On Limiting T.V. & Creating T.V. Cravings

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Seeking_Wisdom

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Our children are allowed to select 1 hr. T.V./day between them. However, this seems to have had an unexpected negative effect. My children seem to crave T.V., and I wonder if we have created that craving by somehow making it more desireable. I feel if I were to say, “you can watch as much T.V. as you want”, our children would turn it on and leave it on all day. My sisters children have few limits on # of T.V. watching hours and rarely want to watch T.V. Any thoughts or recommendations?
 
Pull the plug (especially cable). Even EWTN isn’t worth the almost neurological damage TV does to the mind via the constant jerking of attention between programming and commercials and by the sleaze level of even mainstream broadcast TV. People worry that their children will be out of step with their peers – consider that a plus! The things you and your kids will do without it will be so much more rewarding.We’ve had the TV OFF (still watch self-selected videos) for four years. It took about 2 months to wean down to 0 but it was well worth it.
 
Really, couldn’t you say that about ANYTHING? Sugar? Fast food? Toys? etc…

Limits are good, and kids need/want limits, even if they initially oppose them.
 
My solution was to get totally rid of the TV. The kids never mentioned it after a week. They get a dose now and then at someone else’s house.
 
Well… you could say it about fast food. A child doesn’t NEED fast food.

Sugar is naturally occurring and toys are something children will make for themselves if they don’t have them. But TV and fast food are totally un-needed and likely harmful when seen as anything other then the occasional treat.

That said we own a TV. We don’t have cable and the children are only allowed to watch the occasional DVD.

one hour a day is 7 hours a week. That is really a lot of time.

If this is something you just started give it some time. Once they figure out other things to do with their time they will be fine.

-D
 
Darcee, she was asking about limits, and of course we all put limits on TV time, sugar intake, and buying material items. That’s where my comparison came from. 🙂
 
Seeking Wisdom:
Our children are allowed to select 1 hr. T.V./day between them. However, this seems to have had an unexpected negative effect. My children seem to crave T.V., and I wonder if we have created that craving by somehow making it more desireable. I feel if I were to say, “you can watch as much T.V. as you want”, our children would turn it on and leave it on all day. My sisters children have few limits on # of T.V. watching hours and rarely want to watch T.V. Any thoughts or recommendations?
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Our limits are much higher especially during the summer and our kids still crave TV when their limit is up. There always seems to be just one more show they can’t miss. Every once in a while we just say “ok no TV for 24 hours”
Limits are necessary 1hr is fine if that’s what you are comfortable with the point is you are teaching them that there are limits to what they can do, be it TV, candy whatever. When they get older they will better understand and impose limits on their own like no sex outside of marriage.
If you let them have anything they desire now why would they think they should not give into any desire when they get older.
 
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MamaAtHome:
Darcee, she was asking about limits, and of course we all put limits on TV time, sugar intake, and buying material items. That’s where my comparison came from. 🙂
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Now here I thought you were replying to the second post 😉

-D
 
My husband and I have been married 5 years. We have two children, 2 and 1, and one more on the way. From the beginning of our marriage, we have not subscribed to cable, satellite, etc., because I don’t watch that much, (I feel it’s too much of a time waster), and my husband worked a lot. We felt we couldn’t justify the $30/month expense for basically nothing. The tv is only set up for movies from the VCR. I would not even bother having a tv except my husband is a movie fanatic.

Now my 2-yr-old LOVES tv, but I limit it severely. When I lay my 1-yr-old down to nap, I allow him to watch about 30 minutes while I sneak a little doze or rest with her. This is it. Yet he still bugs me (I guess when he’s bored), “watch wee-wee??” I simply tell him no and he finds something else to do. I absolutely must preview everything he watches. Especially if my husband insists on starting a grown-up movie while he is still awake.

I don’t think it’s just tv. Everytime we pass McDonald’s, he wants a hamburger, even if he’s just eaten. We don’t eat at McDonald’s that much, he just sees it as something he likes and why not ask for it? If he wants a snack, he always asks for juice, applesauce, cookies, or anything else sweet. I simply say no, you may have cheese or carrots, and he chooses from those. Any fits result in no snack.

Don’t worry about the craving tv. I do not allow it on unless I feel it’s necessary to keep him a little quiet while I get sister to sleep. If he fusses or throws a fit for it, I simply say no, hand a few books and tell him to look at those while I lay sissy down. Usually there’s no problem.

Keep up the good limits!
 
I struggle with the same problem. My opinion is that my kids crave what they have already had, not what they don’t know they’re missing. Thus, if I started out without such strict limits, then imposed them, the kids mind more than if they never were held to the looser standard. I also think they ask for more TV than they’re “allowed” because they know I give in occasionally. I think that if you (and by you I mean I should try it too 😛 ) treat repeated requests for TV they know they can’t have as whining and discipline them as you would for whining, they’ll move on. I also agree that for some kids, eliminating the TV altogether is the only way to eliminate cravings. But I think it’s a personallity thing, and it’s a rule that follows with overeating, over-drinking etc. Some people are the type who over indulge once given a taste of whatever it is. Others can be content just to taste.

