<![CDATA[Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child?]]>Hi,


Am new to this forum and am so excited to see so many concerned parents in this forum. Do give me your opinion for this one.

We seldom watch television, close to zero on most days. We spend a lot of time bonding with our 2 boys, aged 5 and 15 months, like going to the parks, jogging, playground time, board games, toys and IQ games. And for my 5 year old, I give him lots of work (maths, english, chinese writing and of course the fun activities) and challenge him to finish them without any supervision. He has never failed to complete them.

When we are working, we cannot control television programs, which my mum (who’s taking care of the boys) told me he would watch KidsCentral for 1 hour, 2 at most and the TV is left ‘OFF’ for the rest of the day.

My husband and I are toying with the idea of doing WITHOUT any television. What do you think?

In place of TV, we are planning to start playing weiqi with him, he loves to play reversi which I’ll be spending more time to teach him. He’s starting his wushu class next month after his art class ends. I’m also planning to spend more time to do more work and teaching him. Though I’m afraid that he is ‘overloaded’ with work, he doesn’t seem stressed out.

My concern is if I would deprive him from his ‘only form of’ entertainment. Any parents here who has no TV or exposes their children to little television?

Many thanks for reading this post.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/959/throwing-away-our-television-am-i-depriving-my-childRSS for NodeMon, 27 Apr 2026 16:21:28 GMTTue, 09 Sep 2008 08:02:41 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:22:00 GMT]]>

Funz:
Our schedules are quite hectic. I will pick the kids up and reach home by about 6pm. Most days, I will bring them for a walk/swim or to the playground b4 dinner. By the time we finish dinner, it will be about 8pm oredi. Then DD will have to practise her piano for 30mins, followed by going thru her spelling and ting xie for the week. DS will be free to play during this time and he will normally choose to doodle or do some activities like dot-to-dot, etc. He hardly asks to watch TV. Then at about 9-9.30pm DD can choose to do what she wants and I also notice that she will choose to play hide & seek or make belief games with DS or at times, she will ask the play her games on her DS lite or even just pick a book to read over TV. Thereafter, it is bedtime routine like milk, teeth brushing, etc then lights out at 10pm. Weekends, we are hardly at home.

Same thing lor... No time to watch TV. We spend more time talking in our room or reading books before turning in.

If not for my tenant who has a big flat screen TV in her room, we might even save on our TV licence this year... :lol:

My tenant told me during days where she allowed my boys to go into her room to watch TV, DS1 chose to watch channelnewsasia and documentary! :shock: and DS2 spends time playing her piano.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39418https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39418Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:22:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:15:14 GMT]]>Come to think about it, DH, myself and our 2 kiddos dun watch much TV. But for a family who hardly watch much TV programmes, we have a lot of TV sets at home. 3 TVs. My maid is the one who watches the local programmes. DH also subscribe to cable and we have tons of shows loaded onto the Apple tv as well. But we hardly watch them.


Our schedules are quite hectic. I will pick the kids up and reach home by about 6pm. Most days, I will bring them for a walk/swim or to the playground b4 dinner. By the time we finish dinner, it will be about 8pm oredi. Then DD will have to practise her piano for 30mins, followed by going thru her spelling and ting xie for the week. DS will be free to play during this time and he will normally choose to doodle or do some activities like dot-to-dot, etc. He hardly asks to watch TV. Then at about 9-9.30pm DD can choose to do what she wants and I also notice that she will choose to play hide & seek or make belief games with DS or at times, she will ask the play her games on her DS lite or even just pick a book to read over TV. Thereafter, it is bedtime routine like milk, teeth brushing, etc then lights out at 10pm. Weekends, we are hardly at home.

DH and I did not deliberately set out to minimise TV time. But I guess cos neither of us are big on TV programmes, our kids are also not that interested. In fact, I tried to make watching a home movie a family activity, since we have a full home entertainment system, but half way thru the show, my kids disappeared and were in the play room putting up their own puppet show and DH and I are the only ones still watching the movie.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39416https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39416Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:15:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:20:16 GMT]]>Hi lovejesus,


It has been more than half a year without TV (forgot when we threw away actually) and we are still fine.

The boys are still very much exposed to cartoons (from their childcare centre), shows (from in-laws and my parents when we visit them) but other than that, they are doing fine without an in-house TV. It is easier now to get them off from the TV, unlike previously. And watching TV has become much of a treat than a normal day activity for them.

Our family time is still as hectic as ever, we spend alot of time talking and playing games. Sometimes we dun even have time to finish our fruits session and it’s already time for bed!

