Here is another reader question from the Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling Facebook community. Please join in and share your thoughts. Here you can read all of the featured homeschool community questions and answers.
Reader Question: Hi, I was wondering if you can help me find some answers. How many homeschool parents/families/households do not have TV and if they do how do they limit their children’s viewing time? My husband and I were TV fanatics and then as we have grown more in our faith, we have noticed that quite a bit of the programs are not appropriate for us and definitely for our children. We watch PBS programs and our religious programs. We preview any movies or cartoons before we let the children watch them. My husband will play video games every so often, but none are violent in any manner. I have an almost 4 yo boy and an 18 month old girl, and another girl on the way. I just do not want to start something that will or may become a problem as they get older and in our homeschooling journey. (You can read the question and all of the helpful answers here.)
A note from Jamerrill: Before I post some of the great answers and tips that readers shared for this question I wanted to let you know how our family handles TV. We have one TV and we’ve always had one TV in our home. We had a satellite service so we could watch Fox News and the Duggars. When my husband was laid off several years ago we canceled that service and have never had it turned back on. Now we have Amazon Prime and Netflix. We enjoy a great documentary or movie as a family. During the last few months of my pregnancy with Amelia I spent a lot of time on the couch we my feet up. Besides heavy family reading time we also watched nearly every documentary that Netflix and Amazon Prime had on World War II. That is the nice thing about the services that are now available like Amazon Prime, we don’t have to watch commercials or wade through junk. Any movie that we *think* we may want to watch I check for Christian reviews on Christian Spotlight.
That’s how we’ve handled TV in our family. Below is how other readers have handled this topic.
TV and Homeschooling: How Do You Handle It?
Beka said: We only have Netflix. I basically do what you already do— preview everything. My husband does play some more *grown up* video games, but only when the kids are asleep. We also only watch kids/family movies when they are awake. I limit it as well— they get one show before nap to help them calm (usually The Fresh Beat Band, they’re obsessed), one episode of Signing Time for school, and they can watch 15-20 minutes of a movie with us before bed if they’re good. That’s it. (Unless they’re sick or I’m really sick, then we have a TV day… which is nice, because since it’s so rare they will relax for the day and let everyone get some rest).
Lori said: I hear many people are many views on this. Sounds like you’re making concentrated efforts to protect your hearts and that of your family . I believe it’s about the heart of any issue, not a number nor the object/ technology itself
Kristin said: With or without TV is a personal decision. You sound like you are on the right track monitoring what and how much you and your kids watch. Families have different rules that fit their family, what fits theirs may not work for you. Do what you feel is right and is agreed upon between you and your husband.
Alice said: help them learn discernment
Cassie said: We do not have tv service of any kind. We do have movies but might put one in once a week or so as a family. Too many studies show the negative effects on the brain of any technological screen. This includes smart phones, computers, video games, etc. I have seen the negative effects on myself (attitude and lack of energy) being on the computer or iPad too much. The screen time effects adults brains too not just kids. It actually creates an addiction in the brain.
Maria said: My 5 year old gets 5 TV “tickets” a week. (I google searched tv watching coupons and printed a sheet of them). So each time he uses one, he gets one show of his choice (as long as it’s a show that’s already been approved). If there’s a show I want him to watch… educational or something, then he doesn’t have to use his tv ticket. Each time he does use his ticket its a 30-35 minute program. Then one special night each week (usually Friday), he’s able to use his tv ticket for a movie, and we make it a fun movie night! I am very choosy about what my kids watch… there is a lot of JUNK in a lot of shows and movies! So get creative. We’ve watched classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Elizabeth said: We have always been very careful and very strict as to what our children watch from the time they where big enough to watch tv. They are now 7 and 4 and both of them will come running and tell me if something is on that they think is not right or they know they can not watch. If we are at a family members home they will get up and leave the room if they know they are not allowed. They watch a lot of veggie tales, they have really helped them learn more about the bible. Certain programs on pbs can be very educational!
Tammy said: We couldn’t afford to keep cable and our antenna isn’t strong enough to pick up the free channels. It’s been the best 3 1/2 years ever! Netflix, lots of DVD’s on our shelf and online. Many stations stream recent episodes of their own programs for free.
In addition to this question there was another question posted from a mom who was having trouble with children and video games. This question and answer thread may be helpful for those who need it.
Do you own a TV? How do you use TV with your homeschooling? What limits do you set on TV?
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We watch the morning news together every day while we est breakfast. Tv is then off until after school and reading time. They are limited what they’re allowed to watch. Video games are also limited. They have a history of being obsessive with Tv and games (more my son) so we are strict on those things. My kids are 10 & 12.
I am in the minority I suppose. I monitor what my children watch (we prefer Sprout) but I don’t really limit it. If they start watching too much I turn it off and shoo them outside. But my kids spend more time playing, reading and learning and going to Church & other activities than they do watching TV. So, I don’t worry too much! I have 6 kids ages 12, 9, 7, 5, 3 and 9 months and can’t imagine trying to keep track of them each having a certain amount of time to watch TV. I am just not that organized! I am always open to the Spirit though and if I felt like it was necessary to get rid of the TV then I would without a moment of hesitation.
Amen, Amanda. It’s however the Lord directs your family. Thanks for sharing!
This is a little off topic but along the same lines… we have talked about getting rid of our satellite and just doing netflix… BUT my husband loves to watch the Hockey Games and they don’t come one regular TV and I haven’t found any way to get them online…. Anyone found a solution to this? I’m willing to pay a reasonable amount to get them since I would be able to save a ton by getting rid of the Satellite… I know that Amazon carries the Duggars and Duck Dynasty which are the 2 shows I like but I don’t want him to have to give up his Hockey.
We are very strict on content and used to have a family habit if changing the channel as soon as the show “gets dark” before commercials. We no longer have satellite, but use Netflix for streaming approved shows and watch movies with our Clearplay DVD player. We check pluggedinonline.com but are SO pleased to be able to watch pretty much any movie (reasonably) with no offensive language, nudity, blasphemy, racial slurs, gore, etc!! I strongly encourage and emphatically support anyone who is selective about what they or their children watch to get Clearplay!!! (I don’t sell it lol but I do appreciate it THAT much!)
We turned off our cable in January 2010 as a personal sacrifice to save money to bring our now adopted daughter home from the Philippines. We have never had it turned back on and have no plans to. I don’t know how we ever had time to watch TV to be honest! Our kids are allotted 1/2 hour of electronic time a day- that could mean a movie, computer games, DS, X-box etc, but only a 1/2 hour a day TOTAL.. This does not include any school work they must do using the TV or computer. We are a little more lenient on the weekends and we do have a family movie night on Tuesdays. And EVERYTHING is monitored by us. Our kids are ages 12,11,9(but special need so much younger inside), 7, and 10 months.
In addition to monitoring what our kids watch, we also have “screen free” month every June. During this month the kids are not allowed to “watch” any screen (although my daughter did point out that the kindle was more reading than screen). My husband and I greatly curtail our screen time as well to just checking blogs, weather, news etc. We just think it’s a good way to discourage any bad habits that might be forming.
We don’t let our kids watch a lot of tv; we do watch a lot of educational shows and/or documentaries though. Most of our children learn well by watching these types of shows & discussing it afterwards. It almost always ends up turning into research and other fun activities having to do with the subject at hand. As far as actually letting our kids watch a lot of “regular” tv, we don’t. Unless we’re watching a movie that we have already previewed or is religious in nature, they don’t watch it at all.