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Zade's avatar

He really nailed it.

When our son were 6 and 3 and 1/2, I offered them $500 each to forgo TV for a year, the only exception being if we as a family decided to sit and watch a movie together. They accepted the challenge.

A week into it our eldest was crying "I'm going to die without TV!". But we plowed ahead. After that first week they got very creative. One example was using our old huskie mutt to pull them in a child's wagon, goaded on by a hot dog dangling from a stick. At the end of that first year they wanted to renew the contract. Each had a bank account opened for him and I deposited 500 each. And they never went back to the TV for mindless fun.

Fast forward: they have since thanked us for that contract and intervention. They're successful, independent adults. And I think TV and now the smart phones are going to have terrible repercussions for our nation if we keep in being as permissive with them as we are.

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shaneUp's avatar

Yep totally agree. Our 4 year old loves books and we don’t have a tv in the house. Wait till he can actually read them!

I also think the smart phone is the new TV though, so I would apply this same thinking there as well. In fact when we visit grandparents he gets to watch tv and there is a very noticeable change in his disposition and ability to cooperate especially when it means doing anything away from the tv.

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Paul's avatar

How would I be able to read substacks without my dumbphone? ;-)

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shaneUp's avatar

with your dumb computer of course!

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Paul's avatar

Then maybe I wouldn't be so addicted to it though! Who needs that?

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Yuri Bezmenov's avatar

Beautiful. Shared with all the parents I know. Buy all the old editions of Roald Dahl before the censored versions get published.

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Adrian Gaty's avatar

Yes! So, so creepy

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ViaVeritasVita's avatar

Pleased to say that without having read this 40 years ago, my 3 grew up in just the way he suggests (and his books were beloved by those children). Husband built size-to-fit-bedroom-wall bookcase for each child. Going to be a beast to re-wallpaper now! As an aside--that is how I grew up also.

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Jim Ryser's avatar

Arghhh. Now it’s iPhones! 🤦🏻‍♂️

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Eileen's avatar

When my children were born, I gave my husband's old TV to one of our workmen...and they both grew up without one.....for 25 and 26 years now....it's been over 30 years for me, sans TV! My house is full of books; I grew up going to the library every Saturday to get a new bundle of books, and I collect children's books....primary teacher for over 25 years. Both of my children are independent, live on their own, and no TV is in sight...something worked, and they both love to read. Never had any techy things either until they were 14, and then only a handy. No X-boxes, Nintendo's or whatever else....I just never went there. Was it hard? Of course, but isn't that part of a good life? Love Roald Dahl and what he gave us all! Love the poem, and have already shared it with some students today! Will send it also to their parents! :-)

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Cinoates's avatar

Grand grand grand Sir!!

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful poem!! Firm believer in 0 television!! ⚡️⚡️👍🏻🤓

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Sharon's avatar

🤗👍

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Double Mc's avatar

THANK YOU!

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