How to Get Your Kids To Stop Watching Too Much TV

Television may be an easy substitute for one on one interaction with a child. You may even notice how engrossing TV may be for a child. If you do not allow a nagging sensation to present itself about interacting with your children and to get them out from in front of the TV, your television may very easily become the mom substitute.

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn the television off or do not turn it on. If you do not turn the cable on in the morning to watch the news or cartoons the television may suddenly have allot less influence on your day and on your children. The TV may not even get turned on for the day.

    • 2

      Change your routine if need be. Instead of watching the boob tube, while sipping coffee, begin your chores for the day. Children are often influenced by their parents and may tend to do what the parent does. So if you are starting your day off watching a TV show, they may want to start their day by watching a television show, too. If your children are bored encourage them to help out with chores.

    • 3

      Provide alternatives. Have fun projects for your kids to do on rainy days. Play music at nap time, instead of allowing them to nap on the couch while watching a movie.

    • 4

      Do not forget that the older children may need help being entertained as well. Buy your older child or teen a book that is age appropriate instead of allowing them to get engrossed in a television program.

    • 5

      Interact and/or play with your children. Do not allow the TV to be the babysitter. Get a board game out of the closet. Sit down and do a craft with them, just do not sit in one room and have everyone stare at that one object that promotes public broadcasting.

    • 6

      Make dinner time the "no television time". If the kids protest or suggest that the TV plays while everyone sits down for dinner tell them no. Be firm with that rule and you may just become a more tightly nit family than you previously were. I have found that siblings may become best friends when the television is not there to distract them from interacting with one another. I have also found that they talk to me more, as well.

    • 7

      Do not stop all television watching entirely. Instead make reasonable rules. Perhaps you could have a set time that the TV is allowed to be on, or to be more flexible you could have a set amount of time that the television can be on. It's your playground, take charge.

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