I admit it: there are days where I let my kids watch more TV than they probably should.
Like today. It’s rainy, damp, and a bit chilly outside. We don’t have any errands that need to be run, and I am content to sit in front of my computer to catch up on work and blogging. The easiest way for me to do this without being disturbed in to turn on the boob tube.
How many programs are too many for them to watch in a row?
Guilt got the better of me, so I went in and switched off the telly to the loud protests of Cupcake and BabyMuffin.
**Side note here: Bito is at kindergarten (and doing quite well, we think! Back-to-School-Night is tonight!), but I find it interesting that when it comes to the watching TV, he can take it or leave it. Not Cupcake and BabyMuffin. If the set is on, they will sit to watch, even if it’s The Weather Channel. It’s like they are sucked in, and they become totally mesmerized.**
After the complaining died down, I firmly told them to play. Then I returned to my office.
I have had to field a number of visits from them. Cupcake whined and tried to pull all her tricks: ”I’m hungry. I’m tired. I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” BabyMuffin just came and tried to sit in my lap, push the buttons on the keyboard, and pull books off the shelf.
I decided to try a robot-like approach. I only spoke to say, “There are a zillion toys in there. I am sure you can find something to play with.” I think I repeated this two dozen times in the span of ten minutes!
Now I am listening to Cupcake and BabyMuffin playing Restaurant. I am sure the room will be trashed as they have rummaged through every bin and cubby, rediscovering long-forgotten toys. That’s kind of sad, right? That we have toys they haven’t even missed because we have so many? I digress. They are giggling and using the play kitchen to prepare meals. This is way better than children who are zoned out from watching too much tee-vee.
As for the destroyed playroom…guess I’ll just look at it as an opportunity to teach them the fine art of cleaning up!
We have days like that, too. I try to tell myself there are plenty of days where the kids don’t watch *any* tv, so it all kind of evens out. Sometimes that makes me feel better. :p
That reminds me, though, I need to go through and switch out the toys. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.
There have been many days when the tv saved me. Don’t feel guilty – today’s tv shows are so different that from what we grew up with. I actually feel like they do learn something (Super Why, Blues Clues, etc). Of course nothing beats using your own imagination…looks like they’re good at that too.
I worry constantly about allowing my daughter to watch too much tv. How much is too much? Am I abusing the tv so I can do other stuff, ahem, blog. That’s one good argument for having more children, they can play together. Of course, the whole going through pregnancy, childbirth, sleep deprivation, etc again is the other side of the argument. And it’s winning right now.
Sad but true… In my house the only thing that buys me 10 uninterrupted minutes is the TV.
Try putting a bunch of toys in a box and telling your kids it’s for Goodwill… All of a sudden they’ll have renewed interest in the toys!
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It’s so hard, isn’t it? But so rewarding when you hear them playing together.
Awesome!