How to Wean Your Family from Television

Placing your child in front of a kid-friendly television program while you work around the house or prepare dinner might seem like a better option than hiring a babysitter. However, the effects of excessive television when young can be significant. Children who watch a lot of television are more likely to be overweight, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP recommends that children under the age of 2 watch no television daily and that older kids watch no more than two hours of television a day, supervised by their parents.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set time limits for television watching to start the process of weaning your family from TV. Limit your older child's television viewing to an hour a day at most on weekdays. If your kid is struggling in school or has difficulty getting his homework finished, ban television during the week, but let him watch a couple of hours a day on the weekend. You can also decrease the limits as time goes on. Start with a limit of one hour per day, then cut back to half an hour after two weeks, and finally, no television at all after another two weeks.

    • 2

      Remove the televisions from your kids' rooms. Approximately two-thirds of children older than 8 have a TV in their bedrooms, according to the University of Michigan Health System. If your child has a television in his room, you can't closely monitor what he watches or how much he watches.

    • 3

      Cancel your cable subscription and any subscriptions to streaming services. The fewer options the members of your family have, the less likely they will be to park themselves in front of the television. Once you've cut the cord entirely, there's no point in paying for cable.

    • 4

      Turn the television off when your family isn't actively watching a program. Don't leave the TV on when you're making dinner or when your family is enjoying a meal. Focus on your family when eating meals together instead of keeping the television on as background noise.

    • 5

      Start a family book club. Read books to your kids if they haven't learned to read yet or have them read to you if they are older. Spend the time you would have spent watching television discussing what happened in the book you're reading together.

    • 6

      Enjoy a physical activity together as a family. Instead of switching on the television after dinner or homework, head out for a walk around your neighborhood. If you don't live in an area with sidewalks, pile the family into the car and drive to the park, where you can walk on the trails together or play on the playground equipment.

    • 7

      Poll your family on a weekly basis and choose one big activity that week to replace television viewing. For example, you might choose to volunteer at a homeless shelter after dinner instead of sitting and watching sitcoms, or you might choose to have a family game night or crafts night. The key is picking an activity that is more exciting and fulfilling that television.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • 8 Parenting Debates to Hash Out Before Baby
      01 of 08 Is now the right time? If you know you want children, Alan M. Singer, Ph.D., family therapist and author of Creating Your Perfect Family Size, suggests the most important decision for couples to make is whether it'
    • Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids With Milk & Peanut Allergies
      Feeding a child with milk and peanut allergies can be challenging. These allergens are commonly found in pre-packaged foods such dips, crackers, candy and other snacks. However, a wide variety of delicious and healthy snack options are available that
    • Craft Ideas for Clown Costumes for Kids
      Costumes for kids get pricey, leaving many parents searching for homemade alternative versions. Creating a clown costume requires some imagination and craft ideas. The craft supplies used for a childs clown costume include face paints, clothes in siz