I am a single mom
with a very energetic four-year-old girl named Lexingtin. I have not
had a television in my house for 7 years now. I could not see paying
that amount of money for cable, and since I do not watch TV that much
and have many other interests, anyway, I decided to try no television.
I have been very happy with the results.
Before Lexingtin
was born, I decided that I would not have television in the house. I
do not have any electronic toys, no Game Boy, radio cars, or electronic
learning devices. They toys that Lexie has promote creativity and stimulate
her imagination. She has many toy animals, some Barbie toys, a train
set, and some games. She has lots of craft things, such as glitter and
glue, markers, stamps, pine cones, milkweed pods, yarn, etc.
Lexie is very good
at entertaining herself for about 2 hours. When she was little, we would
set up her animals and play "house," "farm," set
up caves for them—anything that would get her mind thinking. She
will sit and play with her bead necklaces, pretending they are snakes
and wrap them around her hands and curl them up. Many times she gives
voices to her animals so they can talk. Lexie and I do many things together.
We go to the park, the museum, the zoo, and do various road trips. We
do many things with her friends in her home schooling group. She is
in dance class.
Sometimes I say
to her, "I need some time to myself, I need you to go play."
She then goes into her playroom and will play or do crafts, or play
with her cats or dog. If we are at home and not on the go, depending
on her mood and what she wants to do, she can spend up to 5 hours a
day entertaining herself. On very few days does she take a nap.
No television is
a normal way of life for us. When we go to Grandma's house, Lexie is
allowed to watch a movie or two sometimes, or Animal Planet. At friends'
houses that have television, she very rarely will sit and watch it.
If I find that it is on for noise, I will ask them to turn it off because
it gives me a headache. I have never had problems yet. Most parents
apologize for having it on, almost like they are embarrassed. I find
that funny. I like having no television when sitters come over, because
I know they have to play with Lexingtin. She is not the kind of child
that will let someone ignore her. Without a TV, I know she will not
be plopped in front of it for hours while they sit on the phone.
When her friends
come over here to play, those who have a television in the house ask
"Where's the TV?" I tell them we have none, and they are stunned—absolutely
dumbfounded. When they ask what do we do, I tell them to go play. Lexie
by then is already in the playroom playing away. After about an hour
some of her friends will be bored. Some, sad to say, do not know how
to do imaginary play, or just play with toys. I find that Lexie is more
creative, more independent when it comes to keeping herself busy, knows
how to intermix her toys and play many different games with her horses,
dinosaurs, animals, dolls, etc. She can have them all go for a train
ride and then sit down for "tea" with the apples from the
tree outside. It's wonderful to see her creativity flourish.
There is no fighting
in the morning about turning on the television or turning it off before
a show she is watching is over. I have no zombie walking in the house.
She keeps me on my toes. Some mornings, by 8:30, we are making cookies
or painting in the kitchen. It is wonderful.
For parents thinking
of reducing television time or tossing it out, it is not easy if you
are used to it. It takes great commitment on the parents' part. It will
take a while to adjust. Kids will be terribly bored for a few weeks,
but if you can do it, you will find a greater appreciation for your
family, your kids will read more and will find other things to occupy
their time. And it's really O.K. for kids to be bored.
Too much of today's
life is just carting children around to all of their functions and then
home to the television. To start to change this, parents can set limits
on TV time at home at night and on weekends. Having no television in
the house is a way of life, a lifestyle. People do give it up after
having it, but it takes work. We have lived in urban, suburban, and
rural areas. Right now we live in the city of Buffalo and get along
great with no TV. I would not have it any other way.
Debbie
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