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Sarah M
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 9:33am | IP Logged
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This summer, we're going screen-free. That means no TV for any of us (except dh after the kids go to bed- that's his down time), and no computer games for the kids.
Basically, I want them to spend this summer outside exploring, looking at books, making forts, playing games--not sitting in front of a screen. This seems to be a bigger sacrifice for me than the kids (as I often will turn it on to get things done or get on the computer myself). I do not watch TV, but spend *waaaay* too much time online. So I'm limiting myself to 30 minutes during afternoon rest time and after the kids are in bed at night.
There's some great inspiration and boredom-buster ideas at Green Hour, and I figure if the temptation gets really strong to turn on the TV, we should load up some snacks and sunscreen and head to the park. Charlotte Mason said the best way to curb boredom was to take the child outside and change the scenery... summer seems like an *easy* time to really start taking that to heart.
Anyone want to join me in going screen-free this summer?
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hereinantwerp
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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Wow, you're brave :)
But I've heard over and over again that families are very blessed by this!
I have a toddler who takes no naps--I'm afraid I use the screen more than I ever did with the other two  , once to take a shower in the morning, once for a rest in the afternoon. At least I know she's safe. Not quite brave enough yet I guess!!
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Angela Nelson
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domchurch3
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 11:32am | IP Logged
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We did this a few months back after reading the book, Hold On To Your Kids when I realized my daughter was more attached to the screen than to me. For it to work in our family, I had to do a few drastic things. I told my husband to hide the television and to lock the computer so only he would know the code. I knew our daughter would go through withdrawl symptoms so I told her that anytime she felt she was missing television, she was to come up to me with a handful of books and we would snuggle on the couch to read them. She spends her day reading, spending time with me, homeschooling or creating. She creates and plays all day long. Getting rid of media for awhile was one of the best things we've ever done. She is now allowed 15 minutes of media time in the evenings after completing her chores. I allow myself 20-30 minutes and I usually choose computer over television. It's been a great blessing.
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SimplyMom
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We did this for two Lenten seasons in a row and then gave up cable television altogether. We watch movies, but not TV.
Good luck. I am sure you will find it a blessing. We found that killing the TV made for a much better family dynamic
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Darcee
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Chari
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 12:20pm | IP Logged
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 I thought you meant: NO sunSCREEN for the summer 
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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JenniferS
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We gave up network tv for lent. What a huge difference it made. We haven't gone back. We watch an occasional video. My reluctant reader became less reluctant. It has been a blessing!
Jen
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 1:03pm | IP Logged
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Chari wrote:
| I thought you meant: NO sunSCREEN for the summer |
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And I thought she meant WINDOW screens, allowing bugs in the house.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Sarah M
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
Chari wrote:
| I thought you meant: NO sunSCREEN for the summer |
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And I thought she meant WINDOW screens, allowing bugs in the house. |
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I guess Media-Free summer would have made more sense...but I liked the alliteration.
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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Good for you!!!
We canceled the cable a few months ago which means we only get 2 channels very fuzzy and only in my & dh bedroom. We watch family movies together on some nights. I see such a difference in the sassiness. I can't believe what is said on "children's" programs. I noticed after we had cable for a few months my kids started getting real anti-school...like "This is sooo boring" and so on. I never heard anythong but excitement from them before that. I blame it on 2 things: 1 repeating what they hear said on tv and 2 comparing me to the entertainment of tv (who can compete with that?).
So, I applaud you!!!!!
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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At the Andrew Pudewa talk I went to last week he said the best thing you can do for your chldren is to throw away the TV and read outloud two hours every day.
I don't know if we are going to go no TV cold turkey. I do let my boys watch a Time Warp Trio most mornings, but TV viewing will be greatly reduced. Of course it will be easy since the only shows we watch are over for a few months.
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mama251ders
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| Posted: June 03 2008 at 8:45pm | IP Logged
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I have been toying with this idea myself lately. We really do have the rule of no TV from after dinner on Sunday until after school on Friday, but I find myself breaking it when I am tired or I need to get something done. That is my big challenge, how to keep them occupied by themselves when I need to. Also, my kids spend the night with my parents every Friday night and the big thing there is to watch a movie and that is all they do with them. How do I get them to stop that? Any ideas?
Blessings,
Betsie
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saminier
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| Posted: June 04 2008 at 5:34am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
Chari wrote:
| I thought you meant: NO sunSCREEN for the summer |
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And I thought she meant WINDOW screens, allowing bugs in the house. |
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I thought it was one of these or the other, tv/computer screens didn't enter my mind 
We got rid of our TV a couple of years ago because we just didn't have enough room in our 1 bdrm apartment with two kiddos. But we do watch dvd's on the laptop sometimes or LOST thru the internet. My son was about one when we sold the TV so he doesn't know what he's missing! When we visit family and friends with TV's he becomes a non-responsive little zombie so I'm always glad to leave TV behind when we come home.
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Anne
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| Posted: June 04 2008 at 6:01am | IP Logged
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This is such a great idea. I have decided to ban myself from TV and I don't allow TV on in the family room if I am busy with chores. I haven't requested that the rest of the family follow suit however, I feel they will just follow my lead. I am the biggest fan of TV in the family and I think if I am finding other things to do so will they. I would love to just pull the plug totally but fear dh would go through withdrawl without sports.
Way to go Sarah! 
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donnalynn
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Sarah M
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| Posted: June 04 2008 at 10:27am | IP Logged
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donnalynn wrote:
- also make sure you've got a plan for rainy days too - either have outdoor rain gear ready to go or maybe a special rainy day box or list of activities. That's when I am most tempted to let them watch more TV - on yucky rainy days when *I* don't feel up to dealing with mud and muck. They'd be happy to go out in any kind of weather - I've turned into a bit of a weather wimp.
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I learned this the hard way yesterday.  It's rainy and cold here this week and I was *so* tempted to turn on a movie. But I resisted, cooking up a big batch of green playdough instead, and sitting at the table with my book while the kids used popsicle sticks to build castles in their mounds of dough. Worked like a charm- and I felt *so, so* good afterward.  3 days down, 90 to go.
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Chari
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| Posted: June 04 2008 at 11:42am | IP Logged
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Way to go, Sarah! Hang in there! We dumped our cable over 16 years ago.......back when it was still under $20 a month! 
We have no tv stations.......only DVD's here.....
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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missionfamily
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| Posted: June 04 2008 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I agonize about this all the time. We never had cable in our house our whole marriage until after dh's heart attack a year and a half ago. There were lots of sleepless nights that followed and I was pregnant and nursing and just couldn't wake up with him all the time, so we got cable so he could do something with himself when he coudn't settle down.
Now part of me wants to get rid of it (dh is fine with that) but part of me had growh as attached to Ace of Cakes and Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs as the kids have.
Our rule is that the tv can be on during the free hours of the day --4-6pm-- and in the evenings but mom and dad get to offer choices for those, they are not free.
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Topic: Screen-free Summer
