If you limit TV in your house, is it because...

[MissKNG]

your kiddos would sit and watch it all day? That is why my sister doesn't allow the TV to run much at her house. Is this true for others as well?

 

The reason I'm asking is, for various reasons, I let the TV/DVDs/music run (but not all day) at my house and my girls DO NOT just sit and watch. So it's hard for me to *think* that other kids just sit and watch. Especially since there are so many ad campaigns about getting kids outside to play.

 

Just wondering...:D

 

ETA: I put this in a post below but in case it gets missed, here's another question:

 

I don't like having a quiet house meaning without background noise. Of course, the girls are talking, playing, yelling, running, etc. So do you just have a quiet, no background noise, home? Or what do you do for background noise? Music?

 

ETA #2- We run mainly Classical Music channels or kids worship - I think people were under the impression that only shows were being run.

Edited September 17, 2010 by MissKNG
clarification

[Jennifer in MI]

This is true for one of my kids. He will watch whatever is on ALL.DAY.LONG. if allowed (he's not allowed!). So, we don't turn it on during the week, unless it's storming outside and they can't play outside. We allow the occasional show on the weekend. Oh - and sports. We watch sports, but don't let our addict sit there for the entire thing. It's background noise for the rest of us!

[FriedClams]

No.

 

We limit for content.

 

My kids now will RARELY sit and watch a whole movie. They just lack a taste for it. We do watch a show a week with the kids - usually a Food Network reality show - Chopped,Great Food Truck, Next Iron Chef. We like the content, the competitors are kind to one another and show a great deal of professional courtesy (except Chopped, which we discuss at length). The kids will also occasionally watch Ruff which we TiVo from PBS or Paws and Tales from CBN.

[rwjx2khsmj]

If the t.v. is on, four of the six people in our home become totally unable to do anything but stare slack jawed at the screen. My dd6 doesn't seem to have the same reaction to t.v. as the others. I find most of what is coming from the t.v. to be irritating.

 

ETA: We do also limit for content so what we watch when we do watch is pretty limited.

[anissa]

Yes, my kids would sit and watch. We watch,on average, only one sporting event a week. I could go my whole life without tv.:)

[skyday]

I find it is just a distraction to my kids. They argue over what show to watch and then over what video/dvd to watch. Even if they are working on a project or playing together I find that they'll get distracted and just stare at the screen. Plus, if they're watching a channel that has commercials I have to hear "Mom, I want that!" every 5 seconds! My kids are only 7 and almost 5 and I find that if I keep the TV off during the day (at least M-F) they find other things that stimulate their brains better.

[jenL]

My boys would definitely sit and watch TV or play computer games all day long if I let them. We limit for both.

 

PS - Dh is the same way. :001_rolleyes:

[melissel]

Yes for both of mine. This theory was tested this summer (we've had a hard summer), and it still proves true. We start back to school next week, and we'll be going back to "no TV during the school week." It's going to be a hard transition *sigh*

[BMW]

We do for a couple of reasons...

 

One, there are many other things I would rather have the children do... read, play, games...

 

And one child WOULD be the one to lay around and just watch sitcom after sitcom.

 

The other reason is that I don't find many shows on that I appreciate. They just don't pass on good morals to my kids. I don't see respect on the TV. I don't like all the crime shows and now that I have teens, those shows are like a magnet. Actually, I do enjoy some crime shows, but not as a regular experience...

 

We did have a lot of fun laughing at the Wipeout show this summer. Lots of laughs.

 

But, for just hanging out and watching something, we'd prefer to pick out the movies we want.

[MissKNG]

I don't like having a quiet house meaning without background noise. Of course, the girls are talking, playing, yelling, running, etc. So do you just have a quiet, no background noise, home? Or what do you do for background noise? Music?

[melissel]

I don't like having a quiet house meaning without background noise. Of course, the girls are talking, playing, yelling, running, etc. So do you just have a quiet, no background noise, home? Or what do you do for background noise? Music?

 

Music or audiobooks or silence, depending on what we're doing.

[Gratia271]

DH watches the news while he showers, but otherwise no one here watches television. We view documentaries and videos of interest, though. Television has simply never been part of our lives nor have video games. I realize we're strange...:tongue_smilie:

[abbeyej]

No, they wouldn't watch all day. But it's a distraction. And I think there are better uses of their time. By limiting screens to a few hours on weekends, we limit the distraction (from school work, from chores, from creative play).

