7 Ways to Prevent Your TV Addiction from Spreading to Your Children

I'll be the first to admit that I am a 'couch potato.' Before I had children and before I met my husband, TV was my top diversion. Watching TV was definitely easier than thinking of clever conversation to engage with teenage guys, doing homework and cleaning my room. The TV was continually on from morning to night. My parents and grandparents apparently had no knowledge of what effect TV had on young people. So, in my younger days, TV taught me the art of procrastination.

Presently, I enjoyed finding out who the next 'DESIGN STAR' was going to be on HGTV, I loved cheering and voting for my favorites on FOX's AMERICAN IDOL and I even find fun laughing along with my daughters as we watch the latest episode of 'HANNAH MONTANA' on the Disney Channel. Undoubtedly, television has great power to entertain, inform and educate. However, like alcohol, it must be watched in moderation. Otherwise, TV becomes just another addiction.

As most children, my daughters are incredible sponges that can remember the most minuscule conversation you had with them last year, they look to their parents for guidance and soak up behaviors their parents consciously (or unconsciously) exhibit. I just wanted something different from my children. I wanted them to be more involved with creating the drama in real life versus merely watching life happen on the television. I just wanted 'more' for them...so, I threw the POTATO out the window!

As a result, I allow my daughters to watch TV only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when they do not have any homework to complete. Even then, they could only watch certain shows that are appropriate for them. Since my children are in elementary school, it is important they understand their lessons from the beginning. Their lessons now is the foundation of all their work in the higher grades. To me, their understanding of the basic skills now will obviously foster their success as they grow older.

Before setting a limit on TV time, the children watched TV every night so long as they finished their homework. The problem arose when bedtime came and they were fighting with us for 'one more minute' or 'wait, five more minutes' so that they can squeeze in more TV time.

We put a stop to TV on weekdays because their actual bedtime was getting later and later. This caused the turmoil to linger into the next day because the late bedtimes only resulted in later wake up times. Later wake up times resulted in less time to get ready and fewer minutes to travel to school. This usually equated to an increase in tardiness. It was a chain reaction that only spiraled downward.

I was also finding my daughters were concentrating less on doing their homework properly; instead, their concentration shifted to finishing their homework quickly, and sometimes, haphazardly so that they could begin watching RAVEN on Disney Channel or TEEN TITANS on Cartoon Network.

Below are 7 things to do to foster non-couch potato behavior in your family and to stop the cycle of addiction and enabling procrastination. After all homework assignments are done, then your child can find an activity below to occupy their free time. They will discover that living life is much more fun than just watching it on TV.

Addiction Prevention #1: Choreograph a dance routine and make a show.
Turn on their favorite CD, and let them dance. My girls have gone as far as creating a dance show together complete with signs, tickets and props. The physical movement is good for their bodies and creating the signs, etc. stimulates their imaginations.

Addiction Prevention #2: Memorize a favorite song.
Play a song on the piano, turn on the KARAOKE or put on some music so that your child can sing along. Encourage them to memorize a song so that they can sing it back to you without having to read the lyrics.

Addiction Prevention #3: Go to the Library.
Go to the local library and find a book. Find out if they offer any reading programs or have a schedule story time. Get your children involved in the story by asking them questions on the content of the book.

Addiction Prevention #4: Write a book and create your own illustrations.
Help them master their hand and eye coordination by encouraging them to draw and paint. My daughters have compiled all their drawings together to create their own personal 'comic book.'

Addiction Prevention #5: Talk to one another.
Talk to your child. Learn what they did at school that day, find out who they played with, discover what they liked best about their science class. Listen to their concerns. Your little talks help you bond with your child and creates an open channel of communication.

Addiction Prevention #6: Go on a bug hunt, then research information on the bug that you caught.
Explore your backyard, your environment and see if you can find an interesting bug. Do some research at the library or on the Internet and find out 5 new facts you didn't know before about your bug. My daughter caught a grasshopper during the summer and was excited about learning more about her new 'pet' that she created a report on her bug and made a video of her findings.

Addiction Prevention #7: Give your child a hug.
Share a hug with your child. They'll enjoy the fact that they are no longer competing with the TV for your attention. The hug will show them that you love them and will teach them how to love others as well.