Keeping the TV off

This is always a battle in our house because it is, hands down, Josiah's favorite thing in the whole world. He seems to be one of those kids who would watch all day every day if he could. Eve is just starting to show some real interest and Isaac hardly even notices. It gets especially difficult when the weather turns cold and going outside to play gets more difficult. So, we've developed several strategies to keep it turned off around here and ways to use the extra time we have.

• Be comfortable with boredom. I've found that when the kids feel bored it can turn into an opportunity for imaginative play or creativity. These are the times when the children bond with each other and with their parents.
  
• Have a schedule. Believe me, I do not do schedules and I avoided this for years. Finally, out of desparation, I made a schedule of TV time for Josiah. We now allow TV time two days/week after school. This helps to avoid the constant whining to turn it on. They can also lose this privelige for bad behavior.
• Involvement. Get them involved in whatever your busy with and throw your own agenda out the window.
  
• The Pea Green Boat! It's a local radio children's program on NPR on every day from 4:00-5:00. We tune in almost every day.
• Crafting
• Music and dance parties!
  
• Audio Books
• Ebooks This one we get through our library's website
• Go outside to play EVERY day. Even if it's only for 5 minutes.

These are things that our family has found helpful, but the most important thing for me is making a concious decision to be completely present and involved in the minute to minute lives of my children.