Challenge to Change: Television

Many months ago, we got rid of our cable. However, we still had the television in the living room, and the children still watched a fair amount of Dora, On The Farm and other shows on DVD.  However, I have decided that for us, this is another time waster and another thing that detracts from, instead of enhances, our family life.   I may need for them to be occupied for a few moments at a time, allowing me to do the dishes or sweep, but I don't want to use the television as a tool for distraction.

I don't know if you've noticed this, but my kids seem less attentive when they've been watching more tv.  They don't seem to hear me when I talk to them.  They don't seem to be able to think as well. And I can understand that issue.  I used to play video games when I was younger, (well, I still play the Wii at my Mama's) and sometimes when it was really hot or cold out, I would sit there literally all day long, only stopping for food and bathroom breaks.  And at the end of the day, I felt a little crazed, a little depressed and a lot dumb.  Not like "I'm so dumb for sitting here all day," but unable to function at full mental capacity because of sitting in front of the tv all day. 

So, in my Challenge to Change, the next thing that I Quit, is television.  In fact, my husband moved it to the garage on Saturday.  So today will be the first "real" day without it..  Wish me luck!