Screen Time.

I know I've been slacking. The crazies seem to stifle my ideas. Well, the ones I'm willing to write about anyway.

So, here I am. Watching The First Wives Club. It's one of my favorites.

Hmm. Like I said, watching Garfield. Kids have been delivered, and the control of the remote has been relinquished.

..and now I finally have the topic of this post. TV.

I let my kids watch TV. I let them use the computer, play video games and their ipods.

And I don't feel one ounce of guilt over it.

I turn the living room TV on about 6:05am every week day, and it stays on (regardless if anyone is watching it or not) until at least midnight.

It doesn't mean my kids don't play, or know how to use their imaginations. It doesn't mean they're antisocial, or don't read.

Is there such a thing as "too much" screen time (I HATEhateHATE that phrase, by the way)? Well of course there is, but ya know what? Everything in excess has it's issues. If I had a choice of my 7 year old son playing a video game with a friend (or dad, or sister), or spending hours alone in his room reading.. I'd pick the gaming any day.

I also think that kids have to have a good grasp on manipulating technology in this day in age.

Plus.. Their days are already all scheduled out for them all day at school. Their free time shouldn't be limited as well. If my kids didn't have the option of watching TV, they'd just want it and think about it even more. But since they have the choice, it's no big deal. It's just a part of life. It's not some special treat. Screen time is a normal aspect of life these days. Kids will have to interact with this screen-ridden world when they're on their own, so it seems logical (to me) to teach them to make responsible choices about it while they're little instead of not giving them the option at all. I'm not sure I'm relaying my thoughts on this well, but yeah. Like if you grow up without getting candy. You may not even really LIKE candy, but since you've been kept from it your whole childhood, when you are in control of your own life and money, what are you going to want to consume lots of? Yep, candy. If you're brought up with the idea that candy isn't a big thing, then you're less likely to go overboard with it when it comes up.

I guess I'm saying I'd feel a lot prouder of my son's choice to play outside if his options were playing outside or video games, than I would feel if he made that choice when his options were simply to just play outside.

This week Chris is grounded from his Ipod and 3DS. And he was upset about it for probably 11 minutes last night when it happened. It hasn't even come up today. He knows it's not an option because of his actions. Not because it's some magical special privilege that only mommy has control of.

When people hear that I don't "restrict" screen time for my kids, they just automatically assume that's all they do. Sometimes, perhaps.. but it's not robbing them of their childhood or creativeness. Chris has been home 1.5 hours. He watched a 24 minute episode of Garfield while he ate supper, and the rest of the time he's been shooting me with an electric drill "gun", practicing being a ninja, dismantling the laundry sorter and talking my ear off.. all while sneaking peeks of Garfield that's running in the background. Could he be doing the same things without the TV on? Sure.. but why? It gives me something to listen to besides the clanking of various ninja props, and gives him an extra laugh or two in between forms.

Brenna just stole his pants, and is tickling him. That's right, bonding is happening in a household where electronics are freely enjoyed.

When I am in a good mood, I text all the time. I facebook. I don't enjoy talking outloud on the phone. I live in the country, and can't afford to run to town and hang out with my friends whenever. If I want human interaction, it has to be via technology. Granted, my kids have a chance to be with friends at school, but there's not a lot of time for just "hanging" there.. and once they get home, they're kind of in the same boat as me. I fully understand Brenna's attachment to her phone. I have the same attachment to mine. And I didn't develop it because my parents let me use the phone when I was growing up.

This doesn't mean that I'm not above using access to electronics as a means of punishment. Especially because since I've allowed it to be a part of their every day lives, when I take it away they miss it with a vengeance! Well Brenna does, Chris could have fun with a leaf and a turd if need be. But it gets my point across.

They ask before turning on the games or computer. Most of the time I say yes. Sometimes I say no. And when I do say no, it's usually for purely selfish reasons like I don't want to give up the computer. I don't have a smart phone, so if I want to do anything on the internet, it has to be on the computer.  He asks every couple of weeks is all. He's not obsessed, though he will crack out on them every once in awhile.

There are people that think my kids' nonchalance about electronics is a bad thing. I don't agree. I happen to like that they don't have it all raised up on a pedestal. It's not ranked higher or lower than any other "fun" activity. It's just incorporated into their world and not made out to be some forbidden fruit.

My son is more apt to choose time with Grampa or family game time on weekends over technology because he knows he can watch tv any old time, and it's no big deal. They know they're not missing out on anything.

That's how I like my kids to view screen time.. as no big deal.

I did manage to find one person on the internet that agrees with me :)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201201/the-many-benefits-kids-playing-video-games 

So .. take it or leave it.. It's just my opinion..

I'll try to be funny tomorrow?