Comments on Before Our Time: E-Free Week: a week without tv, computer or electr...

I think its wonderful what you've done and would l...

2009-04-23T10:27:00.000+10:00

I think its wonderful what you've done and would love to do it our household too.
Our eldest (8yo boy) is seriously obsessed about Playstation. It is is first choice every time and would spend every waking hour on it if we let him.
It makes for an easy punishment, i.e. no Playstation, which of course he gets upset about, but then he does find ways to amuse himself during those no PS times.
We have had to seriously limit his access to all things electronic. I all but send them outside lock the doors just to get them to do something a bit more active.

Right now you know what I'm doing, other half is w...

2009-04-23T05:57:00.000+10:00

Right now you know what I'm doing, other half is working on photographs on the computer, with an eye on the "fitba'" on television as well and appendage is "coding" (whatever that is). But, "mof", don't think you're going to be indulging in all that electronic equipment I listed when you're here in May – WE're going to be out and about – hopefully. If the weather is awful, I may have to eat my words and be glad of it to fall back on. Let's hope not.

My daughter is one of these people that has the TV...

2009-04-22T23:25:00.000+10:00

My daughter is one of these people that has the TV on while she is on the computer, listening to music coming out of her bedroom. I wander what she'd miss most?

An E-free week! Just invite a 99year old matriarch...

2009-04-22T21:32:00.000+10:00

An E-free week! Just invite a 99year old matriarch to stay. No tolerance to radio, tv or any modern electronic equipment!!
A binge coming up!! Sorry Auntie Four Letter!!

A fantastic idea. We got rid of our free to air t...

2009-04-22T14:06:00.000+10:00

A fantastic idea.

We got rid of our free to air television several months ago and the children don't miss it at all. We don't have pay tv either. They can watch a DVD and play on computers still but they don't do that anywhere near as often.

I found the TV was so easy to turn on and just start watching. Getting the DVD player and computer going takes more effort and they usually get distracted by their toys in the meantime.

Wishing you great success with your E-Free Week.

What is the reward? Something electronic? Sometim...

2009-04-22T13:20:00.000+10:00

What is the reward? Something electronic?

Sometimes I find myself thinking I should tell the kids a show they like is on telly and then I see them outside just playing and I stop myself. The ability to amuse oneself without props is a good one to develop.

Greenfumb: good question about my childrens' ages....

2009-04-22T09:36:00.000+10:00

Greenfumb: good question about my childrens' ages. They are 9 and 11 - tweenagers you might say. Just the right point to educate about the benefits of time away from the box and still within my power to influence. Teenagers would probably just tell me to get lost.

What a brave woman you are, I would crack from all...

2009-04-22T08:45:00.000+10:00

What a brave woman you are, I would crack from all the whingeing in a matter of hours. My kids are not supposed to use MSN or watch TV Mon-Thurs until 8.00 but policing it is a nightmare. I'll be interested to see how it goes, are they teenagers?

Having gone from being brought up with one radio a...

2009-04-22T05:34:00.000+10:00

Having gone from being brought up with one radio and no television till I was 16 and then only 1 channel to 5 televisions and recording equipment, 3 computers, 6 telephones+mobile, several sound systems and several radios (yes, right now, all together, at the one time and for only 2 of us in a tiny house), I found that, on our Arctic expeditions, lack of it all really recharged my batteries as no-one could get to me for anything and I didn't have to think what was going on in the rest of the world. However, when we have a power-cut, which we do quite frequently here by comparison, I feel really lost and cut-off and enormous relief and relaxation when the power is restored. I also feel like that when it's my week between knittings. It's just what you're used to so I can understand children used to electronics feeling bereft without. I think that as long as there's plenty of music, books, physical activity, socialising etc, as well they'll be alright.

Crap. I love the pixel nanny. I can't mop withou...

2009-04-22T01:42:00.000+10:00

Crap. I love the pixel nanny. I can't mop without her. My two are more "connected" than I'd like. We are discussing options for the long, lazy summer days that get them out and moving more, instead of parked in front of the TV.

But yes. This is a great idea. I'm interested to see the results. Did I correctly note that YOU will not be going e-free? I hope not!

I think the kids could survive a week without them...

2009-04-21T23:22:00.000+10:00

I think the kids could survive a week without them, but us adults would go nuts rather quickly.