DH did explore the idea of buying a TV again when he’s got the ‘X-box itch’, but we decided that we are not ready for a new TV as yet. We are now into reading (catching up on our favourite books), so now no lar… no TV is better for us.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39384https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39384Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:20:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:55:13 GMT]]>Hi!

I’m also of the opinion that TV is not that vital to my children’s lives.
Last time when I was pregnant, my MIL would tell me not to let baby watch TV, bad for baby, etc.
But when my DS was born, she was the one who introduced him to TV…and always leave him in front of the TV while she naps or does something else…
The only thing I could do was to buy lots of children VCD/DVD so that at least the programs he watches are more suitable for him!
Currently, DS is 3.5 yrs old and a bit of a TV addict…cos at his childcare, they also let him watch TV after 5pm (no more lessons, just waiting for pick-up).
Some days he will tell me he’s watched enough TV at school already, so doesn’t want to watch TV at home…
But he still looks forward to Friday evenings when I’ll put on a DVD/VCD for him…we dubb it our "movie night" and he looks forward to it…asking me everyday whether its Friday yet or not…

As for my DD, 18 months old, even though she is exposed to TV (my MIL tends to use TV as a babysitter), she is not that interested at all…just ignore even when TV is on. She’ll rather find something more fun to do…or ask for food!

As for myself, I hardly get to watch TV, cos once I reached home, I’ll be busy attending to the children and when they rest, I either check my emails, bathe or go to sleep! Too tired man!

Hopefully, I can also make a firm decision to not have TV at all…but I’m not sure how that will work out…cos my DH is a super TV addict!

Oh well…its still good to have some feedback and inputs from all…to have a different perspective!
Cheers…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39374https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/39374Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:55:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Fri, 29 May 2009 07:12:24 GMT]]>

PlayfulFairy:
Winth, how do you get you kid to complete a lot of homework without your supervision?

Hi, actually it's alot of foundation work you put in in your child's early years, that is at 1 year old. By starting to read alot earlier, they will develop longer attention span. When they are ready to scribble/write, I'll buy books that are fun and attractive to help them develop this motivation to complete the exercise.

So when DS1 is at 2, he can sit down to write liao (with lots of guiding).

I left him alone when he is around 4 to do his own mazes, puzzles (all the fun stuff).

At 5, he will then be tasked to do less-fun homework like doing math + simple languages work and more completed 3D mazes (mazes are very good as they help to develop brain and eye coordination and visualization skills). He likes to also do lots of craft work, so basically he's left alone to complete such 'homework'.

Now at 6, he needs to complete all the sentence writing, chinese reading, multiplication and compo lor... It's less fun now, but he wouldn't realise it bec it has become his habit now.

The problem with TV is that he will get too engrossed in it that he will tell me his eyes are too tired to do homework. Or that tv time took so much of his free time away that he has no more time to complete the homework at leisure. So homework will be done hastily and it will become a stressful event for him.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/31301https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/31301Fri, 29 May 2009 07:12:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Fri, 29 May 2009 07:03:21 GMT]]>digress a bit, Winth, how do you get you kid to complete a lot of homework without your supervision?


Think watching in moderation is key. 30 min of educational stuff like National Geographic after completion of homework should be fine… otherwise bonding with your family outdoors is very ideal!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/31296https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/31296Fri, 29 May 2009 07:03:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 28 May 2009 03:08:59 GMT]]>

schellen:
Eventually, I got bored and returned it and my DD didn't even bother to ask for it. She has a chance to play it when she visits my grandma (who lives with my cousin) but she can't be bothered too.



Same here. My brothers have PS2. They simply leave the PS2 there to collect dust when they got bored with it. Now even talking about buying PS3, which I thot was a waste of $$$. But maybe 'kids' of their age (both single) plus no responsibilities really got nothing better to do.
schellen:
Maybe your DH can play similar games on a PC/laptop or a handheld?
He's looking at renting PSP at $5 per hour, thought that was a better option than for him to buy.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30914https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30914Thu, 28 May 2009 03:08:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:57:23 GMT]]>The other problem with watching local TV is the ads! They are either there to "coerce" your kids to milk you of money to get stuff they play for 5 seconds before chucking to one side or full of inappropriate trailers for shows that are not PG.


winth, ask your DH what he wants to play and whether he can keep it out of the kids’ reach. Is he willing to be the bad guy? Cos he may have to be like a judge and jailer. You can say that you will not have anything to do with it, including financial investment and supervision.

