Comments (1)

By Mom Unplugged, April 9, 2008 2:55 pm

Yesterday I received a great email from “Mom of 2″ who has no blog, but would like to join our TV-Turnoff Week Blog Challenge. Here are her goals for the week:

++++++++++++

“1) No TV, no DVDs or videos! Yikes! I’ve been relying on it to distract the kiddies so I can get ready for work (hubby’s already left in the wee hours) and he’s using it so he can make dinner in the evening (before I get home). Hubby’s said he’s on board, but I expect I’ll get some grumbling from someone other than the kids before the week is out.

2) No computer for me at home. I’m online all day at work and (obviously, since I’m writing this in the middle of the work day) have some free time to do personal stuff there.

3) No computer for the kids. Shouldn’t be too hard since they rarely use it. Although my 4 y.o. might turn his sights there when he finds out he can’t watch TV…

4) Time rescued from the TV will be spent
- playing with or reading to the kiddies. I hope hubby will join us!
- catching up on my magazines…so many piled up with articles I’d like to read but don’t seem to find time for.
- getting more sleep. Yes, sad to say, I sometimes opt to watch just one more show, even though I know I’ll be more tired and less patient the next day.”

++++++++++++

Thank you to “Mom of 2″ for joining in the Blog Challenge! If any other blogless readers out there are tempted to join, then please just send me an email like “Mom of 2″ did and I’ll publish your thoughts and goals on Unplug Your Kids too!

You can reach me at unplugyourkids “at” gmail “dot” youknowwhat.

Photo thanks to morguefile.com and photographer Clarita.

Comments (1)

By Mom Unplugged, April 8, 2008 6:46 am

Thanks to all so far who have taken the plunge and decided to join the 2nd Annual TV-Turnoff Week Blog Challenge. If you have ever toyed with the idea of unplugging, even just some of the time, now is a great time to try it out. As a group we can support each other and share our experiences. Plus, it just might be fun!

Everyone who has joined so far has put up their first post about the challenge, and their goals. I had better hurry up and make my goals public too, so here they are:

1) No TV (not hard since we receive exactly zero channels), no DVDs or videos (not hard since my children rarely ask to watch any, and I haven’t watched one myself in well over a year).

2) No computer for the kids (not hard since my daughter rarely uses it and my son is banned from the computer until he is 6 - he banged the screen of my old MacBook with a toy car and ruined it, the display looked like there was ink running down the inside, wild!).

3) Minimal computer for Mom (ie. me). What????? HELLLPPPPPP!!!!!! I would say NO computer, but I have the Blog Challenge to run, right? However I will write draft posts ahead of time so as to limit my online time to one hour per day after the kids have gone to bed. I will check my email in the morning and the evening. I will not obsessively check my stats.

4) Instead of being online, I will attempt to accomplish the following:

- Sorting and arranging that pit which we call “the playroom.” This shall include the elimination of many unloved toys who shall be sent to find better homes via the school garage sale fundraiser.

- Read one of the books that is gathering dust on my nightstand.

- Spend more time outside and begin to get the garden in order for the summer.

- Play more with my children: board games, art, read-alouds, etc.

- Study my aviation books (I am a pilot and am finally getting back into flying after a seven year hiatus).

- Get out my flute and recorders and play.

There. Easy right? I’ll be sure to let you all know! Check out the other participants’ posts to see what they hope to accomplish during TV Turnoff week.

Comments (62)

By Mom Unplugged, April 3, 2008 10:39 pm

So have you thought about my proposal? TV-Turnoff Week is April 21-27. Can you and your family turn it off for a week? Would you like to try? If so, then sign up for the Unplug Your Kids TV-Turnoff Week Blog Challenge!

Here’s how it works:

Phase 1 -

1) Write a post about the challenge that sets forth your goals, reasons for joining in, etc. The more people we can reach and get to join in, the more fun and educational it will be! Remember, it is not just about giving up TV, what about the “other screens” in your life? The computer is my personal downfall so I will be concentrating on reducing that.

2) Link to your post in Mr. Linky below (leave a comment too in case Mr. Linky goes haywire, as occasionally happens, and I have to take him off).

3) Steal the Blog Challenge badge and put it in your sidebar, linking to Unplug Your Kids. Let me know if you need help with this step.

Two sizes:

Phase 2 -

Do your best to meet your goals from April 21-27. If you aren’t successful, it’s OK. What is important is to try, and to learn something from the experience.

Phase 3 -

1) After TV-Turnoff Week ends (April 27th is the last day), write a post about how it went: the good, the bad, and the ugly! Sharing experiences helps everyone.

2) I will also write a “How it Went” post and I will put up a new Mr. Linky. Put the link to your “How it Went” post in Mr. Linky (plus comment just in case).

3) On Tuesday, May 6th I will draw a random name from among those who completed the challenge (whether you met your goals or not) and put up their final post. That person will win a $10 Amazon gift certificate.

No blog?

You can join in too. Email me your goals, hopes, and dreams before the TV-Turnoff Week begins ,and I will post them on Unplug Your Kids. At the end, email me your “How it Went” information, and I will post it here too. You will then be entered in the drawing for the gift certificate.

My email for questions or entries: unplugyourkids “at” gmail “dot” youknowwhat.

Comments (0)

By Mom Unplugged, April 2, 2008 9:34 am

Be sure to stop by The Toby Show to read Jonah Lisa’s update on how her “7-Step TV Trap Action Plan” is going. Her 7 step program appears to be successful so far, so head over to her site and take notes if you are trying to cut back your children’s TV viewing time too!

(In case you missed it, here is my original post about Jonah Lisa: Cutting Back TV - “OK, But How?”)

Comments (1)

By Mom Unplugged, April 1, 2008 8:13 pm

URGENT! TIME-SENSITIVE BLOG POST!!

In anticipation of TV-Turnoff Week (April 21st-27th), Diane at dkMommy Spot is giving away a copy of the book Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets by Barbara Brock. Please read Diane’s review of this very interesting-sounding book, which is based on a 1999 study of over 500 TV-free families.

I have heard of the study and the results are quite fascinating. This book is definitely on my “to read” list!

Unfortunately I am so behind with my blogging, emailing, etc. (due to my week away - or perhaps simply due to massive disorganization), that I regret to report that Diane’s giveaway ends tomorrow, April 2, at noon EST. Sorry I didn’t get the word out sooner, but you still have time to hurry over to dkMommy Spot, read her review of this very worthwhile book, and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

Good luck!