Have you ever thought of getting rid of the t.v.? For many this sounds like a scary and even radical decision. In fact, if you were to ditch the television, there’s a good chance some of your friends and family would think it was downright child neglect. But what if you did it anyway and discovered your family had added extra hours to their day to enjoy each other, take up new hobbies, and just plain relax? This is the purpose of Barbara Brock’s book Living Outside the Box – TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets.
Barbara Brock has spent years researching the effects of television on families, and her information is thorough and fascinating. In 1999, Barbara set out to survey t.v.-free families to see how living without the television had affected their lives. She put out some small ads in national magazines and was flooded with responses. Over 500 families wished to fill out her extensive survey, happy to share their personal stories. Later, hundreds more families agreed to turn off their t.v.’s and relay their experiences. The result is this powerful book
What Barbara discovered were hundreds of families enjoying themselves, relaxing, taking up worthwhile pursuits. Their children had higher grades and weren’t pressured into wanting all the latest toys and video games. They spent more time outside, were healthier, talked to each other more than ever. And what’s more, the children simply were not interested in television and even complained after visiting their friends who wanted to sit in front of the box for hours.
We have a television, but funny thing is, no one really watches it. I can tell you from personal experience that not watching television has been one of our best decisions ever. When I was pregnant and about ready to have my son, I suddenly was repulsed by things I was seeing on television and didn’t want to watch. Call it nesting, hormones, whatever. But when we made our beautiful new bookshelves the focus of the living room and moved the television to the basement, no one was sorry to see it banished. We do watch occasional DVDs and plan on having a select collection for viewing every now and then with our son, but television no longer plays a role in our daily lives. Because of this, we do spend a lot of time talking, reading and blogging about it, taking walks, and just plain living. I could only nod my head in agreement throughout my reading of Living Outside the Box. Barbara Brock certainly has a noble cause in helping families go t.v. free, and I can do nothing but applaud her.
Each April, National TV-Turnoff Week comes around, and this year it’s April 21 – 27. Want to give it a go?
To help you prepare, I have one free copy of Living Outside the Box to give away. There are three ways you can enter. 1.) Subscribe to this blog to be automatically entered into this and all future giveaways here at dkMommy Spot. 2.) Leave a comment telling me about your family’s television watching habits and what you’d like to change. 3.) Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back. OR you can do all three and have three entries! I’ll draw a winner at random on April 2, 2008, 12noon EST.
An interesting blog: While doing research for this post, I came across a great blog called Unplug Your Kids. Hop on over and take a look to see how this mom keeps her kids busy without the t.v.!
When I was growing up I watched a lot of television, but we did have “no-TV weeks” that my parents set up. Those gave us a chance to play outside and do activities with each other. I watch a lot of television now, but I don’t have kids to think about. I am very curious about strategies that families have for tv-free households, and what effect that has on childhood literacy, and would love to win this book.
We probably watch more tv than we should. I would love to read this book!
Everyone in my family watches something different. But the only shows that we all watch together are quiz shows and hockey games.
I dont watch that much tv.. other than bones and ocassionally csi!
I blogged your contest to prizeatron!
http://www.prizeatron.com
Unfortunately, we watch way too much TV. We need to change.
This looks like a really interesting book, we also watch way too much television and it would be great to read about about another family’s experiences without it. Thanks for the chance!
Did no TV for 2 years and it was wonderful for my daughter – she developed many talents and interests during this time which has developed her character!
We have gone without cable in our house during the summers to encourage our kids to play outside, but I would love to take it one step further and go completely TV free.
my son recites commercials. help!
My husband and I have a young daughter and we are used to automatically turning on the tv when we are home. So, it is always on! We have noticed our daughter watching tv and getting upset when we block it even though she is too young to understand what they are saying. Off and on we have talked about getting rid of the tv because we knew a couple that raised their children without one and we like the idea. But, it never gets done! I don’t want a tv addicted vegetable for a daughter! This might help! Thanks!
Wow!! Count me in! I’m always looking for new and creative ideas to occupy my daughter. I think we watch too much TV, but compared to other families we know it’s not as bad as I think. I actually spend a lot of time painting, drawing, coloring, and sculpting with my daughter. It’s a lot easier to get away from the TV in the spring when we can go outside and play.
Living outside the box. This book sounds unique. Thanks for the giveaway.
I wish we didn’t watch so much. I would prefer the TV not to be in my step-daughters’ room. If we had this book I may be able to tear them away.
Our family constantly just listens to it for background noise. And when we’re bored, it’s the net or TV.
