I did it - it took away the TV! Anyone else gone cold turkey for 2015?

[atonofwashing]

DS (8) didn't think I would, but I have removed the 2 TV's in the house, in a bid to encourage more reading.

So far he's decamped to the Ipad, but that will be given out sparingly...

His after school schedule is full on so I am hoping he might not notice, although he does know about iplayer etc...

Anyone else done anything similar?

my 2 will still do ANYTHING in preference to reading whether there is a TV or computer or not. they are both excellent readers (one has vision and speech issues though which make it a lot of hard work for her) but they wouldn't choose to do it.

they are both in a bit of a lego phase at the moment.

I love all the prickly, defensive posts on this thread.

I have had a TV and not had a TV, and I know I read more when I don't have one. There are laptops and iPads, sure... but I think you do less mindless watching when you have these.

I think we might do "zero screen time on weekdays during term times" as well. It will be good for all of us.

Getting rid of all screens/internet definitely means people do more other things, including reading. It makes a massive difference. We go somewhere with no screens for 4-6 weeks each summer, and it's great for everyone.

Getting rid of TV also helps.

Not having a TV is no big issue, especially with streaming these days. I'm not sure it will encourage a reluctant reader read though!

I think reading with them, having lots of books around,things like that can help. Some children are never that keen and some develop an interest later.

My dses watch stuff on their ipads but rarely the tv. It'd be dh and I that missed it the most.

We do have a TV but I put a screen ban in place during the week.

The dcs do not read more, much to my annoyance, but they do lots of other things and I'm sure it's been good for family relationships.
They are definitely less whiney.

Couldn't you have just switched it off?

Surely you are in control of the off button, not your 8 year old.

It is absolutely my DP who is the biggest addict (although in fairness, I like the TV when the children have gone to bed). He comes home, goes into the living room, turns on the TV and if my DC have been playing that's it, they are in there with him. The only thing I have managed is to ban the TV from our bedroom because I didn't want my children to demand one in theirs.

Since my DD has started school in September the telly very rarely goes on in the week, we just don't have time and she hasn't noticed. She doesn't use my iPad either, I don't trust she won't drop it!
She has become very good at amusing herself, lots of drawing and creative stuff up at the table mainly. I think the no TV in the week during term time works really well, go for it!

As for TV versus IPad, it's all screen time IMO and equates to the same thing.