We recently updated our very small analog TV for a 50 inch LED TV.  My husband will be the first to tell you that I don’t like TV especially a 50 inch screen with options to watch anything you want anytime you want.  It sucks my children in and they become catatonic piles of goo staring at the pretty lights. 

As an art teacher for many years, I dislike how television in many ways kills creativity.  Children don’t have to think for themselves as they sit there and let others entertain them.  However, don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy watching a movie now and then and do appreciate that I can now read the score of the football game from sitting on the couch.  I even use the TV as a babysitter when in a desperate need of a short break.

Television, like all forms of entertainment, needs to be in moderation.  It’s a tricky balancing act.  I encourage you moms to turn your personal facebook time (or other screen time) into face to face time with your kids.  Play a game with them, read them a book, or create something with them.  Your kids love undivided attention from mom, even if it’s 15 minutes a day.  You are a live, breathing, huggable, interactive person that your children want and need.

Tips for the day:

Have movie time as a family and afterwards spend time talking with your children about the movie.  Ask questions like, “What did you learn?  What was your favorite part?  How would you change movie if you directed it?”

 If you have a hard time getting your kids away from the TV, get a very large cardboard box they can crawl into.  Then watch them go to work, they’ll entertain themselves for hours.