I’d like to make more time for our family to spend time together without the boobtube or boobnet.
we watch way too much tv
we got rid of our tv for about 5 years and it was great – too bad it didn’t stay that way…
Our tv is on constantly. Would love to break the habit…
not how much you watch what you watch
you control the tv
TV has done wonders for our communitations
I can live with it or without it
Count us in! We’ve been living without tv for about 4 years now, but could always use more ideas of what to do!
I would like us to watch less TV and what we do watch I would prefer it be shows we could watch as a family.
Watching tv is a bad habit of mine and my 3 yr old is catching on. I need some guidelines to make changes. Help me.
Thanks
I recently got rid of satellite TV about four months ago, mainly to save money. Now all I can get only four stations with the “rabbit ears.” I really don’t miss it that much. I certainly can use the extra money I used to spend on satellite.
I’m subscribing, I’m posting a link to your contest in today’s update at http://www.powersweepstaking.com/BrowseSweepstakes/onetimeentry/, and about our television habits, well it’s usually everyone gathers around every night for one movie, kinda nice having movie night every night with the family. Wouldn’t change a thing!
The tv is always on when the kids are home. Sometimes they watch it, but mostly the just like the noise coming out of the box! I would nice to spend some time with them playing board games, but it is almost impossible to get them away from the tube!
tv is ok for me .
Great contest, great concept.
My family has a love/hate relationship with the tv. We have actually gone tv free before for months, and then we’d plug back in for awhile. This is an ongoing cycle. Actually, I just recently put the tv back on after months without it. Luckily I don’t watch it as much as I used to, but my kids are another story, lol. I would love to hear about how other parents handle having a tv free lifestyle long term, as I have only been able to unplug for a few months at a time before going back. Great blog article.
We do not watch television.
I’m addicted to reality tv. I watch it every single day. I’d like to be able to go without tv but I would have to have a game plan to fill those hours of the evening when I’m decompressing in front of the tv.
PS. I subscribed to your newsletter.
I would love to cut back on tv time at our house!
We have a bad habit of always having the TV on in the background while doing other things like working, etc. Hoping to change that this summer!
WOW your site rocks!!!
[...] the book Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets by Barbara Brock. Please read Diane’s review of this very interesting-sounding book, which is based on a 1999 study of over 500 TV-free [...]
Hi Diane,
I am so behind from having been away, but I wanted to write a post about your giveaway – so it is up now (better late than never, right?). Thanks for your mention of Unplug Your Kids. Your blog is great and I just added you to my blogroll!
(You don’t have to enter me in your contest, I just wanted to comment to let you know about my very late post!!)
This book sounds great! I would love to win a copy. Definitely subscribing also!
Ahhh t.v. we have one but it’s not plugged in most of the time. It’s only used 1-2 a month for a movie night with the kids. I do wish I could be a bit more free of my computer… but the kids don’t play. We love our life to much to waste it!
Thanks for doing a give away!
:0)
I have a reality tv habit, and my daughter can watch a whole marathon of Hannah Montana. I could really use some clarity and perspective.
I’d love to read this book and try modifying my behavior.
It would be refreshing to go to the beach instead of watching people go to the beach on TV.
We used to be pretty much TV free. My kids would watch PBS once in a while and certain VHS movies back then. Somehow, once my husband got cable…it seems like everybody wants their turn at watching TV. It is funny you bring up this subject, because just a couple of weeks ago…I started limiting hours on TV, Gaming, and computers again. Each child has a timer with their name on it. They get 30 minutes and then time to pull out the legos, k’nex, etc and find something better to do. Even my teens start doing a lot more creative pursuits when limited to the computer. I would LOVE to read this book and find out how to implement this more effectively into our lives. Thank you so much and blessings to you, Julianne
What a neat book! We generally don’t turn our television on until the evening and then the kids are allowed to watch animal or national geographic kids programs for about an hour. This is usually in the wintertime but with the days getting longer and warmer we are spending more time outdoors so quite often we don’t watch at all. I would love to get rid of the tv all together but my husband still has a minor attachment to it *grin*
My family likes to watch a lot of reality tv and sports, and I wish they would watch more educational shows.
I am really interested in reading this! I am working on un-plugging my family.
What a wonderful giveaway; for those who even want to get outsde of the box before the initiation of living outside of the walls of the box
please enter me i watch too much tv
I’m a teacher who watches TV as I correct papers. The males in the house limit most of their time to watching sports and ESPN.
My 5 yo is SO entertained by animated movies that he’d love to watch them all day, every day. We don’t watch that much actual TV but the DVDs are taking over!
Thanks for the chance! Maybe this will be the boost I need to finally cut down (or out) my children’s tv watching!
HI! This is just what I’m looking for! I’ve recently cut nearly all the television out of my family’s lives and I need some ideas on how to keep them busy…and happy. You can only clean your room so many times:)
I would love to get rid of the tv all together my children watch it way too much