 

I find that background noise thing is an issue of habit for me. And one that, with effort, can be broken. At which point I realize that my brain was not functioning as fully or as clearly with even those gentle distractions around the periphery.

 

That said, if you really *need* the sound, I would try to opt for quiet, instrumental classical or baroque music in the background rather than screens that offer the additional visual stimulus.

[Guest]

We use our elderly TV to watch DVDs only. Our city went digital some time back and we never made the change, so we don't get signals!

 

My dd likes background noise and always has an audiobook or musical soundtrack playing (quietly). I adore silence...

[myfunnybunch]

My children would sit and watch all day. Well, three of the five would. I have two that get bored after a while and go play.

 

They have a daily screen time limit. (Includes video games, computer, television.)

 

We put the tv on the classical music channel so there's music all day long. I find that quiet background music helps the boys concentrate.

 

Cat

[Crissy]

I don't like artificial background noise whether it is television or music. Right now my younger son is quietly reading and his bird is chattering away beside him. It's perfect.

 

We don't turn on the tv until evening--I usually switch on the local news while I'm cooking dinner. During the day there are just too many other things to get done and tv would be a distraction. When we do have free time in the middle of the day, the boys will pick up a book or play a board game. If the television was running, they probably would just sit down and watch it.

[Laura Corin]

I don't mind music being on, but for me the constant drivel that is much TV gets in the way of sitting down with a book or doing something creative. We limit TV time - when it's on we watch it, then we switch it off.

 

Laura

[MissKNG]

 

That said, if you really *need* the sound, I would try to opt for quiet, instrumental classical or baroque music in the background rather than screens that offer the additional visual stimulus.

 

Yes, actually the Classical Music channels are on the most or kids worship.

[Mom-ninja.]

I like a quiet house. I get a headache and very cranky with constant background noise.

 

I also refuse to pay for TV.

[Dawn in OH]

We do not have cable or reception to local television. This is because of content, including advertising and language. We would also rather the children play or read.

 

They are allowed to watch a movie/dvd, approved by us, but not all day, unless we are sick.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Dawn in OH
mommy brain

[silliness7]

My kids are the background noise at my house. :001_smile: I do not like to have music or TV on in the background because it just adds to the noise level which is plenty loud enough as it is.

 

As to the first question...Yes, my kids would sit and watch the TV all day if it is on in varying degrees. They are individuals after all.

My 13yo could do his school in front of the TV, not as quickly and not as well, but could get it done and not be too distracted. But when school's done he would not expend the effort to find something else to do. He would just veg in front of anything.

My 12yo is terribly distracted by the TV, can't do school work in front of it. Yes, he would veg in front of it after school if it was on no matter what was on. I've caught him vegging to Sesame Street while school is still in session because he's just that distractable.

My 10 yo cannot concentrate with any noise and frequently goes off to his room to do his hard school. If he didn't like what was on TV he would eventually go find something else to do but not before wasting too much time watching something stupid. But if it's one of his shows/movies he'll veg indefinitely.

The younger they are the less time they will spend just laying there especially if it's not interesting to them.

Sometimes I WANT my 3yo and 1yo to sit still and watch TV for 30 min. so they will be quiet and I can read a school book to someone. It can be hard to find something they will sit still for.

 

So I think it totally depends on the ages of kids and their proclivity to fidget or veg. I do try to control it, (though it gets away from me at times) to force those who tend to veg to find something more useful to do with their brain. Otherwise, they rarely would.

[coffeegal]

I like a quiet house. I get a headache and very cranky with constant background noise.

 

I also refuse to pay for TV.

 

:iagree: If we want to watch a show, we rent it. ;)

[MorganClassicalPrep]

I only limit TV because we have a pretty tight schedule, and need the TV off to get things done.

 

During free play time/breaks/etc. I don't limit TV. I've tried a number of different times, but we just don't need to have any sort of limit. Even if the TV is on all day, my daughter doesn't really sit and watch most of the time.

 

I'm not really a background noise type of person, but if the TV is off we usually have music on, because DD would dance/sing/perform all day long. :lol:

[angela in ohio]

I doubt they would sit and watch it all day. When we go to my parents house, it is on, and they can take it or leave it. Sorry to those who assume that if you don't ever let them watch it, they will OD at the first chance! :D Habits are habits. :001_smile: I suppose if they had grown up watching it for hours on end, they would be tempted to do that.

