Danny is a TV Junkie! He would turn it on first thing in the morning, and throw a fit if you turned it off at all during the day. This lovely habit happened while I was recovering from having Tiana. Last weekend I had enough. No longer am I "Recovering and Exhausted Mom." So last Monday I took control.
We no longer turn the TV on in the morning. For the first two days, it was really hard on Danny. However, as the weaning from the television continued, I found that he became a much happier child. He listens better, and he plays better too. His imagination is taking off, and he is finally interested in books. He has now become accustomed to being read to every day, and he loves it. Oddly, he is also going to bed earlier (usually around 8pm) and sleeping in later!
This has improved me as a Mom, because I have to pay more attention to him. I play more, I am happier, and I am more creative too!
I am very careful to keep the TV completely off until the late afternoon or evening. About the time I start thinking about making dinner, then I let him choose a Disney movie or one of the awesome educational shows I have on tape. Sometimes I wait until my Mother In Law gets home, so that he plays with them before becoming glued. This allows me to make dinner uninterrupted. It has been a wonderful thing for us!
6 years ago
3 comments:
That is awesome! We completely got rid of our TV almost 5 months ago, and I can't even begin to explain the benefits we have experienced! Only I was the one with the TV addiction, not Caleb! ;)
I've had to cut back Emmy's tv time, too. It's so easy to just turn on the tv and have them entertained but I always feel guilty when I do that. So I try not to turn on the tv until afternoon or evening, too. Their creativity needs to be flowing at all times!!!
Yup. Yup. Yup.
My best decision was limiting their TV time.
And I'm thinking about making them earn movies. Then I could get chores out of them.
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