When I was growing up there were educational kid shows on PBS in the morning, and silly cartoons on regular tv (I don't remember the station) after school. There weren't alot of choices, Mr. Rogers, Today's Special, etc..... But when they were on, I'd watch them or I wouldn't, when they weren't on I played outside or in my room. I didn't care if I missed them, I was not addicted to those shows.
Now PBS Kids is on ALL DAY until 5:30pm with a ton of different shows that my kids love, but annoy the crap out of me (ahem, barney, reading rainbow, and zaboomafoo!). Sometimes I have a hard time pulling the boys away from the tv to go to the park, or for a walk, or to eat lunch! But at least by 5:30 pm, thats it, its over, life resumes!
Not anymore!
Now we have satellite tv which came with a DVR with which we can pause, rewind, and record tv shows. And now it never ends.
Corbin has to go to the bathroom. "Pause it!"
Ivy has a doctors appointment, "I don't want to miss Curious George, record it!"
Dexter is screaming, "I can't hear, rewind it!"
Not to mention the shows that we record every once in a while just because they are on too early for Corbin to see, and I can't bring myself to wake him at 7:30am to watch them (ie. Special Agent Oso, and Martha Speaks).
The recorded shows come in very handy when we are bribing them to be good or something, which seems like a blessing, but may just be a curse in disguise. Now instead of finding myself free of cartoons by 5:30 and finally outside playing, I am stuck watching a recorded episode of Special Agent Oso at 8:00 pm to bribe the boys to put on their pajama's and go to bed. It's miserable.
How did I let my kids get so addicted to tv?! I have always tried to get them to play outside, or do other things, and we do, but if we are inside the house, they have to have the tv on. I feel like a slave to Curious George!
What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
TiVo - Blessing or Curse?
Posted by Rochelle Brunson at 11:00 AM
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10 comments:
Before I add my "thoughts" I have to say that I LOVE your new family picture!! Beautiful.
I agree that the TV is a blessing and a curse (but mostly a curse). We don't have TiVo yet -- and sometimes I wish we did, but mostly I'm glad. If we miss a show, oh well, too bad.
My children get up at 6:30 (crazy)and start watching PBS and yes, they don't do nearly enough outside play as they should. Some of the shows are educational (Word Girl, Martha Speaks, Super Why, but still...)
One thing I've found that helps cut down on the addiction is we just have certain hours where the TV is OFF. I actually have no idea what is on TV from 10am-3:30pm because the TV is resting. Then the big kids come home and watch one show and then it is off again for the rest of the afternoon (homework time). Now occasionally a movie will be popped in in the mid-morning if I have to get something done, but it is not the rule.
Last night my kids started playing horse (horse trainer, horse Dr., horse rider) after dinner and they kept at it for hours. We never turned the TV on the whole evening. It was so refreshing and unusual. I loved it. We need to do that more!
I use to hate the fact the we didn't have cable. I LOVE it now, the T.V. is on maybe 2 hours out of the day. The kids just go play outside or down stairs with toys. I wouls be scared if we dad have a DVR cause it would most likely be on all the time!!
I like the dvr for myself. when I am work I am able to watch some of the shows that I would have watched thought I find it usually takes me two to three weeks before find the time to watch them, with the exception of American Idol of course. I hate it because it is always 97% full and if is usually all Raymond's stuff, weapon masters, military channel, history channel, sci fi, and anything else I find completely boring. Luckily for me he is able to watch his crappy tv while I am at work.
We seem to go through this about once a year when it's finally hit a point its boiling over.
We don't have broadcast tv so the only tv my kids get are the movies we own or the movies we stream through netflix-which is actually a great assortment so my kids have a good amount they could watch. (Like you said, a blessing and a curse.)
We do tv a few times. For 30 minutes in the morning while my oldest is getting ready for school (to keep the younger ones entertained while I help the older one be on time). Then again sometime in the middle of they day. (Maybe right before dinner -if they're not outside, or right after dinner or something.)
I'm not terribly good at this but you could try.
Hide the controllers so you're the only one who can turn on/off, change shows. If they figure it out perhaps unplug the tv during no tv times.
Set it up like a bank account. They can earn points towards shows or amount of time watched by doing other things.
Block out certain times of no tv and be consistent. Tell them it's quiet time so they can go outside or up to their rooms or play quietly downstairs but the tv is having quiet time too until__.
I have an eery feeling I may have to try some of these next week when school is over.
Good luck!!!
Yes, TV is such a blessing and a curse. When I was a kid we had 3 channels we could watch, we had to walk up to the TV and flip the dial to get the station we wanted and cartoons only played for about an hour or so after school so we didn't have the choices kids have today. I agree that using it as a reward is helpful and I also limit the time they watch. I have heard of people giving out TV coupons for good behavior that their kids can redeem but this gets tricky with several children because if the TV is on they all watch it.
Bottom line is that each family has to have their individual system that works for them and the only one who knows what works for your family is you. Be firm but hang in there you are a great mom! PBS is a lot better than Nickelodeon.......
We started having that problem with on-demand cartoons on cable. Even Adam and I found we would stay up too late to watch TV too. There was only one solution for our family. No cable or TV period. The only thing we watch now are the netflicks that we rent. Our free time has opened up. Olivia doesn't ask to watch TV all the time, in fact she entertains herself better now because she has to read or play with toys if she wants something to do. I don't miss sleep for TV and we have found that our home is so peaceful without it. In fact it has been so long that I don't even miss it. Of course, I only have one child. I may act differently with more because sometimes the one-eyed babysitter is the only way to get things done: shower, cleaning, cooking etc. I feel ya. Good luck!
My kids only watch TV while I am in the shower. It's the only way that happens. Otherwise, it's not even an option.
Maybe if they knew exactly when they could watch and when they couldn't? My girls never ask to watch TV unless they know I'm getting in the shower. And then when you need a break you can use the TV to keep them distracted, and it's more of a treat for them.
If you do take away TV time and they complain about being bored, give them chores. That totally works for my kids. I bet Corbin is old enough for that. I don't know about Dexter though. . . anyway, the word bored is off limits at my house because they know that I will give them something to do.
Hope that gives you some ideas. Good luck.
I kind of laughed when I read the one about the word "bored" not being allowed. You were the one who was "bored" all of the time.
I guess I feel like the parents are the one's who decide's who watches what,and when. I think the one suggestion I liked was the coupon one. They can earn coupons to watch a program, like they have to play outside for a certain amount of time, to earn a coupon to watch a t.v. program. Or even some chore to earn coupons,whatever.
Good luck Chelle, I know Corbin would rather play "pretend" then to watch t.v., when I was watching them, and they loved to go for walk's. They are super kid's you'll figure it out.
My kids are tv watchers too - not that bad though. I do pause when Jake has to pee but that is about it. We usually have the tv off by 10:00 in the morning and then it comes back on around 4:00. I tell them there are no cartoons on after 6:00 and that seems to work.
I love our DVR and sad to say but I can't live without it now. It's just like anything else though like the computer etc. It can be very freeing and binding at the same time but it's still all in your hands. I hate that the TV is such an integral part of our day but at the end of it I still think the kids like to get out and do something. Good luck!
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