What to do If your daughter watch too much TV?

[njirish]

have her read and buy one of those summer learning books it may not be fun but its way better then tv. Als you can play a board game with her or just planly say you can watch tv for two hours everyday and that's it and she can decide what to do on the time she isn't watching tv.

[Chelsrageous!]

If she is at least a teen or pre-teen get her the book "The Daring Book For Girls" by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. It's full of things that will keep her busy and she will enjoy reading it and trying the activities it suggests. If you don't want to buy it, check it out for free from the local library.

[stile_usm]

turn the tv off, get rid of it, set limits or buy a timer and then let your daughter figure out what to do with her time. she needs to learn to occupy herself and after a couple of days moaning that she is bored...you watch...she will find something to do.

[Wundt]

The best advice is to just turn off the TV and highly restrict what and when she can watch. She will complain for the first few days, but you need to break that habit. Stand strong and she will eventually find something else to do.

Another piece of advice is only let her watch movies that are on video/DVD. These have a definite end and didn't contain any commercials. "You can watch this movie, but once it is over you must turn off the TV." It is very easy when watching regular TV to just keep watching from one show to the next, this method breaks that cycle.

You didn't mention your daughter's age, but here are some thoughts...

- Invite over her friends for the day, or even a sleep over. Even if they watch some TV, it will be more social.

- Join a gym. Many have kids programs that are included or are very cheap. It may be a little expensive, but at least you can work out while she burns off some energy. I know our local YMCA has some very good and affordable options for kids.

- Buy 'bridge' workbooks. These are workbooks (reading, math, etc) designed to be used over the summer between grades. You can even make her 'earn' her TV time, each page completed = 10 minutes of TV.

- Look for indoor play places. We have 2 within a 20 minute drive, and some even have wifi so you can work/surf while they play. If there isn't one close, look for fast food places with indoor playscapes; buy a couple of drinks (so they don't kick you out) and read while she plays.

- Look for affordable day camps. Many places offer half day camps at $100 a week. Look at things like indoor rock climbing gyms, the YMCA, local pools, local arts or film societies, local community colleges, etc for options.

[Tom J]

Turn off the tv & give her a book.

[Lady Morgaine]

Disconnect the cable, pack away the videos and boot her outside to play with her peers.