No What???

No T.V.

It's okay - only for a week.
Well, that was the plan anyway.

On the back of replacing our old fatback television with a much bigger, slimmer and prettier model here, we went and called a 'no t.v. week' on Magoo.

We are hereby nominating for the 'Nastiest Parents of 2011' award.

One expensive mirror.

Young Magoo usually watches up to an hour of t.v./dvd off and on in the mornings while I do laundry or dishes, shower, email, clean up, pack bags etc. and maybe another half hour or so somewhere else in the day.

The morning viewing used to begin with his butt parked on the couch and usually ended in him losing interest or playing within earshot of it.

But last month, he had plonked himself on the couch with glazed eyes and serious couch potato posture for the entire time - and completely refused to move, make eye contact, get dressed, answer questions, brush his teeth, give me a decent cuddle...

Instead of him happily clicking the red button when t.v. time was declared over, t.v. shutdown had become a constant Magoo meltdown despite warnings, timers or incentives.

So, a couple of weekends ago the t.v. ban was threatened and then executed.

Apart from requesting a visit to Pumpkin Patch while we were out shopping (so he could watch the t.v. in there - devious boy!), he hasn't created too much fuss about the whole thing - and neither have we.

In fact, the 'week' morphed into a fortnight and then another week and it's a non issue here. (Except for me obviously, because I'm writing about it aren't I?!)

I have noticed that Magoo is playing with toys that he hadn't touched in ages, he is constantly role playing and getting up to imaginary mischief.
He is talking even more than usual and fitting extra performances into his much anticipated 'Magoo Concert Extravaganza' schedule.

I've noticed that Magoo is in my face (and shower) more.
That he is doing less mindless snacking (he seemed to think t.v. viewing and chewing were made for one another)
and he is tantruming less (we'll take less, it's better than more).

Soooooo, when does the t.v. come back on???

I'm not dead against television - at all.
'Play School' is all kinds of wonderful, 'The Wiggles' are the true awesome foursome and 'In The Night Garden' gives me insight into what I missed by avoiding drugs in years gone by. 'Fireman Sam' is a dead set hero and 'Peppa Pig' has infiltrated my soul.

But how do I find the balance between all(day) or nothing?

I'm thinking we subtly go back to only watching dvds to avoid the ABC2 ploy of enticingly advertising the next three hours worth of programmes - which all happen to be Magoo's absolute favourite, apparently.

How do you 'do t.v.' with your kids?

Shar :-)