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Barb.b
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| Posted: Aug 13 2012 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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OK - no judging pleas ! I know I shouldn't have but my 9 yr old ds has definitely gotten into a too much tv habit this summer. Basically it started because I had a move (single mom move - oh all the packing, moving unpacking) ANYWAY, yes I was too lenient. Now as I am starting school next week - any hints from moms who may have been in a similar situation. Hints to help him limit tv ( I'd like to get him down to 2 or 3 1/2 hour shows a day at first). Also, he is my more difficult child to limit - gets addicted to his shows ( I definitly limit WHAT he can watch) and gets addicted easily to 2 ipad games (angry birds and Ice age village). He also is my more emotional child - you know - try to set new limits and he is off crying because he thinks I am mad and how against him we all are. . . I am thinking maybe just cold turkey - 2 or 3 times a day of tv and some time limit of the non educational iPad per day. Or I may initiate a system to earn tv time.
Any hints at what worked for you ladies would be a BIG help.
Barb
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 13 2012 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
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Maybe give him something instead of taking away tv time?
Have a list of activities or boxes of stuff (a game, a craft etc) that you can give him to do instead of tv except during the times he's allowed on the tv. You'll want to gradually wean him off that too.. but by giving him things to do in particular you can make it about giving him this new thing to do instead of just taking away the tv.
The tv has to go off because it's time to pick a new box! (said very enthusiastically) 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Mimip
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| Posted: Aug 13 2012 at 7:13pm | IP Logged
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Barb,
Absolutely no judgement here since my children watched way too much tv here this summer too.
I so agree with Jodie, replace tv with something else. Schedule his time by pegs.
For example: In the morning, we are doing legos, an art craft and going to the library. In the afternoon we are going to read a cool book, cut up and make a collage and then play with your favorite toy.
We did this exact thing starting a few weeks ago when I realized just how much my kids had been watching tv. I replaced it little by little and then cold turkey. They still watch a 1/2 hour episode of something while I prepare dinner from 5 to 5:30 but that is only if they have everything else (including chores) done.
Which brings up a great point, make sure he is doing physical activity too. If you have a yard, exercise is a must to get his body going. If not, sidewalk chalk is super cheap this time of year and he could get really creative!
Good Luck!
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Aug 13 2012 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies! Just had a talk with ds and said we need to plan mom and ds fun time for each day. So he picked playing a card game. I gave him other ideas - art, cooking with me, games, legos. . .
Thanks for jogging my bain! Moving really did me in!!!
Barb
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Claire F
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| Posted: Aug 13 2012 at 10:29pm | IP Logged
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Those are great ideas - doing something with him and giving him other alternatives.
What helped me was to have definite times when the TV can and can't be on. I used to be fairly loosey-goosey about when I'd let them watch TV - sometimes in the mornings, sometimes not. Sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes not. Mine were watching way more than I wanted, so we said no TV on weekdays until it is time to cook dinner. My oldest declared it the "worst idea you've ever had," but really it went over ok with minimal complaining.
The important thing, for me, was to have our limits on TV clearly defined so I could just say, "Nope, not until later," or "Sure, now is fine," without having to think, "Hmm, how much TV have they watched today; should I let them watch now?" It has kept ME in line, which was the problem before  .
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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Kathryn
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Yep...no judging here. I could take some of these ideas myself (and for myself! )
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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3ringcircus
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Good ideas! ...and I needed to hear them too.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
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Erica Sanchez
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
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Me, too.
We are leaving for a week-long camping trip soon and I thought I would just use that to wean everyone off. I like the idea of waiting until dinner is being prepared!
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Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 16 2012 at 4:51am | IP Logged
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Claire F wrote:
| The important thing, for me, was to have our limits on TV clearly defined so I could just say, "Nope, not until later," or "Sure, now is fine," without having to think, "Hmm, how much TV have they watched today; should I let them watch now?" It has kept ME in line, which was the problem before . |
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I've found that whenever we are 'cracking down' on 'screen time', which is perodical  it helps me to not only have a defined amount of time, but a natural buffer end time to enforce my self-discipline.
To explain, when I say "one hour and then off" umm sometimes I'm distracted and one hour becomes longer. When I say "No screen till 5pm and only once jobs and showers are done" then dinner makes a definite buffer and one hour is one hour.
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martinas6
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We have tv time here. It starts at 5:00pm. The rule is, if they turn it on or even ASK to turn it on, I push the start time back an our. It takes time to get used to the rule. About 2 weeks for them to know not to ask. We're just used to it now & it feels strange if the tv is on in the house before 5:00. The weekends are more relaxed and they really appreciate and enjoy hanging out &watching tv without fighting over who gets to watch what. (I think they're just glad it's on, they'd watch infomercials at this point!
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 6:34am | IP Logged
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Barb.b wrote:
Thanks ladies! Just had a talk with ds and said we need to plan mom and ds fun time for each day. So he picked playing a card game. I gave him other ideas - art, cooking with me, games, legos. . .
Thanks for jogging my bain! Moving really did me in!!!
Barb |
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I have read in a couple different places that if you cut back on TV time, you must replace the TV with yourself and give kids your attention. Great advice- some days easier than others, though, right?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: too much tv
