'Living Simply' with children

Lunar_Eclipse

Araboo27 wrote: »

Any advice guys? x

We try to live simply, with two girls aged 12 and 13 (but fall way short of where we want to be and what I'd do if I had my time over.)

We do have a TV and technology in the house, but the TV is for occasional use and isn't on every day. It generally isn't switched on at all during the week. We don't have an Xbox or game console, although I do have a child who would enjoy one if we had one, because she is a games lover, board games included.

We didn't have a TV for several years when they were younger (all the pre-school years included) but we did have a DVD player connected to a (disconnected) TV, so could watch occasional movies. I wouldn't have a TV in our house now if it was my choice, but DH thinks it's important for our TV loving teenager not to feel alienated from her peers. I don't actually think that would happen, and is what iPlayer is for surely, but it's not enough of a big deal for me to make it one.

Our girls play a lot of sport, both for school and out of school teams and we spend a fair amount of time outdoors at the weekend. We went camping in a yurt two weekends ago for example.

I think you should decide how you want to live and implement it. Six is very young; you could change your life around within two weeks!

Simple living has tremendous benefits, as do the ancient leisure activities of playing, sweeping up leaves, talking, walking, reading physical books, playing games etc.

Lunar_Eclipse

arbroath_lass wrote: »

Perhaps the internet is not the place to find anyone living as "simply" as you seem to want to? Can you not see the irony in that?

Oh it is. There are loads of fantastic blogs on the subject: Zen Habits, Living Simply, Loving Simple Living etc etc etc.

Lunar_Eclipse

Bennifred wrote: »

Now is the time to think about how you want them to interact with technology when they are older children and teenagers.

This is an excellent point.

We have also decided that all technology lives downstairs in our house. We lead by example and all naturally follow this unspoken rule (actually it's never been challenged in any shape or form.)

We are lucky to have enough room for all family members to be in a different room downstairs if they wish, so there is definitely no need for our kids to have a computer upstairs to do homework etc. Having said that, it would take a huge change in living space for me to change my mind on this one, because I think it is so important. And no, it's not because I worry about content. It's more about bedrooms being relaxing places for rest, and the fact that I see too many people allowing technology to take over their lives.

poet123

We have always done this too. No tv's in bedrooms. We have had to relax the rule now though as our older sons have returned to live at home after university and you can't really ban a 25 year old from having his own TV!!

Bennifred

poet123 wrote: »

We have always done this too. No tv's in bedrooms. We have had to relax the rule now though as our older sons have returned to live at home after university and you can't really ban a 25 year old from having his own TV!!

Haha - yes, same here!

claire16c

If you get rid of your tv your kids will be alienated from their peers.

If you don't like language they are using then ban those particular programmes!

You don't need to allow TVs in bedrooms and you can limit general screen/electric time.

Banning it will just get them teased at school or left out of conversations.

Plus they will miss out on interesting programmes and events like watching Olympics, sports, news etc.

Janepig

My two don't have tv's in their bedrooms, and I can't see that happening for a good long while. Tbh they have never asked for one (they're 7 and 10) and they've heard me saying that they're not having a tv up there so that maybe why they haven't asked - they pretty much know that what I say goes!!

DS can be a bit of a nag and a drama queen, but if I've said no to something and he starts playing up then that just makes me all the more determined not to give in because otherwise it just sends the message that the more he strops, the more Mammy will cave in and he'll do it again and again.

I don't go in completely for the alienation from their peers thing, I don't care how many of DD's friends watch the X Factor, we're not watching it in this house!! However, they are allowed to watch the jungle, although I sky plus it for them and the watch it the next day because it's on too late for them to stay up.

DS loves his PS3 and my Wii, not to mention my ipad, his Blackberry playbook, DH's computer, etc.... but unlike some of his friends there are no 15 or 18 aged games, no Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto or anything like that. We've discussed it and he understands why. When I say it's time for the kids to turn their gadgets off, they do so - I usually give a five minute warning. They also don't take any of the hand held devices to bed with them. Bedrooms are for sleeping in!

I'm sure it's not what others would do perhaps, but it works for us.

Jx

laurel7172

Schools are increasingly using technology, too. Our year 6 get at least two pieces of online homework a week, and I'm currently doing a cost/benefit analysis on an e-library. We do run after-school clubs for the children of parents who can't afford to or won't recognise that we're comfortably into the 21st century, but those children are at a distinct disadvantage, socially as well as academically.

coolcats

Not read the replies but will share what I did.

In June 12 we moved house, sold loads of stuff as was going from large 3 bed flat, huge rooms to a small 3 bed house. Had 2 tv's one small one large. The large tv was too big for front room so that got sold. So we used the small one, which was fine as only kids watch it. I gave up years before when every time I'd watch something kids would come in, phone ring etc.

Then found the wii wouldn't work with tv, so kept it for a while longer.

In July we moved again. Decided need to sell as much as we could as going to a large 2 bed flat. Also Tv licence was due. So decided we weren't going to get a big tv so the wii could go, and so could the licence as the programs they wanted to watch could be got on dvd and youtube. So now we have 14in tv with video player (and separate dvd) to watch dvds and videos. And no live tv.

The library do a wii club so they go to that and play the wii, we hire dvd's. The tv doesn't go on in the morning and off at bedtime. Christmas is sorted with games that will be played, dvd's they will watch. They will fight over the computer, but thats limited. Other things are done that watch tv all day.

It will be strange not seeing what christmas films are on etc, but there is always Iplayer. But so far we don't miss it. And if we change are mind we can always get the licence again. (although would also need a bigger tv).

Spirit_2

Do you have enough to really keep the children occupied? What are you like as role models of activity? This is how it worked for us;

We have always had a TV, however by choice my DD rarely watched it as a child. We never had TV upstairs . Only put it on for specific things. Never had TV on when adult or child visitors were here and never had it on as a background or whilst eating. . We were lucky in that she had a pony and small pets at home and she is very outdoorsy went to bed earlyish and got up with the dawn chorus. Other activities , and as teen her laptop and reading were her other choices. The only TV programmes she got into through peer pressure were Top Gear and Friends.

At 18 we were driving home from a weekend away and she rang us to find out how to switch the TV on! She is an adult now, has a TV in 'her' sitting room and has it on in the background as she reads, sews,studies,uses the internet. She found her own level with it.

As role models OH is outdoorsy but watches TV sometimes, I on the other hand never put the TV on but am not exactly a hive of industry.

This was OK for us as we were always like this, but I am not sure how it would be in household that has full access one day and goes cold turkey the next.