Boyink! - Spring Forward on the Web

So - what was your reaction to that title?  Did your stomach turn a small flop - thinking of all those favorite shows you would miss?  Or did you have a small moment of “wouldn’t that be nice”?

Today marks one month without TV for our family.

Well - let me qualify that that a bit.  One month without commercial television.  We’ve watched a couple of rented DVD’s due to the rainy weather we’ve been having here in W. MI, and we turned on the news after hearing the local civil defense sirens going off.  Turns out there was a tornado warning in effect, so TV proved the best way to get the update on that situation.

Otherwise - our small gray box has remained in the corner with a dark screen. 

Now I’ll grant you - the first week of that month without was our vacation where we went tent camping in a local state park.  But that vacation was the impetus for the longer break - after getting back from that relaxing week neither my wife or I wanted to be the first to break the quiet and peace by switching the TV on.

So what fills primetime lately at the Boyink house?  Reading, mostly.  Both my kids are bookworms anyway - so as long as we make regular library visits to ensure they have a few on hand they’re OK with that.  They have asked now and then to watch the odd episode of Cyberchase, but we’ve been turning them down as they’ve seen most of the episodes already anyway.

Once the kids are in bed my wife and I have been listening to books on tape - a great “TV-alternative” for those of us who spend most of the day at the computer monitor. 

I also start guitar lessons this week, so will fit some practice time into the after-supper hours.

And the effects of not watching TV?  For me,  I can say is that there is a sense of peace and quiet to the days now that didn’t exist before.  I feel less “intruded upon” by advertising - between no TV and not listening to commercial radio I don’t have to endure people shouting at me to buy stuff.  This is more important for me as we head into the holiday season - as I get older it’s harder for me to tune out all the commercial noise of the season and remain focused on the things of real importance.

And for the rest of the family?  I played interviewer and asked each of them some questions around TV.  Here are their responses:

Daughter, 8 years old
Q: What do you think about going without TV for a month?
A. Not very good.

Q. What have you been doing instead of watching TV?
A. Reading.

Q. What do you not like about TV?
A. Nothing.

Q. What do you miss about TV?
A. The animations.

Q. If we let you watch TV all you wanted, how much would you watch?
A. Alot.

Q. What would you watch?
A. Cyberchase - because there is math and you learn.  Mia and Miguel.

(Daughter then crosses the room to hug the TV…obviously we still have issues to resolve here….)

Son, 9 years old
Q. What do you think about watching less TV?
A. You don’t get alot of junk in your head by watching bad movies.

Q. What have you been doing instead of watching TV?
A. More activity time - I think I’m more active without watching TV.

Q. Are there any disadvantages to not watching TV?
A. The down part is you don’t know the weather without going on the computer, and they don’t update that as often as on TV.

Q. If we let you watch TV all you wanted, how much would you watch?
A. Cyberchase once a week, maybe Mia and Miguel but other than that not much.

MsBoyink
Q. Do you miss TV?
A. Once in a great while, especially when I don’t have a book or story on tape to listen to.  But I did look at the TV Guide the other day and didn’t really see anything I had to watch anyway.  I don’t miss commercials.

Q. Can you sense anything different about our days w/o TV?
A. Daytimes - not much effect.  In the evenings, we’re more purposeful about our activities.  We started the read-aloud of Pollyanna.  We’re not as dictated by the clock - no rushing to get something done so we’re free to watch a TV show.  It’s annoying to be kept to a schedule by the TV.  I still want to do a weekly family movie night with popcorn, etc—but I don’t miss commercial TV at all.  I don’t want to get wrapped up in the next “So You Think You Can Dance”. But it might be easier for us - we’re not in the workplace where there are discussions of TV shows.

It has affected - it’s hard to even put a DVD in.  We’re reading Pollyanna - it would have been a whole lot easier to watch the Disney movie version instead.  Or read the book after watching it - but I wanted the kids to come up with what Pollyanna looks like on their own, before seeing the movie.

So - reviews are mixed.  But overall MsBoyink and I are happy with the decision, and are continuing to keep the screen dark - and finding out what can fill that time instead.

What say you - what role does TV play in your house?  Have you ever given it up for a length of time?  Would you consider it?

Comments are closed, but you can read the comments other people left.

1. AJP on October 03, 2006

   My roommates and I are all different, but here’s mine.