I borrowed the Wii from my cousin when he was out of town for a while and I kept 2 of the most important components out of sight when not in use during the week. Eventually, I got bored and returned it and my DD didn’t even bother to ask for it. She has a chance to play it when she visits my grandma (who lives with my cousin) but she can’t be bothered too.

Maybe your DH can play similar games on a PC/laptop or a handheld? it can be a compromise. Good luck!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30912https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30912Thu, 28 May 2009 02:57:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:45:51 GMT]]>During my DD younger years 2-5, we let her watch CD/DVD like barney/sesame street etc, and sometimes ch8/5 prime time series. When come to P1, we stop all prime time series from 7-10pm. Reason is to spend this prime time on her homework and revise those work studied in school. I think consistency in revising their work is important. The only time we can sit together and watch prime time series is during school holiday.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30908https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30908Thu, 28 May 2009 02:45:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:39:51 GMT]]>Wow, you have summarized the reasons why we threw away our television. :udaman:


Err... my DH is asking me on a daily basis if he should buy an Xbox or PS3, can think of any reason how I could hold him back? :?:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30907https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30907Thu, 28 May 2009 02:39:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:30:28 GMT]]>

schellen:


Our TV at home is hardly used for watching local TV. We have no cable and game console. TV is primarily for DVD playback so in a way, we control what our DD watches and how much she watches and when she watches. We use it as a privilege which she has to earn.
Yup - giving up cable was a good decision. Since most TV programmes are crap anyway, the fact is after a while I feel nothing is lost. It's much better to be able to choose exactly what you want to watch, and don't have this \"privilege\" of browsing 100 channels as cable providers like to advertize.

And seriously, Sg TV is SOOOOOO crappy, I think it is a GOOD thing people should do to avoid it. I find mediacorpse to be a complete embarassment.

IMO, the value of \"news\" and \"journalism\" is also seriously over-rated. The mass media is now habitually a harbinger of fear and doom, with their daily diets of death, destruction, disease and delusion. They report very little that is truly valuable information, or which will improve you well-being in life. They just like to sound important.

In fact, don't you feel that the more news you watch, the worse you feel about the world? And do we really want our 6-year-olds to be brainwashed and wired to think how screwed up the world is?

My take is that if a piece of news is truly important, you will hear of it sooner than later. Your friend will tell you, your HR will email you, your govt will mail you a letter, etc. Everything else is forgettable.

In 6 months' time, few will remember H1N1, even less will remember Indian Rojak, and nobody will even care a hoot about the Indo air crash or S.Korean president suicide.

So ask yourself again - of all the news and TV programmes you watched today, or in the last week, which one is TRULY important/life-changing? Your answer will determine whether or not these channels are of real value to you.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30902https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30902Thu, 28 May 2009 02:30:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 27 May 2009 07:06:42 GMT]]>

winth:
Picolo:

It was a good buy, cos it comes with a child-lock password and now I can watch the news whenever I want to.


Got such a thing meh?
What brand ah?
We seldom shop, so really outdated with electronic stuff.

Yes, have. Our old TV (spoilt already) has it to a certain extent, meaning can lock certain things but no password. Since it was old, I'm sure the new ones now have even more and better functions.

Our TV at home is hardly used for watching local TV. We have no cable and game console. TV is primarily for DVD playback so in a way, we control what our DD watches and how much she watches and when she watches. We use it as a privilege which she has to earn.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30780https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30780Wed, 27 May 2009 07:06:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 27 May 2009 05:38:13 GMT]]>

winth:
Picolo:

It was a good buy, cos it comes with a child-lock password and now I can watch the news whenever I want to.


Got such a thing meh?
What brand ah?
We seldom shop, so really outdated with electronic stuff.

Thot I was the only 'sua gu' one cos I never bothered with TVs. Only know have HD ready and Full HD ones. The brand is Panasonic, HD ready one, 42\" and cost $620 only (or $1220 with $600 NTUC vouchers) .. hehe

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30749https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30749Wed, 27 May 2009 05:38:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 27 May 2009 05:26:35 GMT]]>We lost count but I think we are into the 6th month without television at home liao.


The kids would still watch those programs when we visit MIL's or friends' house. DS2's childcare centre allows them to watch at least 1-2 hours of educational vcds, so we dun miss the days when we had a tv.

