Our TV broke 2 years ago; and while we occasionally are “tempted” to replace it — we remind ourselves how much time was wasted when we had it. Now, we have a portable DVD player and allow the children to watch at most 1 video per day. They often go four or five days without watching anything though. It is not a habitual part of our lives; and we get so busy playing and reading that we forget to request the one allowed video. We do also enjoy a family movie night every other weekend or so. We usually prefer a family game night; and have recently been enjoying dominoes.
The hardest thing I found was finding things to fill the need of keeping the children occupied while I cook supper. Now what we do is only allow play dough during that time; and also I trained the children to sit quietly and read for 30 minutes whenever I needed organized quiet. I trained them simply by setting the example; we practiced for a week or so and I read to myself at the same time. I would say, “Everyone Find Four Books and Your Own Couch or Chair.” Those who did not want to sit quietly and were disobedient were given extra little errands or chores. They learned pretty quickly to enjoy that time; and now look forward to it. When I trained my older children to do this; they were not avid readers at all; so it was really sitting quietly and looking at a stack of pictures books. Now they are reading fluently and constantly; but they still enjoy this time, because it is one of the rare times when the youngest members are also quiet!
We have never had cable; and once we had been “away” from prime time television for a few months we realized how raunchy, disrespectful, and downright sinful the humor had become. We found we no longer had an appetite for shows that portrayed disrespectful spouses, disobedient children, or under-dressed women in the workplace.
It has been an interesting journey, and we still look at television ads in the newspaper occasionally with wistfulness. One thing that helps me a great deal is keeping a copy of The Plug-In Drug: Television, Computers, and Family Life on my shelf and re-reading it every once in a while. It is fascinating and powerful. It has been reprinted and is now available from Amazon for about $12.
Finally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Phillipians 4:8
I really liked your post. I lived witout TV for a number of years and, although I have it now, all I watch is the news and the Christian stations. Most of the time it's tuned to UCB UK which is a Christian radio station.
Laura
http://oldfashionedgirl-uk.blogspot.com/
We don't watch much, but i have one child who still asks to watch and has a huge appetite for it. We do watch Mr. Rogers about three times a week and i occasionally watch the news, but then wish i hadn't as it is just depressing. Our set is very, very old and i just wait for the day it will break down.
I have been struggling with TV for about 3 years now. My husband feel the need to have the TV on nearly 24-7. Today he was complaining about the cable bill and I once again said, I would be okay if we cancelled the cable, one less bill in my mind.
I just pray that GOD will tell/show him all the family time we could be spending instead of watching ESPN nonstop :)
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
on my shelf and re-reading it every once in a while. It is fascinating and powerful. It has been reprinted and is now available from Amazon for about $12.
