Computers, TV, Nintendo DS, OH MY! What is everyone's thoughts?
Hi, Everyone,
Okay, so here is the situation. Recently, our two older children (ages 9 and 7) were not listening so well to my husband and I and we also felt were not being as respectful as they should (mostly to me since I am home most of the time with them; my hubby works late hours during the week and 90% of the time they are already sleeping by the time he arrives back home). My husband feels I can be a "pushover" with them and I often tell him that he is being too "strict". But, I have to agree with him on this one, they were NOT behaving so well towards me and I feel I teach them to be respectful to others, polite and I have to say to others, 90% of the time, they ARE, but to me, I noticed they had not been and I had "had it!!!!" SO, that being said....
My hubby told the kids, "THAT IS IT! NO MORE TV, COMPUTER or Nintendo DS" until there is MAJOR IMPROVEMENT towards us. I think he really meant towards "ME" because he saw how upset I was getting that they were not being well behaved towards me and he also was not happy with that...
Well, I have to tell you, I am SO much happier; the kids have improved overall their behavior and being more respectful, additionally, I don't feel they are "glued" to the DS, TV or computer the way they were before. I often found that they were wanting (more so our younger child, our son) to stay indoors rather than play out in the nice weather outside because they were so engrossed in a TV show or a computer game and it was driving my hubby and I NUTS! They play more with each other and have found other creative things to do, My daughter was coloring more, hanging out with her next door neighbor, going outside in the backyard on the swings, etc. it was TERRIFIC. Another huge change we saw was that both have been reading MUCH MORE BOOKS. My son is only in the first grade, but even he has taken an interest in reading to himself. He always enjoyed HEARING stories, but now he is reading bigger books, it is wonderful. My daughter is an avid reader, but she only now decided to read the "Harry Potter" series and is up the to fourth book in about less than two weeks time already, I am very impressed and proud of her....
I think our world has become so use to relying on the internet, video games, tv, etc. that we have lost all drive to be "creative". Our kids have not even asked when they can watch again, which is so surprising to me. They are so good that even when they play with their next door neighbors (which is often) they say, "oh, we can't watch TV, can we do something else?" it is amazing! I don't know how long we can keep this up, but it is so far very nice and more peaceful. My mom and sister both told me, "that is great, keep it going for as long as possible!" I think we will.
As it is, we don't allow our children to watch TV or play DS during the school week, but when Friday would come, they would bolt to the door, drop their backpacks and either watch the "boob tube" or "play DS" for hours upon hours, it drove me bonkers, now, they come home and do normal kid things the way we did as kids, it is such a change, one for the better, I think...What does everyone else feel? Curious.
Rebecca Barkai/CEO
www.startingoutsmall.com
info@startingoutsmall.com
Okay, so here is the situation. Recently, our two older children (ages 9 and 7) were not listening so well to my husband and I and we also felt were not being as respectful as they should (mostly to me since I am home most of the time with them; my hubby works late hours during the week and 90% of the time they are already sleeping by the time he arrives back home). My husband feels I can be a "pushover" with them and I often tell him that he is being too "strict". But, I have to agree with him on this one, they were NOT behaving so well towards me and I feel I teach them to be respectful to others, polite and I have to say to others, 90% of the time, they ARE, but to me, I noticed they had not been and I had "had it!!!!" SO, that being said....
My hubby told the kids, "THAT IS IT! NO MORE TV, COMPUTER or Nintendo DS" until there is MAJOR IMPROVEMENT towards us. I think he really meant towards "ME" because he saw how upset I was getting that they were not being well behaved towards me and he also was not happy with that...
Well, I have to tell you, I am SO much happier; the kids have improved overall their behavior and being more respectful, additionally, I don't feel they are "glued" to the DS, TV or computer the way they were before. I often found that they were wanting (more so our younger child, our son) to stay indoors rather than play out in the nice weather outside because they were so engrossed in a TV show or a computer game and it was driving my hubby and I NUTS! They play more with each other and have found other creative things to do, My daughter was coloring more, hanging out with her next door neighbor, going outside in the backyard on the swings, etc. it was TERRIFIC. Another huge change we saw was that both have been reading MUCH MORE BOOKS. My son is only in the first grade, but even he has taken an interest in reading to himself. He always enjoyed HEARING stories, but now he is reading bigger books, it is wonderful. My daughter is an avid reader, but she only now decided to read the "Harry Potter" series and is up the to fourth book in about less than two weeks time already, I am very impressed and proud of her....
I think our world has become so use to relying on the internet, video games, tv, etc. that we have lost all drive to be "creative". Our kids have not even asked when they can watch again, which is so surprising to me. They are so good that even when they play with their next door neighbors (which is often) they say, "oh, we can't watch TV, can we do something else?" it is amazing! I don't know how long we can keep this up, but it is so far very nice and more peaceful. My mom and sister both told me, "that is great, keep it going for as long as possible!" I think we will.
As it is, we don't allow our children to watch TV or play DS during the school week, but when Friday would come, they would bolt to the door, drop their backpacks and either watch the "boob tube" or "play DS" for hours upon hours, it drove me bonkers, now, they come home and do normal kid things the way we did as kids, it is such a change, one for the better, I think...What does everyone else feel? Curious.
Rebecca Barkai/CEO
www.startingoutsmall.com
info@startingoutsmall.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Erin Salehiamin on -
Sounds like you're doing the right thing. You wanted them to behave better towards you AND, along with that, you got a bonus of kids that have tuned back in to being kids. I think having access to the computer is essential for some school projects as the children get older. But if their not asking for it yet, don't push it.
Children need to be outside breathing fresh air, interacting with other children (other than being in school), learning and creating new ways to entertain themselves other than by DS's, Wii's, TV's and all the other technology gadgets.
If I were in your shoes, and I'm getting close with my boys and their love of their DSi's, I would do the same thing. My boys, six and eight, LOVE their Wii, their DSi's and the computers. However, the only time we seem to have an issue is during dinner time when my eight year old wants to play his DSi at the dinner table and I say "No Way."
If you're getting the results you wanted, then yes, keep it up for as long as you can. Eventually when they do ask for their DS's, and they will, I would delegate it back in small doses to keep their dependence of it down to a minimum.
So glad you posted this because it's nice to know other Mommies are in my same boat. :)
Erin
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