Rhythm

I have well and truly taken off my slack coat and I am really proud of myself. I haven't let my kids watch TV at all this week. And its been really wonderful and EASY.

No, I am not mad
And No I have not found my inner hippy.

But I have noticed a huge difference in the way my kids play since the box has been turned off. They are using their imaginations and inventing creative role playing games.

I don't have two zombies passively sitting on the couch only speaking to me in between shows, asking for refreshments anymore and I really really like it. I cant help but be proud of myself as a Mum, and this is a new feeling. I encourage you to try it.

Why would I do this?
It started with my old friend guilt. Particularly for Little Miss. She was watching way too much ABC TV and DVDs. Lola (Charlie and Lola fame) was becoming her alter ego, Angelina ballerina her hero, The Fairies her idols and the Play School presenters her family. I needed to get my daughter back.

I got really inspired by this post at Childhood magic. We have a general daily routine that gets the kids fed and in bed at 7pm every night, but I had lost the daily momentum of rest or sleep times for Little Miss. I also felt deep inside I wasn't grasping enough one on one play time with her. She goes to child care two days a week when I work, so I really wanted to make the most of the time I have with her. B is learning guitar and practising time was slipping away. Before I knew it, it would be Friday and no practise had happened. B responds well to charts and calendars and I thought if I marked which days to practice it would then be set, no negotiation.  I really wanted to chart our routine and activities and get a rhythm in our home.

our chart

Once I made the chart, it was really easy to not turn on the TV. At first I thought I would just try it for one day, but it really was so easy that I kept it up.

While doing chores I have included Little Miss as much as I can. Getting her to help me make the beds, load the washing machine or unload the dishwasher. She has also happily played with toys and books at this time.  I have had some general ideas about activities to play with Little Miss, but she has also initiated play. This week we have done simple colouring and drawing, sticking and pasting a paper mosaic letter "L" for her name, and crayon drawing with water colour painting over the top. She has played sorting games, which she really loves, using little tongs to sort out a mixed bowl of items into separate containers. And for the first time in years we went to a Library's storytelling session with craft and play time. She has asked several times to watch Fairies, but I have just said 'No,' and got her busy with something. It has felt like a really busy week, and yes, it required more effort on my part as I don't use the TV as a baby sitter, but  I am engaging Little Miss with opportunities to learn play and flourish. It has been really rewarding.

sorting activity

After Lunch, with a lot of convincing and perseverance, she has lay down for a rest with a book, I was happy with that and glad for an hour to myself, but to my surprise she has more often than not fallen fast asleep and has had to be woken in time for B's school pick up. She has been a much happier little girl. The terrible whining and whinging has gone and she has slept really well at night.

In the afternoons the kids have made cubby houses inside, played Mums and Dads, been to the park to meet friends and gone out to a cafe. When it has been music practice time for B, I encourage Little Miss to get out the box of toy musical instruments. It has been noisy, but we have had a lots of fun all getting involved in what turns into B's music lesson with him as guitar teacher.

The most amazing part of this all is that B has not asked to watch TV once or even noticed that it is not on.

I feel a bit radical, but I feel so proud of myself. I know with absolute certainty that I am doing the right thing for my kids. I can't say I have ever felt that before in this challenging role as Mum. But it has only been a week, and I am sure it will get hard, especially over the weekend, but I really hope I can keep it up.