Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Unplugging for Spring Break
As you all can tell, my life revolves around my family. Lolo has started her spring break and is home with me along with Annie and Dels. Molly is the one who has been sick and just yesterday went back to school. (High temp, cough, no appetite~ watch out, it's going around) Anyways, getting to the point... I have been online quite a bit, I love to read your blogs and I love being able to share a glimpse of our lives in my own blog. BUT~ I have decided that for spring break, I will be spending it with my family, my children who tug for my attention. I only have one chance in my life to mold and create wonderful children and with everyone out of school, this is my chance.
Of course I do have to mention the video. I saw this on the Today Show. At first I was listening with only one ear, but later on in the interview it really caught my attention. Part of me listens to these ladies and says "Well, who the heck buys all the technology toys for the kids?" OR "If you don't like seeing your children plugged in to all these gadgets, why not change that?" So listen to the video and give me your opinion.
Are you too plugged in?
Are your children?
At what age do you think tech gadgets are appropriate?
Do you allow tv/other gadgets in their bedroom?
Do you limit time spent plugged in?
Time spent plopped down in front of the tv?
What are some positives/negatives of tech on your life?
Just a few idea questions, now tell me what you think.
For now, I am turning off the cartoons...Goodbye Dora! I am turning off the morning shows. I am unplugging the computer *sigh and a tear*
Watch out kids, you are in for an overdose of MOMTIME!
BUT I WILL BE BACK!
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39 comments:
I hope you have a great week with your girls! We'll all be here when you plug back in :)
My guy is still so little. I know I will not allow him to have a tv in his room ever. I don't think it's necessary. And I plan on avoiding video games as long as possible. We are guilty of a lot of tv time in my house. Thomas is only zoned in when it's one of about 3 programs. Other than that he's playing with his toys. TV is almost always on in the background though. He's very curious about the computer because he sees me and his Dad on it a lot. He won't get his own until he's in college though! ha ha ha. And cell phones and ipods..........maybe when he's a teenager. I think parents buy too much of this stuff for their kids for no other reason other than "well so and so has one"......that's just my opinion.
I haven't watched the video, but agree that we can all be "too plugged in", me included!!! My kids can watch 2 shows a day. Most of the time they like to watch a 20 minute show in the morning & one in the afternoon after naps. Kind of like their wake-up time. Neither of them are really ever on the computer unless they're watching a youtube clip we thought was funny or something. But they're still young. I know this is a battle we'll have for a while :)
Enjoy your break!
I have no opinion. To each his own, just don't complain later. I personally have very little tech for my kids. I like it that way. I wanted to say I will miss you but I have a huge respect for what you are doing.
I hope you have a lovely Spring Break with the girls!
I consider myself very plugged in, but simply because of the fact that that is how I get all of my current knowledge - we don't get the paper, so I peruse the on-line version to catch-up on current events and such. That being said, I only use my cell phone for emergencies or to let someone know I am running late, it doesn't have a camera, and I don't own an iPod. The kids are both too little to have any sort of need for technology, and will never be allowed to have a television in their bedrooms, as hubby and I do not. A computer in their room will be debatable when the time arrises.
There is very little television that the kids get to watch on a regular basis - they have seen Dora and Diego, but don't get to watch it everyday. They do watch the 4:00 news every afternoon with me (it is the watered down version), and I will occassionally let them watch Wheel of Fortune if hubby is gone and I am trying to catch-up on chores (great for letter recognition!)
Part of the reason I blog so infrequently is because of the kids - I just don't get to it much because of their wants and needs. (Though there have certainly been times where they have been sent to entertain themselves so I can have a little break!) Anyway, enough rambling - enjoy your break!
Have a LOVELY spring break, Girlymom and Girlygirls! Glad Molly is feeling a little better. I'll miss you, but I'll just think of all the fun you'll be having, and I'll be here when you plug back in :). ENJOY, because they're only little for a short time...
Enjoy your time away!!!
Have a great week.
I too saw that on TV. I limit "my time" to when the kids are in school and Fifi naps. They do not have video games.
I try to mold them at home... they grow up so quickly. Have a GREAT week.