   I watch 3 shows and sports. So I either record those shows and watch them later, or watch them live, depending on the time.

   Sports, I’ll watch them if I’m with people, but mostly post-season baseball, and watching the Lions lose.

2. Dave J. on October 03, 2006

   Congrats. My opinion is that with information/entertainment so cheap, cutting back will become a real life skill.

   How about usage of the computer with the kids. Mine would probably almost accept a dark TV if they had the computer and occasional DVD nights.

3. Michael Boyink (Author) on October 03, 2006

   I should have mentioned - our computer usage has probably gone up.  Having a wifi-equipped laptop in the living makes it all too easy to flip it open and get online.

   We do limit the kids computer time as well - and point them to kids educational games as a regular destination.  All told they probably would prefer computer time over TV time.

   AJ brings up another point I didnt - sports.  I’m not a sports fan whatsoever, and that’s probably the single biggest obsctacle for most families in turning off the tv.

   I know if we had extended cable with all those “Monster Garage” type shows I’d have a harder time turning it off too…;)

4. Nathan Smith on October 04, 2006

   Bleh, no TV for a month would’ve phase me. We don’t even have cable, just rabbit-ears. Ever since the original Nintendo came out, Television programs have been dead to me. Now, no Internet for a month? Yeah, that turns my stomach. :)

5. Frank Johnson on October 04, 2006

   When my wife and I first married 14 years ago, we went without a TV for about 11 months (we had planned on not having one for a year, but mutually agreed to buy one at the 11-month point when we came into a little money). During that time, I would watch some sports at my father-in-law’s house, but otherwise, no TV.

   It was refreshing, to say the least.

6. Simon Bruton on October 06, 2006

   I know exactly how you felt about turning the TV on after a camping holiday with no media. After Hiking in the mountains or camping out in pure nature where there are no modern facilities I feel closer to my family, myself, my values and what should be important in my life. I dont like sliding back into the rut of evening TV - but it is so addictive. I often wonder how much more I would achieve and how much more family dialogue there would be if the TV were gone. When I first get married we will try no TV - just movies. With kids it is a difficult balance - you dont want to turn them into hermits - they need to be exposed to a certain amount of media to gain general knowledge, become ‘streetwise’ and fit in with society. I guess there has to be a balance between outdoor/physical activities, reading/self learning, TV and internet.

   Did SSDutch go camping to the state park? Got any good photos to post? A week back I went on a 4-day trip to a very remote area of mountains - one of the 6 vehicles was a CJ6 - I’ll ask the owner if he minds me sending them.

7. Michael Boyink (Author) on October 06, 2006

   Hi Simon -

   Good thoughts.  TV, of course, isn’t the only media by which kids can be exposed to current events - there are even news publications out there that are specifically written for kids.

   SSDutch hasn’t moved in…I hate to type this….around a year.  We just got caught up in several house projects and now the summer is gone.  I *do* plan to enter next spring with a driveable Jeep though!

8. Robby Leblanc on October 16, 2006

   Truth is, it’s my work that’s come in between me and my television. At first, I was a little frustrated to have missed many of my favorite programs. But as time went by, I got used to it and now I’m more focused on work.

   All I watched weren’t that important anyway. I just w2atched tv for pleasure and leisure, and not for news and information.

   oh, and you say you’re taking guitarlessons. I suggest http://www.myguitartuner.com/ It’s free!

9. Kevin McGill on October 19, 2006

   Mike,

   I am going on my 12th month here in Iraq and no TV in sight. I have done it on many deployments to Kosovo, Iraq in 2003, and this time to Iraq. I am on the internet but not nearly as frequently as I would be at home. Most of the time it is to get on IM with my wife. I think that for me it is a unique situation. All the news coverage of this over here is what you see on TV all day and I am here living in it. I do check the news and weather (mostly the soaring temps, although the rainy season is upon us again) although it is just for a minute. I think that TV is DEFINITELY something that anyone can do without. Radio is my alternative. I listen to my Itunes mostly and have music on all day in my room. It is more entertaining and keeps you working in a good mood.

10. Michael Boyink (Author) on October 19, 2006

    Thanks again for your service Kevin - and the reminder of it.  It’s far too easy for me to get wrapped up in daily life and forget about you guys over there.

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