Parenting OS tips

tee_pee_2

My DD si 20mths and as she is at that age of mimicing I am trying tro expand on it. I give her a cloth and she rubs the washer.dryer and she loves the dustpan and brush. I have a big green plastic bin which her toys go in and we play putting them away and I am hoping and praying that this will such a normal routine that she wqill cont to keep her stuff tidy and help mummy

Fingers crossed.

recovering_spendaholic

maryb wrote:

I did take the step of getting rid of cable because of the rubbish my DD was watching and was absolutely addicted to. She screamed at me that she hated me but she got over it in about a week and doesn't miss it and the difference it made was dramatic.

I told myself that children like what they are used to and it doesn't take too long for them to get used to something new and if I couldn't put up with the whinging for a week or two I would Lack Moral Fibre - and although it was awful for a couple of days it got steadily better and I have never regretted it.

the channels I personally missed when we first stopped cable are now both on Freeview anyway.

And I saved a lot of money

Do you mind me asking what differences it made? I am now 99% sure I am going to get rid of the cable and just have a freeview box - only problem is that I love the Hallmark Channel (I know, I'm sad) and I don't think that is on freeview.

Mrs_Pepperpot_2

I didn't see the report but am wondering why you worry about taking T.V./ playstation out of their rooms? - particularly your youngest.

I teach 9 year olds and believe me when I say that there is a direct link between behaviour/achievement and what children do at night time.

I am horrified by how tired some of my class are and as for some of the filth they watch on T.V or some of the junk they play on psp or ps2 - it blows my mind.

Watching too much T.V. whether that be telly or computer games enlarges the visual cortex of the brain (A bit like if you just exercised your little finger you would just have a really big, strong. little finger!) This makes it harder for your children to learn by hearing or reading.

Sorry - not meaning to be judgemental I just worry that parents try to stay on the right side of their children rather than taking the long view and doing what's best for them!

:rolleyes:

the_other_mce

Our two DD's were 7 & 5 and I was having a similar problem. Gradually their lives were starting to revolve around TV, even getting them to do homework was becoming a problem. We took the TV/dvd player out of their room (told them it had broken down!!) and cancelled the cable subscription. After a few days of moaning at what they were missing they settled down, sleep much better, read books through choice, are more active and are generally happier. They don't miss it at all, they can watch kids channels on freeview in the living room and DVD's but they don't seem to bother much now. I'd say get rid of the extra TVs and put up with a bit of moaning. Ours are now 9 & 7 and we've never looked back. We do buy them DVD's they want but they only watch them a few times - not over and over again.

recovering_spendaholic

Mrs_Pepperpot wrote:

I didn't see the report but am wondering why you worry about taking T.V./ playstation out of their rooms? - particularly your youngest.

I teach 9 year olds and believe me when I say that there is a direct link between behaviour/achievement and what children do at night time.

I am horrified by how tired some of my class are and as for some of the filth they watch on T.V or some of the junk they play on psp or ps2 - it blows my mind.

Watching too much T.V. whether that be telly or computer games enlarges the visual cortex of the brain (A bit like if you just exercised your little finger you would just have a really big, strong. little finger!) This makes it harder for your children to learn by hearing or reading.

Sorry - not meaning to be judgemental I just worry that parents try to stay on the right side of their children rather than taking the long view and doing what's best for them!

:rolleyes:

I don't think you are being judgemental and I wouldn't blame you if you were! I feel as if I should take a firmer stand but I am on my own since their father traded us in for a newer model and I am easily guilt tripped by them. I am going to try a few weeks with no TV and PS2 in room for DD2 to see if there is a difference.

maryb

The difference was mainly in her mood - she was so much calmer and it wasn't because of a previous lack of sleep because she had never had electronics in her room. TV and Gameboy makes her really wired and volatile. I haven't taken her Gameboy away but she cannot play with it at all during term time (even at weekends) because she would just be in a strop all weekend after a fix - she couldn't seem to help herself. She looks forward to the holidays when she seems to be able to use it without getting too strung up

By getting rid of the electronics I got my little girl back

Mrs_Pepperpot_2

Do you know children are the masters of manipulation? - especially if they see a weakness but...

There are times when I have been down right miserable to the children in my class and they have hated me for it but 10 minutes later when we are discovering something new together they have forgotten about it - they are hugely forgiving

Being a single parent must be so tough and your kids will know that you are vulnerable because you don't have the back up of another half. The most powerful weapon they have to use against you is their affection and they will if they think it will change your mind but they don't mean it.

Be strong - your children will continue to love you even if they are little sh**s and eventually they may thank you for it.

Good luck

nickij_2

Well done Jane for making the desicion. We all do some things 'for an easy life' and it can be difficult to then backtrack, especially when you are on your own and it's always going to be you being the 'baddie'. Good luck and let us know if it works.

maryb

In fact it was when my daughter screamed at me that I was most convinced that this was something I had to do.

Good luck - maybe you could earmark the money you save by cancelling cable for a treat to sugar the pill?

however be warned - NTL will offer you amazing deals to try and keep you as a customer and you really need to be single minded and insist on just cancelling. I kept the phone line and broadband because it was the cheapest way of getting both at the time - you don't have to have televsion so don't worry that it will be enormous upheaval

tinselfairy

I read a book recently called Remotely Controlled about the effects of TV watching on children and society. It made for very interesting reading.
Our DS is 6 years old and we limit TV and computer game time. Too much TV and he becomes uncommunicative and impatient.
His friend from school visited a few months ago in the summertime. Do you have an XBox or Playstation were the first words he uttered. No, but there are plenty of toys and a garden so go amuse yourselves! he was told