Screen Time

Screen time is a big deal when you are homeschooling.  I don't remember it being that big a deal when the kids were in public school, but since I started homeschooling it seems to be something that helps to slap a label on you like no other.  You either are a full on screen junkie that leans to the unschooling end of the spectrum or you are a no TV in the house strict school at home type.  In reality most of us fall somewhere in the middle, but that isn't what people like to talk about.  That is not controversial.  It isn't interesting, so it doesn't get talked about in the media or in the gossip circles. 

Here is where I fall.  I grew up without a TV in the house until after I graduated from a public highschool.  I don't care for TV much.  I don't like what is on.  I could care less about reality TV.  DWTS is just stupid and I don't even know what the hell Glee is.  I do not watch TV.  I just don't.  My kids do not watch TV, but they do get plenty of screen time.  We have hundreds of movies in our house.  We have Disney and Scooby Doo.  We have VHS tapes that teach the alphabet and counting.  We have documentaries, and we have lots of other fluffy movies that are just fun.  They come without commercials and I know their content before my kids ever see them.

What about video games?  We've got those, too.  I, personally hate them.  I don't play them.  I think they are a waste of time, much like my blog and FB account.  The difference is that my blog and FB connect me to people whereas video games take me away from people.  I do let my kids play, though.  They are limited to the time they earn.  They have a punch card that is punched every night before they go to bed.  When the card is full, they earn 2 hours of video games.  They can choose to use it all at once or spread it out over the week.  They can earn punches for doing things like helping keep the house clean, doing dishes and laundry, and completing schoolwork on time.  Screen time means much more to them now that they have to earn it.

My husband LOVES to sit in front of a screen when he is home.  It is tricky to limit screen time for my kids when my husband just doesn't understand why I would ever want to do such a thing.  He works all day and his screen time is his down time.  My kids are home most of the day and screen time will consume the entire day if allowed to do so.  I set the limits to help them moderate screen time so that they can also enjoy other experiences. 

You would thing that none of this is a big deal.  I didn't think it was, either until I got to listen to some pretty heated debates on the subject.  On one side were the parents that do not limit screens at all.  They trust that their children will find their own groove.  On the other are the parents that will not allow their kids to look at a screen ever.  If they want entertainment, they can read.  It can get to be pretty loud at times with parents judging the other either irresponsible or a control freak.  I stay out of these debates, because they don't help anyone.  Every family must do what they think is right for their kids.  As parents all we can ever do is our best.

Socialization 101

I spent the evening today visiting with a lady from our Unitarian church.  She is awesome.  I love talking with her and could spend hours doing so, but I had my kids with me.  I was nervous about taking them into a new house.  While we do get out of our house and go places, people's homes are not usually on the list.  When we do go to houses, it is usually the home of a friend that has children for my kids to play with.  There are toys everywhere and the house resembles ours.  The friend I was visiting with is a mom to 4 kids, but they are grown kids.  I really didn't know what to expect. 

The kids got into the house and, to my horror, began to wander.  Our hostess said it was fine with her if they explored as long as I was okay with it.  Relief washed over me.  There were a few toys here and there that belonged to her grandchildren.  She had a drum in her house.  There were amazing trinkets and treasures.  I was just so happy to get to talk with this amazing woman.  Maybe we talked too long, because after a while my kids began to get restless and started to explore a bit too much.  I saw my son open a cupboard, and had to ask him to leave the drawers and cupboards closed.  I was embarrassed, but it was a learning experience for us all.  I am so glad that my friend was understanding, but can see that this is one area that my kids need to work on.  The only way they can do this is by us visiting more people.  Socialization 101?  Just another lesson to teach for this mom.

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