New Boob Tube Rules for a New School Year

People who don’t own a television always impress me.

Right now it would be difficult to miss the exciting Olympic action or be on top of breaking national news. There’s got to be a balance.

Through the years I’ve seen a direct correlation between our boys’ behavior and the amount of screen time they have.

We purchased a Wii a couple of years ago with hopes that it would provide us with some indoor activity during the cold months. It did, but with it came an increase in aggressive and disobedient behavior. 

After 20 minutes of play, when we told him time was up, our oldest would become red in the face, jumping up and down and begging us for more. It was as if the thing had possessed him.

The Wii has since been unplugged.

When my oldest was six, we realized he was losing his interest in anything but TV.

Do you have plans for restricting screen time this school year?

There had been a time when he would sit at the kitchen table and draw for an hour straight. He enjoyed painting, doing puzzles and reading his many books. All of that went down the tube as soon as he started getting hooked on TV.

We told him that if he gave up TV for six months, we would allow him to go on a trip to any destination.

Surprisingly, he agreed to the deal. He went the entire six months without ever asking once to watch a TV show. We were flabbergasted!

Upon completion of his task, he informed us that he wanted to take a trip to, of all places, Costa Rica to see the rainforests -- a little more than we expected.

We still owe him that trip. But we sure were proud of him!

Last month, we drove to western Montana and up to the Canadian Rockies. As we packed, the question hung over me like a dark cloud…should I bring the case of DVDs?

Was it worth opening that can of worms? You know once you watch one movie, looking out the car window for the next pronghorn antelope isn't nearly as exciting.

Part of my brain told me “Don’t do it!” while another part screamed, “Are you crazy? You’re driving clear across Saskatchewan. YOU’RE going to want to watch a movie!”

I caved. I brought the DVD case.

But here’s the kicker – in 7,300 miles, the boys didn’t ask, nor did they watch one movie. I’m still blown away by it.

Instead, they read, worked on activity books, played car games, built backseat forts, looked through binoculars, and listened to books on my iPhone.

Together we listened to the kids’ version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and learned about the life of Abraham Lincoln. We were educated on Niagara Falls and listened to the silly stories of Carl Sandberg.

It was an amazing month-long journey.

So, as we enter this new school year, my goal is to make huge cuts in our weekly screen time.

I want our boys to regain their creative side that has been hiding. I want them to improve their reading skills. I want to play more games with them, to bake with them, to sing with them, to be with them.

Ok, I’ve convinced myself. Someone get me Service Electric’s number.

I’m cutting the cable.