 

We don't watch TV because we find other things more valuable. We have a roomfully stocked with art supplies, games, puzzles, books, craft supplies, etc. They spend a lot of time on those. We also have a shed full of sports equipment, so they go outside a lot. When you add in school work and running to activities or lessons, I just don't know when they'd have time to watch it anyway. It would have to replace something else in their lives, and we just don't value it enough to do that.

 

As a pp said, I also find much on TV that is inappropriate for children or adults.

 

For background noise, we listen to classical music. Usually it's the radio classical channel, but they also put in CDs, especially the CDs we order with dd's orchestra pieces or recital pieces on them. They also listen to books on tape or Your Story Hour. My dc are older, so they are pretty quiet except for light chatter, so the music is nice.

Edited September 17, 2010 by angela in ohio

[5LittleMonkeys]

We don't even have cable. My reasons:

 

content

commercialism

several dc would become obsessed by it

I find the noise irritating \ the noise of commercials literally causes me to be irritable and cranky

cuts into family time

reduces the amount of time family members spend reading

reduces the amount of time my dc spend in creative or imaginative exploration

 

Now, that being said, we do have Netflix, The dc watch a lot of documentaries and we watch some British shows with my older dc in addition to various genres of movies but that only occurs a couple nights a week and on the weekend evenings.

 

As for background noise? My dc generate enough of that. I find background noise (tv,music) distracts me from thinking clearly, causes me to be forgetful and prevents me from really focusing on the task at hand. I also can not talk\listen to God without quiet. I need all the help I can get from him so I try to maintain a modicum of peace during the day.:001_smile:

[MissKNG]

 

During free play time/breaks/etc. I don't limit TV. I've tried a number of different times, but we just don't need to have any sort of limit. Even if the TV is on all day, my daughter doesn't really sit and watch most of the time.

 

 

 

Ok, yes, this sounds like our house too.

[Corraleno]

We watch very little except documentaries. I record a lot of history and science programs from the Science Channel, History Channel, National Geographic, etc., and we also rent history/science DVDs from Netflix. We have a huge library of Teaching Company courses, too. Generally we watch a couple of documentaries or TC lectures each afternoon or evening, but we very rarely watch a "show."

 

As for background noise, Dh loves it & I hate it. He constantly leaves the radio on, which I turn off as soon as he leaves the room. I don't mind classical music playing quietly in the background if I'm cooking or cleaning, but if I'm reading or doing anything that involves thought, then I need silence. (Except for kid noises — I actually find the sound of a bunch of kids running around outside laughing and squealing to be more soothing than music.)

 

Jackie

[lllll]

..

[Disney Dreaming]

I only limit TV because we have a pretty tight schedule, and need the TV off to get things done.

 

During free play time/breaks/etc. I don't limit TV. I've tried a number of different times, but we just don't need to have any sort of limit. Even if the TV is on all day, my daughter doesn't really sit and watch most of the time.

 

I'm not really a background noise type of person, but if the TV is off we usually have music on, because DD would dance/sing/perform all day long. :lol:

 

This is us. I never limited my 21 or 17 yr olds, and they by no means watch tv all day long. When they have a chance now(between school and work) they do watch, sometimes as a way to just relax. My son is a sports nut so that is most of what he watches! My 7 yr old has it on a good bit but doesn't sit and watch, it is more for sound, she is usually playing with her Barbie's and such. If she can't have the tv on then she usually will turn on music, again more for noise.

[lionfamily1999]

your kiddos would sit and watch it all day? That is why my sister doesn't allow the TV to run much at her house. Is this true for others as well?

 

The reason I'm asking is, for various reasons, I let the TV/DVDs/music run (but not all day) at my house and my girls DO NOT just sit and watch. So it's hard for me to *think* that other kids just sit and watch. Especially since there are so many ad campaigns about getting kids outside to play.

 

Just wondering...:D

 

ETA: I put this in a post below but in case it gets missed, here's another question:

 

I don't like having a quiet house meaning without background noise. Of course, the girls are talking, playing, yelling, running, etc. So do you just have a quiet, no background noise, home? Or what do you do for background noise? Music?

 

ETA #2- We run mainly Classical Music channels or kids worship - I think people were under the impression that only shows were being run.

