My kids (9 & 12) and I are addicted to tv & computer when we have free time. I know it’s bad so sometimes I just put a limit on the time spent, or nix it altogether. But we don’t find other things as stimulating and get bored and frustrated and finally give up trying to do without them. It seems we need so much stimulation to be satisfied with something else, like an amusement park, roller/ice skating, or basically something that costs money. I like to read, but my kids hate it, that just becomes a huge fight and a punishment. I’m a divorced mom, and I want to be a better mom, but breaking these addictions has become such a big fight that I inevitably give in, or give up and we’re back to our old ways.
Things we have tried: "Go play with your toys" – after much cajoling and pushing this sometimes works on the 9 yr old for 20 minutes or so, then he’s bored again. 12 yr old doesn’t do toys at all. Sometimes she draws. "Read a book" – already covered above. Sometimes works for the 9 yr old. "Let’s go outside" – Gets boring after an hour or so. "Play a game" – again, no longer than an hour & 12 yr old usually won’t participate.
I just don’t know what to do. If I take it away altogether, my kids will want to go live with their dad, where they also play games or watch tv all day. He has more stuff, like X box & Wii. BTW, we do not have any game consoles or any sort…because I didn’t want the kids to get addicted. Go figure. We do eat together at the table everynight without tv. We do our chores and shopping together. It’s the free time that’s a problem. (Thankfully school starts again in a few days.)
Thank you for any sincere responses. I just want to be a good mom and I know this is not the way. Please help.
Oh yes, I do get my 9 yr old into sports. Baseball took 4 days a week, so that was good. Nothing going on right now though. Both kids finished 5 yrs of tae kwon do last year, & none of us are interested in continuing that (burnt out on it). 12 yr old gets pretty busy with school and homework and her school sport. Maybe I just need to get through summer.
I do take them away, but that doesn’t last long because I don’t have adequate solutions as to what they can do to spend their time. So it lasts only a day or two. And I go crazy myself without computer/tv, so I give into my own addiction and therefore to theirs as well.
