The fall of 2010 we suddenly found T2 and T3 were unexpectedly (but so excitedly) starting at a Waldorf Charter School. One of the “rules” at the school is kids are supposed to be media free during the school week.

Why do they want children to be media free?  Here is a great explanation!

I Finally found the motivation!

I was so excited to have an excuse and an outside source forcing me to do this.  I had been wanting this change, the boys, not so much.

I told them we would gently ease into it.  I gave us 2 weeks to get completely media free.*

Week 1

So the first week we still had our after school show and computer for 30 minutes.

But no more evening shows.  Which left a very bored T1 and T2 and without any motivation on their parts to get ready for bed.  (We had been having them get ready before our evening show, which made bedtimes easier.)

We had to come up with a new rhythm for their bedtime.  T1 was easy because he is a reader, so he was happy to have more time to read.  T2 and I started having special chats or would play a game.

Week 2 – holding onto old beliefs

The next week we got rid of computer for T2 and T3.  Here is where I bought into the idea that since T1 was learning on the computer it was OK.  So I still allowed him on the computer.  Obviously for homework it is OK, but I also let him have 1-2 hours of other things.  They still watched the after school show that week.

Week 3 – our first media free week

Finally we were down to no media during the week.  (except T1 who had his computer)  If my boys were at their friends houses to play most of my friends tried to help us stay media free, but that is a huge commitment for my friends to uphold.  So I just had to let go of that.  However they all knew and made an effort, which I so appreciated.

How did we feel about the changes?

 

• T1 adjusted easily to the whole thing.  (maybe because he still had the computer?)
• T2 had the hardest time.  That first media free week wasn’t pretty.  But honestly by the next week the complaining stopped and we had a new normal.
• T3 didn’t seem to miss it at all.  He is our policeman.  If the boys are on the computer for homework he gets upset because we are “media free”!    He shouts “Media!!!!”
• I will admit evenings with T2 were a challenge.  I didn’t always have the energy or time to chat or play a game.  So it felt like a sacrifice at first.

*When I say Media Free – I mean during the school week.  Monday through Friday after school.

Reducing Media Usage for Kids Series

This series was inspired by my 13 year old.  He said I need to tell people about this, after seeing the benefits in his quality of life over the last few months as we reduced our media usage.

• More Boys = More TV or How we got to become media addicts.
• Our Media Rhythm Before
• Transitioning to Media Free*
• Taking the Final Step – No more computer for T1
• Benefits of Being Media Free*
• Mostly Media Free in the Summer
• 4 Easy Tips to Help You Reduce Media Usage