Yes I do think we get too plugged in! Myself definitely included!
My kids do get to watch I'm sure more TV than I should let them. We time Video game time & I try to just turn CD's on during the day while we're cleaning, coloring, playing.
It's easy to let the "gagdets" take over tho!
have a great Spring Break!!
Have fun with your kids! I applaud you for tuning out for a bit.
Yay for you! Enjoy the spring break.
Okay that's just crazy! We don't let our kids have video games or phones or anything like that really. Emma has a little barbie computer and that's just a learning thing. And she doesn't use it very much. I think we let our kids watch too much tv though!
I'd much rather my kids be outside playing. When it's warm that is and they like it too.
Have a great week with your family!
I hope you are having a wonderful week with your kids - have FUN!!
See you soon - Kellan
Good for you, GirlyMom! Your kids are blessed to have a mommy who sees the importance of this, and they will LOVE their special time with you. (And don't worry, we'll all still be here after Spring break. ;) )
I so agree on our society being too plugged in. I even know of children at my sons elementary school with their own cell phones! I suppose if one was a single parent, this sort of thing would be a huge convenience, but still, it could also be a very unhealthy thing on several levels. We had a little girl calling my son incessantly when he was in the 3rd grade! I had to put a stop to it, because I'm not of the mind that little boys and girls should have 'boyfriends' or 'girlfriends' at their ages...and call me old fashioned, but I think it's better if the boy calls the girl...but not until he's at least 20, lol.
Our older son will not be getting a cell phone until he begins driving (and even then there will be a firm rule to not use it while driving!) We also limit game system usage to weekends and breaks, only after homework and chores have been done. He's also not permitted games or movies unless we screen them first, and he doesn't get unlimited or unsupervised time on the computer or TV, either. Really, he doesn't have time. We keep him pretty busy with all kinds of other activities and church outings.
To model this for them, I try and limit my own computer time to when my little one is napping, or late at night when everyone else is in bed, so they don't see just my back at the computer.
But unplugging completely during their breaks is a great idea! We only get one go-round with parenting, after all!
Have a great spring break with your family
xx
Great Idea! I am sure you will enjoy your little break. Love your blog. Such cute kids! One evening our electricity went out and we sat around the fire and read stories. It was wonderful! Now we do in regularly. Ü
Up until this past Christmas we did not have video games in the house. Now we have portable Nintendos and a Wii. I try to limit the amount of time they play on it. They will not have a TV or phone in their room when they are older though, that rule will not change!
See you soon!
Kimmy
GOOD.FOR.YOU. Truly. I really need to plug in to my kids, and un-plug this laptop. Well, it's cordless, but you know. :)
Enjoy!
Awe . . . enjoy your time off. You clearly have your priorities straight!!! I'm in the process or reevaluating my blogging habits. I'm restructuring, reorganizing. It is hard as I do love meeting and getting to know so many awesome people. BUT, it must be done . . .
As for the segment on The Today Show . . . I was asking that same question. Someone is buying it for them AND letting them use it. Duh!
Again, have a wonderful fabulous spring break!!!
Hi, Girlymom!
Well, I know my boys are quite a bit older than your girls, so we're not exactly comparing oranges to oranges, you know? My boys do have quite a few tech toys and cell phones (we finally broke down and got them a year ago when we felt like they were both responsible enough to have one). We have one computer in our house, they do not have their own lap tops, etc., I don't think it's necessary at this point, however, Andrew will be a Senior in H.S. next year and I think we'll be buying him a lap top that he can take to college with him. While they both enjoy playing PlayStation 3, Wii, and talking to their friends online, I have to say that neither of my kids are really THAT caught up in it all, they are too busy with other things like school, basketball, baseball and football. I guess it all comes down to balance. If my kids were holed up in their rooms doing nothing but playing video games, I'd be concerned. At this point, they'd rather spend time with their friends doing something. (Phew! Sorry for the long-winded answer!) Hope you have a super fun Spring break with your family and a great trip! Take care!
Lizzy
Have a lovely spring break!
I think we have an okay balance technologically speaking. I keep the TV turned off all day except my toddler can watch ONE video (usually a Kidsongs video which teaches kids about animals and all sorts of things).
