, and bedtime is 8. If they are engaged doing something interactive, such as (gasp!) playing together, then of course I will not interrupt. Heck, I might sell tickets, so rare would the attraction be!

But seriously, I think children are mostly adversely affected by the media. I realize that there are educational channels and some benefits to viewing, but as with anything it must be closely monitored and in moderation. Their little bodies need to be active and challenging their imaginations. When I was young, we looked forward to going outside and playing with friends, riding bikes, climbing trees, playing tag - just whatever. Granted, there wasn't the choice of channels that are now offered with cable TV. No Disney channel or Nick Jr.


During different times throughout my childhood, my mother used to actually get books from the library (long chapter books) and gather us together in the evenings, my brother, my father and me, and read aloud. This is a fond memory for me,one I draw upon when I am molding my little family unit in the way I want it to be. In this busy, fast-paced world, it is often hard to imagine carving out a whole hour for such an activity, right? But, these types of interactions with our children is what they grow up and cherish as loving memories. Course, the trips to Disney World didn't cause too much harm...(grinning).

Anyway, a lot of this comes in the wake of my 5 year old daughter saying to me the other day that she is fat. Fat. My response to her was a bit manic, perhaps too animated in my effort to sway her to the opposite opinion of herself but I was caught off guard. How can my little girl be plagued by those worries already? Is it her friends? Her peers? The commercials on TV? The magazines she loves to thumb through and try to read?

So, onward.
There are books to be read, Monopoly and CandyLand await us.
This might actually be fun.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Kill your TV

We are going to do it.

Until the New Year, or longer if we are into it by then, my kids and I are going to no longer watch TV. I am testing to see if the atmosphere of the home changes - less arguing, fighting, trance-like drooling (not really, but still). I am canceling cable and internet until Jan.1, 2009 (kind of like a backwards resolution). The boys can still play the occassional video game and we will watch a DVD every now and then, but no mindless TV shows.
This is going to be a challenge for the entire family, as I am certainly as addicted to certain shows as they are, but anyone like s good challenge. I think we will miss Survivor the most, as that has been a long-standing tradition in our house on Thursday evenings, but there will always be another season. I, of course will miss the internet more than I can explain, reading blogs and emails, having information at my fingertips, but hey, 10 years ago, I barely knew what it was and certainly was fine then.

If any of you are game - - jump on board with us!
I will be making weekly visits to the library for emails due to my business, so if you decide to take the challenge with us, send me an email and we can compare notes throughout!

Adios!