From time to time I get this question: “How do I get my kids off the TV without a big fight?” or “My husband likes to watch things that are inappropriate on
TV and lets the kids watch it too. What can I do?”
The answer to both of these is the same. If your family is busy doing other things, they will have no time for TV. If you see the TV is becoming the activity for the night, you go to another room and start dragging out the board games. Put on some fun music, pop some popcorn and entice them away. Get some books on tape at the library and teach the kids to crochet or knit while listening to some GREAT classics on tape. Read some books aloud. Make some cookies to decorate. Get out the paint. Children THRIVE on attention and will generally choose to spend time with you over the TV, if you make that an option.
Another great idea is to let the kids know in advance that they can only watch as much TV as they have spent in physical exercise for the day.
The TV is a habit, and if you avoid building that habit while they are young, you will not have to fight them when they are teens. Teach them to enjoy spending time elsewhere, teach them the joy of great literature, and explain to them your own reasons for disliking the TV when they are old enough to question you.
By the way…this will work with your husband, too. Give him something more enticing to do. 🙂
-I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13