The only thing is DH is itching to buy his first Xbox/PS3. Says that he's got to be updated with his games :roll:.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30747https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30747Wed, 27 May 2009 05:26:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Wed, 27 May 2009 05:20:54 GMT]]>

Picolo:
It was a good buy, cos it comes with a child-lock password and now I can watch the news whenever I want to.

Got such a thing meh?
What brand ah?
We seldom shop, so really outdated with electronic stuff.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30744https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30744Wed, 27 May 2009 05:20:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:02:01 GMT]]>1.5 years ago, we kind of banned the TV and watched much much less TV. Since then, my sons started to read more books and play more among themselves in their free time, which is a better use of time. Early this year, we replaced the old TV with a 42" TV due to its irresistably cheap price. It was a good buy, cos it comes with a child-lock password and now I can watch the news whenever I want to. The bigger screen also make watching DVDs on nature, discoveries, histories, etc more interesting and easier on the eyes. We watched only stuffs that are worth watching, not trashy productions, because when we watch TV, we like our children to join us too.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30634https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30634Tue, 26 May 2009 16:02:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Tue, 26 May 2009 07:51:19 GMT]]>Have u seen the movie Gremlins before? In one part the cute, cuddly creature was watching TV (unsupervised) and later it multiplied into nasty characters from the movies it had seen. :!: Same may turn out for kids.


If you throw away the TV, your kid could be the next PM or become some poor soul that don't know what's his/her peers are talking about. 😄

I think best is moderation & supervised. :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30550https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/30550Tue, 26 May 2009 07:51:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:58:31 GMT]]>TV = bad


for the first five years in my new flat there was no TV.

why? i banned it.

TV is primarily a one-way medium.

i don’t watch TV… where got time?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/8328https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/8328Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:58:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:15:28 GMT]]>Winth wrote [quote]The problem that we have now is that we as parents, tend to scold the boys when we are engrossed by some TV program that we are watching. [/quote]
I understand how you feel. I used to have my favourite series disturbed too & I ended scolding my kids. I don't watch tv these days. But my advise is, you can still watch tv after the kids gone to sleep.

Winth wrote[quote]And I don't know what program he's watching in KidsCentral in the weekdays[/quote]There are times that I am cross enough that I take away their liberty of watching tv during weekdays when I'm off at work. I just pull out the plug and put them in a discrete place. There are also tv that you can set timer or lock the system so the kids are not able to on the tv during those hours.

There is a saying \"Picture tells a thousand words\". I have a son who is very interested in the current affairs. Reading the plights on some African continents will not be the same as watching it live on tv. Reading a natural disaster from a book will not be the same as watching it live in tv how tsunami, earthquake, tornado affects the earth.

You can also watch educational DVDs on the computer.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7429https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7429Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:15:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:27:58 GMT]]>Sorry if I may sound offensive but what's next after removing TV? Radio, Internet, CCA, friends etc? :shock:


To me, TV is technological tool and it all depends how we use it. Use it wisely, we will all benefit. 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7387https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7387Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:27:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:34:01 GMT]]>I feel that watching TV is fine, in moderation of course


I allow my kids 30 minutes of Hi-5 Mon to Fri, ocassionally bonus TV time to watch educational DVDs

and 30 minutes playing online phonics games thrice a week

didn’t impact their studies at all. Must finish their homework before watching TV

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7339https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7339Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:34:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:15:00 GMT]]>If your child don watch TV, s/he has potential to become the next PM.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7336https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7336Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:15:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:00:20 GMT]]>Hmmm, i heard they totally have no TV, just music. I am not sure whether they have a TV set at home.


But yes, I know those kids who totally have no contacts with TV really does well but it is impossible in my family…cos my hubby loves TV…if he’s at home, the TV will be on and the kids will start to remember cartoons, disney…etc…not forgetting my mum, who is the caregiver!

I remember when he is outstation, the bills only comes up to 60 dollars compared to the 100! Cos totally no TV for my kids. If you can succeed without TV, all the best! I totally understand your well being for your kids.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7312https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7312Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:00:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Throwing away our television. Am I depriving my child? on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:24:11 GMT]]>Hi 2galsmum, thanks for sharing.


Does your relative have NO TV or limits the children’s access to TV?

Actually my hubby knows a friend too who has no TV at home at all and he is their top physics student in school and of course, received scholarship and stuff… which started us wondering if we should do the same for the children.

And we know of people who digs themselves in books and watches no TV (though has a TV at home), and they top the class each year, receiving first class honors too…

But those were the days, back in the 1990s. So I wonder if there are families now still do the same?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7280https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/7280Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:24:11 GMT