Well, our kids morphed into couch potatoes (this was before we'd started hsing). It didn't even seem to matter WHAT was on the tv, I can remember older ds telling me about the INFOMERCIALS he'd watched... the long ones, and he didn't miss a moment of them :glare:

 

We don't have cable or a dish or a converter box (although we still have tvs). NOW, the kids don't even bother with tv. They get irritated if they have to watch a program for class. We succeeded in breaking the habit.

 

That's why we limited tv, but we don't have to anymore. If the kids go to a friend's house where everyone has become a zombie glued to the boob tube they leave on their own steam. TV just doesn't appeal to them anymore :D

 

 

ETA, I used to NEED background noise, but not anymore. That habit's been broken too. We used to play the radio all day on the classical station, then one night during a break in the music we heard a flock of geese flying over the house. We turned off the radio and spent the rest of dinner listening to the world outside. Everyone agreed, it was way more interesting and we've had a "quiet" house ever since. Although, now that we listen to the bugs and wildlife and even the domestic animal life it hardly seems quiet at all.

Edited September 17, 2010 by lionfamily1999

[Mallorie]

Our TV is rarely on. We use it for DVD's only, and that's limited to weekends now that school has started.

 

I also refuse to pay for TV.

 

My kids ARE my background noise. I find it highly entertaining to see what they come up with to converse about, and it would be a huge loss if TV were to replace that.

[In The Great White North]

It is because:

 

a. They would sit in front of it for hours - maybe not all day but long enough that other things wouldn't get done.

b. There isn't much good to watch.

c. I don't like the vocabulary, phrases and attitudes they start to mimic

d. I don't like background noise.

[Kathleen in VA]

Well, in very UNscientific terminology, we limit tv, movies, video games here because they turn the brain to mush.

 

Here's a link to a book that explains that in more scientific terminology. I read this years ago and can't remember the exact details - just that it led me to limit screen time.

 

Endangered Minds by Jane Healy

[RoughCollie]

We mostly turn on the t.v. for the Red Sox games only.

 

The background noise here is provided by the kids. I play music sometimes, when I think of it -- during chore times, especially. Frankly, I usually don't think of it, which is unfortunate because it definitely lifts my mood. I must be missing the music gene.

 

I never let my kids watch much t.v. and it was carefully censored when they were not yet teenagers. My goal was to keep their childhood innocence unsullied by tales of car accidents, crime, and war AND to promote their imaginations. DH and I never watched t.v. because the subject matter of whatever we were interested in was not suitable for the kids to overhear or to watch. So we got out of the habit.

 

Now that they are teens, they don't watch much t.v. (except for ballgames) because they don't think of it. Two of the boys watch t.v. on the internet sometimes. All of them watch documentaries from time to time so they can continue to know more than I do about everything. The Big Horrible Time-Waster here is video games, which they play online, or participation in message boards (teen writers, Red Sox, WOW). I limit that by requiring all electronics to be turned off at 9:30 each night (except for the t.v. during Red Sox games).

Edited September 17, 2010 by RoughCollie

[KrissiK]

I have one who literally would sit and watch all day - mesmerized in a daze. He would do the same with video games on the computer, so yes... I limit tv and video games.

[Jen+4dc]

We don't even have cable. My reasons:

 

content

commercialism

several dc would become obsessed by it

I find the noise irritating \ the noise of commercials literally causes me to be irritable and cranky

cuts into family time

reduces the amount of time family members spend reading

reduces the amount of time my dc spend in creative or imaginative exploration

 

Now, that being said, we do have Netflix, The dc watch a lot of documentaries ...

bolded part is me exactly

 

Well, in very UNscientific terminology, we limit tv, movies, video games here because they turn the brain to mush.

 

Here's a link to a book that explains that in more scientific terminology. I read this years ago and can't remember the exact details - just that it led me to limit screen time.

 

Endangered Minds by Jane Healy

:iagree:

This book is amazing!!! After a couple years of trying to convince dh we needed to get rid of tv I finally sent him this book while he was on deployment (I had canceled cable right after he left for 7 months). After reading this book he's completely agreed tv is an influence we do not need in our family.

 

We have pizza/movie family night on Friday and watch something together. Everyone looks forward to it. Today as we were putting in a documentary for history over lunchtime my ds11 said, "Mom, we watch a lot of really old movies, don't we? Why?" I had to smile:). I explained that most of what's on tv and even movies today just isn't uplifting. He's old enough to understand that. Although he (and his dad!) do wish we had ESPN during college football season;).

[Moni]

Didn't own a TV for ten years.

