There are so many reasons to dramatically cut down on television or to cut it out altogether. You’ll find in the end that your children will be much more likely to become avid readers and, as a result, perform better in school and in life. Instead of acting out the drama and degradation on popular TV, your kids will demonstrate the values you seek to pass on to them. You’ll also find your own productivity will increase, and oftentimes, a marriage will be sparked back to life by eliminating television. It may be a challenge at first to get used to your new lifestyle, but soon the benefits will be so rewarding that you’ll be too busy enjoying your higher quality of life that you won’t even think about the absence of television in it.
Tina Turbin
This is spot on. You really hit the nail on the head. I wish more parents would read and do this in their own homes. Sandy
I agree. This is a terrific piece. I hope others read it and get as much out of it as I did. Thanks. Hey,I love your entire site! Marcy
I really couldn’t agree with you more. TV lets other people’s value systems into your home unmonitored. Getting rid of our television was the best decision we made in a long time for our family!
I gave this a try after reading a similar post on your other blog at tinaturbin.com and I am really enjoying the peace and quiet!
I just stopped having the TV on during the week and so far the biggest protester has been…my husband LOL!
ABsolutely agree with this! My kids don’t watch television but they still watch DVDs, but they are such sweethearts with manners now and have become some avid readers.
I think what it comes down to is, Who do you want to raise your kids? It may seem like an innocent box, but it instills different moral and value systems than your own into your children. I want to raise my child myself and the TV is only for movies that I approve of and often watch with my kids myself.
Thank you thank you for spreading this positive message about cutting down on TV. The benefits are so wonderful for any family.
I really recommend dramatically cutting down on television watching (and video games!). It had a huge impact on the behavior of my kids. They are much easier to deal with, listen better, and are more polite.
I think this is a great idea. Sometimes I think it’s necessary though for some families to try this little by little. Try turning off the TV during dinner, or for one whole night, then gradually cut it out more and more. I guarantee you’ll appreciate the quiet and the company of your family.
It’s so easy to just plop your kid in front of the television, but you just have to fight that urge and give them stuff to do and do it with them too!
Hi, Tina, we are big Danny fans, so excited to give copies of your books to our friends and family this year! We are a limited-TV family, too, and the kids don’t even mind when we keep them busy with books and activities.
Hi Tina you are 100% right about tv and how it can affect families and marriages. Turn it off, people, you’ll feel so accomplished at the end of each day!
This one really cracked me up because in my house…I’M the one obsessed with TV, and my husband and kids are always complaining to me about it. Boy, it might just be time to cut down!
I am going to give this a try as my New Year’s Resolution. I guess if you can rent DVDs now of your favorite shows, what do you have to lose?
There are some really good channels and shows out there. I think boundaries and guidelines need to be established such as homework needs to be done first before the TV goes on.
This is a great time not just for parents, but everyone! Soon, I bet people will be saying, “Turn off the computer!” LOL so many people spend so much time online these days!
It’s not so bad if you just keep tabs on what your kids are watching and when. Homework first!
I very much agree with you. Over the holidays though I usually leave the TV on more because you really get the sense of Christmas through the commercials, music, and the movies they play. Sigh…I love Christmas:) Other than this time of year though there’s really no reason to have it on any more than a couple of hours a week in my humble opinion.
All you really need is a TV set and Netflix, I’m telling you! It saves a lot on the cable bill! Why watch TV on the networks’ schedules when you can rent your favorite shows on DVD during YOUR delegated TV time?
Wiser words were never spoken!
Nothing helped with my son’s behavioral problems, NOTHING, except when we finally literally covered our TV with a sheet and unplugged it! We now watch movies on it only, but boy what a huge difference(also not playing video games on the TV). A great thing to do for your children!
Yeah turn it off!!!
I love your title for this one, how you call it Hey, PARENTS, Turn off the TV because it really does start with us making a firm decision and sticking to it!
Boy you think parents would get it by now and turn off the TV, especially with the shows teenagers watch! Oh my! Have you seen them? Watch them for 5 minutes and you’ll be so disgusted that you’ll be happy to turn the TV right off!
I’ve actually grown concerned about the internet now, with all the tv, shows, and of course websites available to teens. They can watch and read about stuff online that they don’t see when you turn of the TV. Watch out, parents!