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Topic: No TV Questions

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Dawnie
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Posted: July 12 2006 at 1:09pm \| IP Logged

For those of you who do not watch TV...

We put our TV away about a year ago. We still have one, it's just in a cabinet in the basement storage room, so it has to be set up in order to watch anything. We haven't got it out much b/c this is such a hassle. I have been wondering how others handle TV-watching when they are in other people's homes. This is usually not a problem for us, but when my dc go over to Grandma's house, they always want to turn on the Cartoon Network, which has a lot of violent and kind of vulgar cartoons. I really don't want them watching this kind of stuff...but I'm not sure how to handle it.

So how do you handle it when you're at someone else's house and there is something on TV you don't want your dc to watch?

Dawn

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Meredith
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Posted: July 12 2006 at 1:51pm \| IP Logged

This is a really good question. The cartoon network is horrific

I'm pretty bold, and so is my dh, if we are staying at a hotel and go down to breakfast and there's a news or talk show on, he'll just walk over and turn it off. People just kind of look at him aghast

I prep my dc before play dates that if the child asks or wants to watch a show or video while they are there that they should just say they would rather not, but play instead. With grand parents, I think you just have to ask them to only put on video's that you bring with you, let the kids pick them for their TV time.

Love to hear other's ideas here as well!!

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ALmom
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Posted: July 12 2006 at 2:59pm \| IP Logged

We've always handled it in anticipation. I know my dad usually has the TV on and it often has on stuff inappropriate for little eyes - but he watches downstairs. We mention that we are visiting so and so - but we aren't going to be watching TV and that we expect everyone to move to another area for conversation, play, etc. and then I work hard at distraction so that it doesn't seem like such a big deal. I find a book to read them in another room, enlist older dc to play with younger to keep them distracted (if dh and I are there, we will do this ourselves some and trade off). If the weather is good, enticing all dc to a basketball game is great. You have to be alert for the mesmerized eyes and then instruct. I did not feel like I could tell my father what to do in his own home - but over time I think my mom figured out (without any of us saying anything) and I have noticed more care in turning off the TV when we are there.

My dc also know they are not allowed to watch TV anywhere else so it is not a question. The only places we have trouble is the occassional out to eat in a pizza buffet and the doctors office - the darn TV is running non-stop and annoys the dc. If we are the only family there, my dh just turns it off - but cannot do that when other patrons are glued to the thing. Our solution is to politely ask if there is some location without being subject to the TV. If not, we find another place to eat or another doc. It is fine that they want to provide "entertainment" so people's kids don't go wild in the waiting room or restaurant, but if there is no alternative or no means to accomodate our family, we go elsewhere. Actually, we've found these establishments (docs too) to be pretty odd in their approach to dc - seem not sure how to deal with them, more like they are a nuisance and their waiting rooms are never large enough for us anyways. We are much happier with the doc without TVs who doesn't bat an eye when our whole family goes in to watch a member have their teeth cleaned, etc. They are now big proponents of it as they see how easily our littles want to go to the dentist and have their teeth cleaned too - but I digress.

As far as turning it on themselves - they always knew that TV is never turned on without permission. We have one in our house in the family room but it is almost never on - and then only when dh or I turn it on - usuually for a video. I think because this was a policy from when the oldest was very young, it just is a given in our house - like seatbelts. It is never questioned - and we have ages 3 to 18 now. I think some of it is simply that dh and I do not turn it on for much except an occassional family viewing of something so there is the example as well.

Janet

KellyJ
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Posted: July 12 2006 at 8:06pm \| IP Logged

We try to leave the room or politely ask the TV be turned off or changed. The biggest "offenders" in our experience have taken the hint and adjust what they have on and/or have the TV off altogether.

KellyJ

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