Screens (just TV, we don't allow our kids access to any devices) became too big of an issue when our kids were super little (1 and 3) so we just did away with it. We have pizza and movie night on Fridays (self-explanatory) and usually watch another movie together on Saturday night but otherwise, we just don't turn on the TV. I have no problem with this, I'm not a TV person; my husband watches TV after the kids are in bed. After maybe two weeks of initial detox from that, it has never been an issue again. They don't ask to watch TV, they don't even think about TV -- we just have other things to do in our lives. (The exception to this is being sick -- if you're sick, all TV rules go out the window 😊 And the other exception is needing some sensory input, in which case they do Cosmic Kids yoga, but that's usually only if they can't go outside.)
It's also worth mentioning that we spend most of our time away from our home -- my husband and I are at work, the children are at school and then daycare for a little bit. If we were home all day, or even part of some days, I have no doubt our TV rules would be different.
We rotate turns for pizza and movie night -- we keep four Post-Its with each of our names on our refrigerator, and we use a magnet to keep track of whose turn it is to pick the movie. The rule is that whatever movie gets picked, there's no whining, there is definitely no screaming and crying, or there's no movie that night. We came to this after a TON of struggle and LOTS of whining, screaming, and crying, which is also why we as parents also get a turn -- we wanted to share some of our favorites with them, or, let's be honest, just not watch Disney princess movies over and over and OVER again, but there was so much pushback and drama it would ruin the night. This isn't a perfect system -- my 7yo sometimes *is* upset over the choice but instead of throwing a tantrum, she just chooses to hang out in another area of the house, coloring or playing (and oftentimes my husband or I will opt out of the movie and play a game with her, so the good feelings of pizza and movie night are still there, the situation is just more malleable).
We've definitely watched some flicks the kids would *never* choose on their own -- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (which has held up surprisingly well!), the Muppet movies, Timmy Failure, and Togo (omg, Togo! I literally sit on the edge of the couch with my hands covering my face, there are parts of it that are so tense). Others haven't gone over well -- we made it maybe ten minutes into E.T. before we had to turn it off (too scary, which we totally honor); ditto The Neverending Story (which terrified me as a child and still does, so no complaints from me on that one).
Do we still watch Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and Snow White all the time? Yes, but it's okay -- I grew up on those films and I still love them, and the point is not to take away what the kids want to watch but to broaden their horizons a little bit and enjoy lots of movies together, as a family.
P.S. Pizza and move night began because by the time Friday night rolls around, we are all D-O-N-E. The kids are exhausted and so are we. I can put a frozen pizza in the oven and roast some vegetables and shower and that's about it. You do what you gotta do!
Screens (just TV, we don't allow our kids access to any devices) became too big of an issue when our kids were super little (1 and 3) so we just did away with it. We have pizza and movie night on Fridays (self-explanatory) and usually watch another movie together on Saturday night but otherwise, we just don't turn on the TV. I have no problem with this, I'm not a TV person; my husband watches TV after the kids are in bed. After maybe two weeks of initial detox from that, it has never been an issue again. They don't ask to watch TV, they don't even think about TV -- we just have other things to do in our lives. (The exception to this is being sick -- if you're sick, all TV rules go out the window 😊 And the other exception is needing some sensory input, in which case they do Cosmic Kids yoga, but that's usually only if they can't go outside.)
It's also worth mentioning that we spend most of our time away from our home -- my husband and I are at work, the children are at school and then daycare for a little bit. If we were home all day, or even part of some days, I have no doubt our TV rules would be different.
Wow! Do you realize how few families operate with self-control like that? That's amazing and inspiring.
Family pizza + movie night is the type of tradition your kids will remember forever. I would love to hear some of your favorite picks.
And yes, I agree; the rules don't apply when kids (or parents) are sick! 😉
We rotate turns for pizza and movie night -- we keep four Post-Its with each of our names on our refrigerator, and we use a magnet to keep track of whose turn it is to pick the movie. The rule is that whatever movie gets picked, there's no whining, there is definitely no screaming and crying, or there's no movie that night. We came to this after a TON of struggle and LOTS of whining, screaming, and crying, which is also why we as parents also get a turn -- we wanted to share some of our favorites with them, or, let's be honest, just not watch Disney princess movies over and over and OVER again, but there was so much pushback and drama it would ruin the night. This isn't a perfect system -- my 7yo sometimes *is* upset over the choice but instead of throwing a tantrum, she just chooses to hang out in another area of the house, coloring or playing (and oftentimes my husband or I will opt out of the movie and play a game with her, so the good feelings of pizza and movie night are still there, the situation is just more malleable).
We've definitely watched some flicks the kids would *never* choose on their own -- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (which has held up surprisingly well!), the Muppet movies, Timmy Failure, and Togo (omg, Togo! I literally sit on the edge of the couch with my hands covering my face, there are parts of it that are so tense). Others haven't gone over well -- we made it maybe ten minutes into E.T. before we had to turn it off (too scary, which we totally honor); ditto The Neverending Story (which terrified me as a child and still does, so no complaints from me on that one).
Do we still watch Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and Snow White all the time? Yes, but it's okay -- I grew up on those films and I still love them, and the point is not to take away what the kids want to watch but to broaden their horizons a little bit and enjoy lots of movies together, as a family.
P.S. Pizza and move night began because by the time Friday night rolls around, we are all D-O-N-E. The kids are exhausted and so are we. I can put a frozen pizza in the oven and roast some vegetables and shower and that's about it. You do what you gotta do!