It has been about a week or so since we have closed down our TV completely. It was one crazy night when Shubham ( otherwise a very calm and collected guy) had such a big tantrum. The TV was on and it was dinner time. All his attention was in watching TV, while dinner cooled down by the side. When we requested him to eat, he answered back in a very nasty way that made us think " how old is he, is he 19 already?". Well, well.
Weeks and weeks of our frustration regarding boy's TV addiction came out. Dadhiram cut off the line and declared " This is the end of the TV in the house". Now, after a week without boys watching TV, I wonder how did it come to this? How had we allowed TV to rule us, to rule our children, to dominate our life.
I know is the age of technology and TV has more or less become a part of childhood memories. But, TV is addictive. And the addiction is hard to control. The reason our children are addicted is because we are addicted to TV ourselves as parent. We love to sit back and watch and forget all our worries and relax for a while. Slowly, we start eating family dinners watching TV. Gradually, children start watching never ending cartoons. The otherwise loud and naughty children suddenly become quiet. They are entranced with what is going on in a screen. The world around us is forgotten. Of course, all is well while the TV is on. But a minute after is a disaster. Based on our experience, I found Shubham and Soham growing more violent as their TV addiction grew. Their appetite suffered. They faught more than ever. They threw things even chairs at times. Home was a horrible place to be.
Now, after a week without TV, home is quieter. In a week's time, Shubham and Soham play together more. Soham has even started eating daal bhat by himself. Dinner time is more fun full of conversation and jokes passing around. They have invented couple of imaginary games themselves that we parents have not been able to understand. Past few day, both boys have devoted their time and energy drawing and coloring. Soham is finishing 1 sketchpad in 3 days time. But it has been totally worth it.
I wonder, how long this will go on. But I hope this is the way, it will be for a while, at least.
Weeks and weeks of our frustration regarding boy's TV addiction came out. Dadhiram cut off the line and declared " This is the end of the TV in the house". Now, after a week without boys watching TV, I wonder how did it come to this? How had we allowed TV to rule us, to rule our children, to dominate our life.
I know is the age of technology and TV has more or less become a part of childhood memories. But, TV is addictive. And the addiction is hard to control. The reason our children are addicted is because we are addicted to TV ourselves as parent. We love to sit back and watch and forget all our worries and relax for a while. Slowly, we start eating family dinners watching TV. Gradually, children start watching never ending cartoons. The otherwise loud and naughty children suddenly become quiet. They are entranced with what is going on in a screen. The world around us is forgotten. Of course, all is well while the TV is on. But a minute after is a disaster. Based on our experience, I found Shubham and Soham growing more violent as their TV addiction grew. Their appetite suffered. They faught more than ever. They threw things even chairs at times. Home was a horrible place to be.
Now, after a week without TV, home is quieter. In a week's time, Shubham and Soham play together more. Soham has even started eating daal bhat by himself. Dinner time is more fun full of conversation and jokes passing around. They have invented couple of imaginary games themselves that we parents have not been able to understand. Past few day, both boys have devoted their time and energy drawing and coloring. Soham is finishing 1 sketchpad in 3 days time. But it has been totally worth it.
I wonder, how long this will go on. But I hope this is the way, it will be for a while, at least.
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