Moms Talk Q&A: What Do You Do About TV?

Question: How do you deal with TV, now that the weather is starting to get better?

Rhonda Sasa answers: We sometimes wonder how our children can become so dependant on electronics and not play the way we did when we were kids — outside riding bikes, shooting hoops, playing tag, etc. How do we get them to stop watching TV and get outside to get some exercise and — as my mom would say — “rosy cheeks?"

I thought this question would be easy for me to answer but then something happened last night — I lost my phone.

I am sitting here writing while feeling the sense of loss. I lost something that I was depended on to “in actuality” entertain me. (I won’t mention how I now don’t know when my next appointment is, or how to find my client's number that I’m listing a house for, or even what's the Groupon of the Day.)

With these feelings that I am dealing with today, it makes me think of the loss some children may feel when their source of entertainment is taken from them, the entertainment source that we provided them while it was too cold to go outside. I can only imagine that they would also feel a sense of loss when the TV and entertainment boxes are turned off.

I now believe that our approach needs to be well thought-out, and we need to be ready to provide them with the essentials of other activities — not only to exercise the body, but to keep their minds entertained, too. I can only imagine that they too will feel a loss.

As a basketball coach, I highly suggest looking into group sports for the children. This way, the activity is scheduled and the children know they have something to look forward to — and they will also meet lots of new friends.

Johnston Memorial Park has many spring activities for children to chose from and sign up for, and they're currently taking registration forms for T-Ball, Track and Youth Soccer. Any one of these would be a great springtime activity.

Johanna Corcoran answers: When our daughter was younger, we used to tell her the TV was broken! Unfortunately, that does not work anymore, and we have definitely watched more TV this winter.

It's really just part of our family's pattern: winter = indoors and the TV is on. It's mostly been PBSkids, but still, that glassy-eyed look happens no matter what they are watching!

The pattern changes come spring, though, when nicer weather makes it easier to plan outdoor activities that are more fun than watching TV.

Backyard scavenger hunts, good 'ol fashioned mudpies, and this year I'm going to give my daughter a chance to start her own small garden. I've also found that she (and most kids) would rather have fun with friends than sit and watch TV, so on the days when weather is not great for outside play, I'm going to plan some afternoons with her friends.

I think the key is to distract the kids with better activities. Then they don't realize they are missing the TV.

April Barber answers: It has been a terrible winter this year. 

I have to admit the kids did a lot of TV watching (mixed in with the computer and video games). I think the winter weather makes everyone feel a little blue, even the kids.

Children get bored and then don't know what to do with themselves. They get used to watching certain programs and series. The minute the kids get home from school, they put the TV on — but not before they say "I'm Hungry!"  

It can be a battle cutting down the TV time. I have been trying to have them do their homework, eat dinner and then they can watch TV for a little while.  

I also bought the kids bikes for Christmas and they are still waiting to ride them — but I think things are looking up!