Could you live without TV?

[Phteven]

I grew up without TV so I know we could live without it just fine (especially since I can just download my favourite shows lol) but I prefer to have it.

[Rach75]

I love my TV but then I do get a break as at our holiday place we have no tv we have spent up to 3 weeks at a time there and we haven't missed though we do listen to the radio but I find down there we spend more time together all 3 of us and just jase and me when we come home I sometimes begrudge the tv internet comp...as we lose our time together

[Michelle71]

I prefer to have it DS does watch TV but also happily ignores it to play on his own or with DH / me. The neighbours daughter had absolutely no TV until recently (she is 3) and every time she is at a house with TV she is completely absorbed in that and not interested in playing.

I guess it is the same (IMO) as junk food. Too much is bad for you but having none at all can make you prone to binging when you do get the chance to have it / watch it. If it is included in a normal existence then it isn't that exciting when you see it somewhere else and you are more likely to ignore it.

[Reborn]

I couldnt live without because it keeps DH occupied. I can entertain kids without a problem (thank you childcare training) but my husband is another story. Before we got the net he'd watch tv alot, now he's on ebay as much as possible.

[mbear]

I think i could live without TV....but i dont think my DH or my children could.

Bekz your childrens usage of tv sounds bout the same as mine. I used to feel guiltly, but now i dont. My DD#3 (19months) will watch a whole episode of Diego without moving !!! My girls LOVE Tv and movies, and believe me, i use it to my advantage. Take now for instance, we've had friends over with their children all morning, theyve jumped on the trampoline, theyve played dress ups, theyve coloured in, and played with the dolls house. Guests have left, girls are tired. So now 2 outta 3 are watching Ariel DVD. Do i feel guiltly ? No way, im exhausted too. And after this post i will prob join them on the lounge LOL.
My DD#1 has started school this year. And i have found her usage of TV is much, much less. She simply would prefer to sit in her room and look at her things, or even come and talk to me than watch tv.
For me, in our home, TV is a part of our lifestyle. It works for us, i know my children learn from it, they dont have it on all day, just certain parts of the day. They get they're 30 mins or whatever it is of running around throughout the day. So dont feel too guilty hon.....sometimes i think we are our own worst enemies.

If it is included in a normal existence then it isn't that exciting when you see it somewhere else and you are more likely to ignore it.

.....i think thats what im trying to say. We went to Sydney aquariam during the week. We had the best day. If one of my children said 'mum...i really wanna go home and watch tv' whilst we were out, i think then i would have known we have a prob, but nope, they embraced what we were there for, and the TV stayed at home......LOL.

[Girl-23]

I know what you are saying WAITING.

TV is always off unless DH is watching something. When DD and I wake up, we play, have breakfast and I read (because I am studying). While I am reading, she plays with her toys or comes to sit on my lap as I read. So I guess she thinks I am reading to her or talking to her. Of course, I use the TV to watch News, Private Practice and The Desperate Housewives of OC . For DD, its a no from me. No TV for her. Unless DH turns it for her. I can live without TV, I think.

[Tinks]

I don't watch tv at all with the exception of the biggest loser. When the kids get home from school they put it on then when they go to bed DH watches anything on the screen. We can't get radio here but if we could I'd have that on constantly.

[amberj]

I think I could, but I'm not sure I want to. We've really cut back on our TV watching in the past few months and its great to have it at a point where it feels like watching TV is a choice rather than the default.

I too try to use telly to occupy DS sometimes. He is very demanding of attention and sometimes at about 5pm I am just a bit over it and its nice to pop the telly on. Although he gets bored in about 5 minutes and is soon crawling all over the room and up my legs again!

[AwesomeFoursome]

I grew up without TV but I don't think I could live without it now. DS wouldn't be worried, his pretty easy to entertain but I need it for ME, I use it for company.

[Starfish]

I only ever have it on as background, so could easily live without it, but DH couldn't, which is why I leave it on. DD sometimes likes to watch Night Garden and loves some ads, but doesn't mind if we go out or swith it off. I honestly don't understand why TV is so demonised. If you want to watch, watch, if you don't, don't. I don't understand what the problem is.

[Patooties]

I guess I could live without it if I absolutely had to. I love watching it though - and the crappier the show the better for me

eta - Bek - maybe we should set ourselves a 'no tv for a week' challenge!! I'm up for it if you are!