I love my friends and relatives who have television. When we visit with them, our relatives would not feel alienated or uncomfortable turning their TV on. But most of the time, we are more engaged in talking and catching up. Cousins talk, too. In my home, a TV is an expense we have not prioritize buying since sixteen years ago. Having a full house with children compensates for entertainment and activities involving everyone in my family, including babies (currently grandchildren). So, we never miss a TV in the house. Books have occupied our bookshelves. We read them a lot. With the internet, we watch YouTube for research, DIY building tips and sciences (my son's interest) and music and writing websites (daughter)-- after homeschool hours. We live in the country, so, the children are pretty much occupied connecting with nature, outdoors. On Fridays, it's movie/video nights with the younger ones; while our two sons, highschoolers are in town, (45 mins away), at our church's youth group after school.
The thread title is a hard one... in the olden days. I remember when I was a student, weekends would be spent in front of the tv. There were times that I was reviewing for exams in front of the tv. But now I guess it is not that hard to keep the children away from tv simply because the tv is not the number 1 priority now. What's hard is how to keep away the children from the computer or the tablet or the smart phone. It's really a new era and a new problem.
We did not have a television until I was a teenager, so I learned to keep myself occupied in other ways. I was also an only child; so I had to do things by myself. I liked to read, draw pictures, and in nice weather, I was usually outside a lot of the time. When I was raising my children, we sometimes had a televiion, and sometimes not; but even when we did have one, it was not even turned on until after dinner in the evening, if at all. We lived in the country; so there were always lot of chores to do, and the kids and I went horseback riding, fishing, and swimming in the summer. In the evening, we would often make a small bonfire, roast hot dogs and marshmallows for dinner, and then we all sat around the fire and sang songs until time to wash up for bed. There was just a lot of other things to do, and the television was never a big part of life for us. I still do not like watching TV, except for a special movie or program now and then, and having the ipads has made it easier. I can read, or do what I want , and Bobby can watch movies, and we botth have headphones. Even when he is actually watching TV; I can just put on my headphones and watch a Youtube program about something I want to learn more about, or even just listen to music on Pandora .
The programs that are on TV today, only serve as an advertising delivery system. If it wasn't for the ads, TV would be gone. It has become "The Vast Ad-land"! So many ads are geared for children.
I was lucky. All we had was a radio and record player until I was a teen. I played outdoors, read, drew pictures, played board games and cards. The older I got the more chores I had to do. Mowed grass for several people, shoveled snow, helped with gardening. In my teen years we lived on a block long street. At the end of our block was a baseball field, and beyond that, farms. So, hunting and fishing was just a short walk away.
I was one of the original TV generation people, we went from three channels black and white to what we have today. I spent my fair share of time in front of the idiot box, and have since made the decision to cut the cord. One of which I do not in any way shape or form regret. I still watch "shows" I have my favorites and do not miss them if I can help it. but I do agree that television today has become so commercial it is not a great idea to make it a centerpiece to the household. When I had my son back in '92 I made a decision that I was going to very much control what it was he viewed for as long as I could. I took to heart the studies that linked violence to children's programming. In the very beginning all he was allowed was certain hand picked shows. We saw a lot of Thomas the Tank, documentaries on all sorts of topics, historical programming and for whatever reason the kid really liked watching the construction vehicles tape we would rent from the library. What I did was enroll my son in sports at a young age because I did not want him to sit every weekend on the couch and watch TV. It was hard on me as a single parent but I have no regrets. I think he and I are both better people for it. My son is now going on 23 and he seldom watches television. Although there are certain movies we both really enjoy and have watched continuously he really does not get into the series based shows. I think the closest thing to a series he may watch might be the History Channels Modern Marvels or the Vietnam War Chronicles but other then that the last show he actually watched with me was the Sons of Anarchy and that was sporadic at best. I truly think with the internet we will see a change in TV within my lifetime. More and more people are not wanting to be advertised to when they are paid subscribers. I watch my shows online and feel that overall I save more time because I am not watching non stop ads, and I can just spend the time watching what I really want on demand when it is convenient to my schedule. As for my grandchildren they will watch Thomas, like my son did, after they have finished their chores. They can watch the construction vehicles too if they want, or the classics. They will not be watching any body beating up anyone else, or shooting anyone or anything along that theme.
Haha, while my method may not be as effective as Ken's, I usually keep children occupied by giving them some coloring books and letting them go crazy with the crayons. You just have to be careful, though, as if they are small enough, they might start to color your walls. And if they are a bit older, they'll color your walls anyways.
The only real purpose my tv serves anymore is background noise. With my kids not being in here and my husband being at work, I get creeped out when I'm here alone. Having the background noise from the tv keeps me from getting real uncomfortable.
I understand that kind of pulling-hair situations with teens-at-home. Internet is on from 11am-3pm, 6pm-9pm. I turn the modem off and they will have to be cool about it and do their chores around the house-- by force. When they complain, additional 30 mins. delay. Haha! (not funny to my sons).
Strange as it may sound and appear... I did duct-tape our small TV once when hubby got the best of me with the kids! It broke-- not because of the sticky issue. The old TV just died.
Yeah, yeah... There's always someone willing to coddle the little ones. They'll be spoiled rotten, I tell you.