Speaking of feeling “out of step” with other kids, yes I suspect that will be troubling to many kids who have TV limited. I felt out of step for the same reasons even into my 20’s. But by the time I had my own kids, I finally realized being “out of step” was worth it. So accept the fact that your kids may take years and years before they appreciate being sheltered, they may feel a bit isolated and lonely because of it, but they are still being protected, and it IS worth it!
 
I really do not have a specific TV limit. I find my kids generally want to watch when bored. When I offer to read them a story- they ALWAYS prefer that. When I offer to get the paints or play doh out- they ALWAYS pick that. Ditto for- going out back to play, going to the zoo, playground, etc… If I have something I must get done (in the house, but can’t directly supervise paint, or read a book at the same time, etc.), and they are asking for it- they can turn on the TV. I rarely have to say “No TV” or “No more TV”, I just suggest something better. It could be though, that I am just lucky that they prefer so many things over TV.

All that said- a couple of months ago, we all got a stomach bug, and the day I had it, the TV was on ALL day :eek: 👍

I think limits are important, but there are hard ways to set them (on minor issues) and easy ways- I prefer the easy 😃 .

When I talk to parents of older children (ie- teens) I am often reminded how small issues like TV time and sugar are 😉 . I’ll fight bigger battles :).
 
But I think it’s a personallity thing, and it’s a rule that follows with overeating, over-drinking etc. Some people are the type who over indulge once given a taste of whatever it is. Others can be content just to taste.
!

ThyKingdomCome

This is an interesting observation. We don’t have cable, & our children are only allowed to select from a handful of PBS programs or parent approved videos. They have never known any thing different (our oldest is 9 years).

The reason I find your comments interesting is that there are several people in my family that overindulge as you mentioned. You should see those few eat when we get together as if they had been starving; they are totally oblivious to those around them. This applies to other behaviors as well but not to everybody in that family. Whatever is done is done to excess.

Maybe it is strongly linked to personality, and we need to work with our children on developing the skills necessary to deal with the excessiveness which can come with this aspect of their personality.

Thanks to all the responses. Everybody has been very helpful.
 
Seeking Wisdom:
Our children are allowed to select 1 hr. T.V./day between them. However, this seems to have had an unexpected negative effect. My children seem to crave T.V., and I wonder if we have created that craving by somehow making it more desireable. I feel if I were to say, “you can watch as much T.V. as you want”, our children would turn it on and leave it on all day. My sisters children have few limits on # of T.V. watching hours and rarely want to watch T.V. Any thoughts or recommendations?
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don’t you dare give in, usless you wish to be haunted by a space ghost… just kidding… but i would make rewarding a negative response the last choice…in fact, don’t let it be any choice… turn the tables, make their tv watching as part of a reward system for charitable works (good works) if you will… don’t increase their watching time… don’t get too liberal on what they see either… stick to your guns… you have made the right decisions… i support you… what more needs to be said… 👍
 
Ahh…a subject near and dear to my heart (at the moment).

DH and I have been discussing TV and our three month-old the last day or so. Have any of you heard of the Baby Einstein videos? They are apparently videos for young babies to watch. Now, when I think of putting Joseph down in front of the TV for an infant video, every fiber of my being revolts. Does that not sound wrong to anyone else but me? I mean, who markets videos to infants?

My husband doesn’t see anything wrong with them, so long as they don’t have the quick scene changes and such that have been purported to cause ADD or whatever. (We don’t necessarily believe that it does or does not, we just don’t want to find out the hard way that it does). I don’t even want him to see them, but hubby doesn’t understand why. The thought of seeing my three month-old entranced by the TV scares me! We have already “caught” him watching TV when we sit down to watch the occasional show or movie, and the look on his face and in his eyes bothers me. It’s like the TV has put a spell on him. We make it a point to ensure he is looking the other way when we do watch any TV or movies now. Most of the time he just nurses to sleep when we do, anyway.

My idea has always been no TV during the week for the kids and a family movie night on Saturday or Sunday. Who knows if it will work. It might be too strict. Of course, the thought of getting rid of the TV entirely has crossed my mind before, but we want it for hockey and for movies. Besides, it was a wedding gift from my parents!

Anyway, does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

God bless,
Krista
 
I wonder how many here have a “pull the plug” and throw that demon set away outlook, have the same feelings toward ANY use of tobacco, gambling, alcohol, etc…cause it sounds like it… 😦

If the kids are young, ewtn IS too mature for them to understand and kids like colors, animation etc…hey…so do I! 😛

and EWTN IS worth keeping a set for 👍

Instead of restricting it to just 1 hour, ie time limits…how about allowing them to each pick 3 favorite shows a week to watch?

Have them do their homework, any chores, and then reward them with some of the favorite shows…

and if they’re extra good.let em watch one of their favorite videos… moderation, monitoring and perspective is much harder than just “gittin ridda that demon tv”… but your kids shouldnt grow up in denial of every little thing that could bring pleasure to them neither…everything can be used for bad…should we all just join a monastery and deny ourselves…or perhaps, just decide to how to effectively use the technology God gave us?
 
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