My children don't play on the computer but I probably need to spend less time.
No TVs in anyone's bedrooms, not even mine!
I think my husband plays XBOXLIVE way more than he needs to and we do watch TV together at night before bed (we have a few shows we like) but that is relaxing and we talk and laugh.
I think it is all about finding a balance and when you guys start putting on 10 lbs a month and eating TV dinners every night that something should be amended!
good for you I think tha is great. thanks for the April fools day ideas my girls got a kick!
Good for you! I have been spending less and less time blogging lately too. The hubby has had off of work for a few days, and I just wanted to be with my fam. It has been really nice.
Have fun!
I know you're unplugged, but I still wanted to come by and say hi, so you would see the comment when you plug back in :). Can't wait to hear about the Girlyfamily's week!
ooo, good post... here's my opinion:
Technology - it's the world our children will grow up and thrive in. I think if you don't teach it and let them utilize it, you are doing them a diservice.
Video games - all video game consoles get turned in on Sunday evenings, and returned to said children on Friday afternoons.
Computers - everyone from 15 down to 7 uses the computer. The browing and surfing are limited, but they are taught to use the computer to their advantage. Even my 7 year old has an assignment right now ontiger sharks. The instructions actually say, google it. read all about them.
TV, is hard in the winter, but the second the temp hit 50, I haven't seen my boys in the house in awhile... they choose outside, everytime.
They do each have one in their rooms. They are never in there watching until night time. We usually 'close down' the downstairs at about 8. This gives them time to unwind before bed, and me and hubby alone time before sleep.
It has worked well for us.
hope yoour psring break is fabulous.
no gadgets in the bedroom, and we limit time, but we don't have a strict time on it. I just watch it and say yes or no as i feel is appropriate based on the day, but I try to stick to the general principal of less than 2 hours of screen time a day. usually it is closer to an hour or less.
Have a great week with your girls. I just took a hiatias myself, one of many lately. I equally enjoy reading about your adventures in parenting so I willl look forward to your return.
Have fun with the unplugging. We aren't so plugged in, but DH is...he'd have a hard time. I work on the computer and blog occasionally, but rarely watch TV unless it is to spend time with DH.
I think it's great that you've "unplugged" and I should do that one of these days- I'm just so weak, what would I do without my late night internet?
We don't have a very tech friendly house and I like it that way. We don't have cable, just bunny ears and 6 channels. We don't have video game systems or techy stuff in any bedroom. We do have our computer but it's for the adults to use so far and we still use really slow dial-up. I don't think that tech stuff is bad but I'd rather we all spend time together than "plugged in".
Hope you have a fantastic time with your girls!
In my opinion....when you have 4 children, ages 7 and under, you do what you can to survive. :)
Have fun !!!!
I miss you! I hope you are all well,and you enjoyed the week off. Can't wait til you back blogging again. I have been taking it slow myself.
To answer your question, my boys do not have a t.v. in their room. They do watch a fair share of t.v. downstairs, but they play a lot without it and they are out doors a lot too. I guess they are not into too much tech stuff yet - I guess this is a good thing. Though I would love a wii!!!
I hope spring break has been a blast for you all! And good for you for taking a break from blogging to spend time with the girls.
Just checking in to say "Hi" to GirlMom & family. Hope you're having a fun hiatus (and getting plenty to blog about when you plug back in. ;)
Just stopping in to say hello and that I hope you're all having a great time together!
Have fun!
Hallie
what a sweet family! i just had a chance to check out your blog for the first time- i know your little ladies are blessed to have a mom like you! (and i have a #4 who is growing up way to fast as well!)
Megan
I hope you are enjoying your time away! Just wanted to let you know that you are missed!
Good for you! I hope your week was a great one!!
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Notebook, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://notebooks-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.
I am sure I left you a comment regarding this already, but I don't see it? My boys want a t.v. in their room, but I just won't do it. We haven't got to video games yet, but they would love a wii. Maybe Santa will bring one next year!
I hope you are well. I really miss ya. I hope the rest of your family is well too. Shoot me an email, if you want. Hope to talk to you soon.
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