Now we do, but weeks go by without it even getting turned on.

 

Maybe I like the quiet, and we just didn't develop the habit of watching?? :)

 

Well, I know I prefer the silence when I can get it.

 

We have always been no screens during the school week. (no computer, no gameboy, no tv, etc.)

 

:seeya:

[KarenC]

We only have channels that we can get for free. So that automatically limits our tv viewing. But another reason we don't have cable is because I would have to set restrictions and what and how much time they watch. I think much of what's on is a complete waste of time and to us, it's not worth the hassle.

 

Karen

[NightOwlMama]

When I was growing up my family had a TV in the closet that we pulled out only if we were watching a movie on the weekend. Later when my parents divorced (me, 12) we had the contrast to that which was my Dad's house where it was always on - he liked the background noise. It was depressing:( Years later when I was a live-in nanny I wasn't tempted by their huge screen/billions of channels. I think the foundation my Mom laid really stuck with me and all of my siblings. It was easy then to go into a marriage and not have TV because my husband didn't care for it - so we've never used it for anything other than to play films during the weekend. When we had kids we decided not to let them watch any TV or movies until the time felt right. Of course there have been rare times when they have been at a friend or cousins house and have watched a little or I've shown them a clip on youtube. Both of my boys just turned 4 and 5 and we have recently decided to watch one special movie a month. They love it:) and we don't have a problem with them wanting more. This has worked so well for us and I love the time my children spend using their imaginations and the time we have spent as a family because of the lack of it.

 

The few times I let my children watch things I could see that if we had it going all the time that it would probably be the top choice. Most of those times their behavior became aggressive and rude when they wanted to watch more - this particular reaction they had I have only seen in them in regard to TV & movies. I think most children would choose easy entertainment with immediate gratification.

[The Girls' Mom]

Yes. All three of mine would watch from sun up to sun down and more. They are allowed to watch on Fridays, and sometimes that's all they will do all. day. long. I have to also limit computer and video game time as well...for the same reason.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

One son will watch non-stop or play video games non stop if permitted. The other one sets his own limits. So, I just limit it for both, but usually the younger one is ready to quit before my limit is up.

 

When I was single, I used to listen to music or NPR for background noise, but no one let me peacefully listen to either without complaining, so unless they aren't home, it's quiet.

[Cindyz]

My son is not the type to just sit and watch shows. He will sit and watch some things but not if they are too long. He will usually play with legos or do a puzzle, etc while a show is on.

 

He was never really allowed too much tv, but I made a rule in May that he couldn't have any tv or video games until after 4pm on week nights, and not until after all lessons were done on the weekends.

 

The consequence for just about any negative behavior is no tv, no video games and I will hit this one swiftly because I was trying to cut back more and more. Recently he's had several days with no tv, video games or computer (unless it's an educational documentary type show or computer for lessons), and something VERY interesting happened. Suddenly, he was picking up books more often on his own and actually reading them, asking us to read the longer chapter books to him, going to the piano to play and practice on his own, creating artwork, writing letters to family, etc all from his own natural desires.

 

If he has the choice of putting on the tv, dulling his mind and doing a puzzle, he will choose that over walking over to the piano to practice/play for the fun of it. If he has the choice of playing a video game or hearing a chapter book from mom or dad, he will choose the video game. It's not that he doesn't like to play piano or listen to books. He LOVES those things but if given the choice he will choose the tv or video game. When we take away those choices, we find that he is stretching himself more, and being more productive. We really like it!

 

The one down side is that I have to come up with a new consequence for negative behavior. :tongue_smilie:

Edited September 17, 2010 by Cindyz

[DarcyB]

My boys would definitely just sit and watch all day if given the opportunity. They've proved that. We also limit TV because we feel so much is unworthy, so we pick and choose.

 

And yes, I love the drone, too...so there's music, audio books or tv going often in our house when we're not needing to be quiet for concentrated studies.

[MotherGoose]

My dd4 would sit and watch and do nothing else if I let her. As would my dh. I let her watch something "quality" maybe 30 min a day. I've gotten used to the quiet and I like it now. It was hard at first, but I started cutting the TV off when I read something about the baby having to listen to you talk over the background noise when she was an infant, but before she could actually watch, so I got used to the quiet. The noise of the TV irritates me. I do put on music.

[simka2]

DEFINATELY!!!! All of my kids would just sit and watch....ANYTHING. Today I had a NAT GEO show on about Mongolia and they watched the whole thing!!!! Don't even get me started on HGTV...they could watch it all day!

