Every time my kids asked to watch TV, I had to prepare myself for battle.
My 2-year-old should not be experiencing decision fatigue, yet I watched her grapple with the impossible choice of which Bubble Guppies episode to watch every single day. And when she would finally pick, it wouldn't even hold her attention. Three minutes later, she would have followed me into the kitchen, asking for attention from me. Not only were my kids overstimulated, but so was I.
In an effort to protect everyone's sanity, I told my kids the TV was broken.
On each individual platform, there can be miles worth of scrolling involved to find something to watch. And between each service (YouTube TV, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount, Prime Video, and HBO), any show or movie you can think of is available.
We live in a world where instant gratification is so consistent and routine that it's becoming redundant. I don't want my kids to grow up like this.
We told our kids (ages 5 & 2.5) that our TV broke at the beginning of March. My husband and I geared up for a weekend full of real-life entertainment. I don't remember exactly what we did that first weekend, but I can guarantee there was an adjustment period for every person in the house.
Because the TV was "broken," it was easier for the kids to accept it and move on, but they sure were persistent. They were very concerned with the well-being of the TV. How long would it be broken? Should we call someone?
Take a smarter break in your day – and see how far you get.
It made my husband and me realize how often we had been turning to it ourselves to "entertain" the kids while we cleaned up, cooked dinner, or just sat on our phones.
To make the adjustment easier for everyone, we did a handful of things immediately and continue to do them almost daily, even four months later.
My husband and I made an intentional effort to put our phones down in the evenings. If the kids can't be on a big screen, why should we get to be on a little screen?
We keep the kids stocked with their favorite coloring books and crafts. My kids already love coloring and stickers, so that wasn't a pastime we had to introduce or convince them to enjoy.
We read to our kids almost every time they ask. There have been multiple occasions when 40 minutes have passed just by reading whatever book they want.
We play with our children, including pretend play. Restaurant, Sonic, or Ninja Turtles, doctor, school. Sometimes we're a den of foxes. Other times, my husband owns a pizzeria, and chaos ensues when I call in an order for a "cat pizza." As the weather warmed up, we started playing hide-and-seek tag outside.
Once we regained our footing without the TV, the benefits were almost instantaneous. And this is not a surprise to me. I am well aware of research on the side effects of excessive screen time and the benefits of limited screen time for child development, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
Source: Read the original article on www.businessinsider.com
