On Saying No to Television {Part I}

"Would you like to plant your own garden?" This was the question I asked my 4 year old daughter, A, this past Saturday morning. I asked it because she asked to watch television again. "Yes!" was her answer.
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When I observed an increase in disobedient behavior, last week I decided to pack away the television and started saying no to all screen time. In this 3-part series, I will be sharing how it is going and what we see as a result.

In 1, 2, and 3 months from now I will be sharing my experiences and observations. Here are a few improvements I am seeing in just a week.

• a calmer atmosphere
• enjoying life and quiet activities more
• being more creative in play
• longer attention span and conversations (with all the family)
• a happy child and much more obedient

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The biggest improvement I have seen is that most angry outbursts have disappeared within a couple of days. My happy A is back. I wondered if she would be bored? I wondered if I would be bored? Ironically, we are less bored now that TV is gone. Why?

It's exactly what Charlotte Mason said. Children need a feast of ideas. Entertainment is not feeding our minds, at least not much. Good books, creative play, hands-on work, this does feed our minds. Now when A is bored, we, and often she, come up with a pleasant activity. Today she wanted to act out Snow White, and then she asked to read it from our fairytale book.

Yesterday I read in A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola that "each day a child should have something to do, someone to love, and something to think about". She reminds us that the "something to do" can be useful, rather than mere entertainment.

Is no television something your family will try?