 

So, we have a no tv rule...except on weekends, or school videos!

 

For background I don't usually do anything. Their voices along with the washing machine, dishwasher, homeschool dvd's and computer activites make enough noise :glare:!

[Medieval Mom]

We do not have a tv, but we sometimes watch a dvd or stream Netflix on the computer at lunch, like Schoolhouse Rock, Mathtacular, Winnie the Pooh, David Attenborough, Liberty's Kids, Robin Hood, etc.

 

I hate background noise. I grew up in a quiet house in the country. I like hearing the birds, or complete silence rather than drivel. If we feel like listening to something while crafting or playing with Legos or cooking dinner, I play music.

 

I've never noted a tv program that I felt was important for the children to watch. As for entertainment, they seem quite capable of entertaining themselves.

 

I have a horror of seeing people SPACE OUT watching tv. It truly frightens me. :tongue_smilie:

 

With the tv off, my kids choose to play or read or talk or do crafts instead. I am old-fashioned enough to consider this time better spent. As a family, we play as a family, instead of vegging out in front of a tv. :)

 

I challenge anyone who wonders about the unplugged life to try it for a month ;)

[Tutor]

We don't have broadcast/ cable tv for a few reasons.

 

1. We just don't get broadcast here.

2. Cable or installing an antenna would be too costly for us.

3. If we had the ability to leave the tv on all the time, we would and then we'd just watch because it was there (dh an I included).

 

We decided to have Netflix and an extensive DVD collection so that we could be purposeful in our watching. Sometimes the purpose is to have background noise (especially when one of us is sick, we like to have a familiar movie on as a comfort) and often it is to watch something particular. We are big movie lovers, though.

 

I grew up in a house where either the tv or the radio was on all the time, so I find having the radio on (music or talk) comforting. My dh finds it annoying, so he often just wears headphones (since he's often working at his desk) and I put the radio on since I am flitting around. Half the time, I don't even know what is on; I just like the connection to the world and the routine of the shows.

[Karen in CO]

I limit tv because I think it is a waste of time and I refuse to pay for it. We watch NetFlix OnDemand or free shows from places like hulu. I can't comprehend a world in which parents would consider letting their kids watch it all the time.

 

And yes. my house is quiet. constant noise would drive me crazy. I need the quiet, peaceful background to my life. I grewup in a house with a hard-of hearing parent. My dad has a bad ringing in his ears and can't tolerate silence which probably explains part of my need for it. I think a balance of quiet and noise would be ideal. I don't want to raise people that can't be alone with their own thoughts.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Karen in CO

[iluvmy4blessings]

Well I will admit that we do watch TV. We have several shows we like to watch as a family. We watch tv in the evening but not during the day. We watch mostly on nights that have shows we like (survivor etc) We do have the music channel on during the day b/c I also don't like it to be totally quiet. I always have KLOVE the Christian music channel on. I like background noise. maybe that' s why I have 4 kids :001_smile:

[lionfamily1999]

We don't have broadcast/ cable tv for a few reasons.

 

1. We just don't get broadcast here.

2. Cable or installing an antenna would be too costly for us.

3. If we had the ability to leave the tv on all the time, we would and then we'd just watch because it was there (dh an I included).

 

We decided to have Netflix and an extensive DVD collection so that we could be purposeful in our watching. Sometimes the purpose is to have background noise (especially when one of us is sick, we like to have a familiar movie on as a comfort) and often it is to watch something particular. We are big movie lovers, though.

 

I grew up in a house where either the tv or the radio was on all the time, so I find having the radio on (music or talk) comforting. My dh finds it annoying, so he often just wears headphones (since he's often working at his desk) and I put the radio on since I am flitting around. Half the time, I don't even know what is on; I just like the connection to the world and the routine of the shows.

Dh and I were the same way (watch it because it's there). We've learned to live with the quiet for the most part, like I posted a few pages ago, we enjoy listening to the world around us now. But... at night... I have to turn on hulu for us to fall asleep. That's when we really can't stand the quiet. I have found that we both lose track of time much easier now, without tv/radio on around the clock and that's a little disconcerting (what do you mean it's dinner time?!?).

 

I think making THAT change alone (very little tv, versus the way we grew up, living off tv) will make a huge difference in our kids' lives. It's nice to know we've done at least one thing right :lol: