We just passed the two month mark since we canceled our cable (and we don’t have the digital converter/rabbit ears or anything!)
I must admit: I don’t know if we’ll ever go back.
Why we did it
Due to a collection of factors: financial burden of cable bill when we could be using that money for much more important things as well as the kids developing certain attitudes around television shows and commercials.
Awesome side-effects of no TV
- Our family is in the same whereabouts more times than not. Before, when TV was an option, everyone would disperse to separate areas of the house to watch their own shows. Now, we all hang out… together.
- We fill our TV-watching time with crafting, drawing, playing, cooking, and art
- We read more- all of us. My older boys have discovered a love for reading that I am afraid would have been overshadowed by TV or video games.
- We visit the library a few times a week- for books, DVDs and CDs.
- Netflix, Hulu, Amazon’s Video On Demand, Redbox, or actually going to the movie theater can give us entertainment if we want to watch something, and now it’s actually a special occasion rather than a constant part of our lives
Our stance on video games
We have a Wii but hadn’t plugged it in all year until our snow day this week. We’ll let the kids play that and their Nintendo DS during Christmas break [in moderation] and then they will be put up until special occasions again. Honestly, I prefer their behavior MUCH MORE when video games are not a part of our daily life. I have yet to allow my children to be on our computers and Internet (our oldest is 9.)
What I always hear
“My hubby would never go for it.” – I thought the same thing. I have to say I fall more in love with my husband for his willingness to go along with this experiment- especially in the middle of football season! (He’s a huge Bears fan.) He listens to the radio, watches the game at a friend’s, or occasionally watches the game online. And I have to say our Sundays have been more pleasant and easier on me because of it.
Pretty quickly I found that I didn’t miss having the TV on. I actually love the peacefulness of having it removed from the soundtrack of our house. There is a new calm without it. Admittedly, there are a couple shows I still want to keep up with, but they are all available online.
Everything else? Maybe I”ll catch it when it comes out on DVD. Otherwise… after a while, I don’t miss it.
photo credits: randi bee & isabella sklar.
Same here! We use Hulu or Netflix for the shows we can’t go without : )
great post! we had no TV like you for the last 6 year and I LOVE it! makes more room for creativity!!! I love being able to hear myself think
I totally agree with you. We have never had cable, and we do have rabbit ears, but the tv is tucked away in an upstairs room in the corner behind the chimney. Out of site, out of mind. The boys watch a PBS show here and there, and maybe some Saturday morning cartoons, but not having it accessible and on all day is the biggie.
And yes – movies and shows online are nice treats, but a big difference from having the tv on all day as background noise. I’m so used to not having it, I find myself surprised by how distracting I find it at other people’s houses.
I love that your boys have started reading more since getting rid of the TV. What a fun shift to witness.
Oh my….I wish I was at this point in my life right now. I really want the TV gone, but I think I might go insane if I couldn’t pop in a movie when I’m about to reach my boiling point.
We barely watch any TV during the day…occasionally PBS gets turned on, but we do watch movies about 4 – 5 times a week.
You have definitely inspired me though!
Steph, this is such an inspiring and uplifting post regarding life without the television. It helps me to realize that our decision to get rid of t.v. come the new year is the right decision. It has the potential to overtake the life in your home, as do video games. I’m taking baby steps and waiting to axe video games as well, but seeing the success and happiness you’ve found with no t.v. and video games, makes me so excited to experience the changes.
Us too! The hubby and I watch Netflix occasionally, and I let my 2 year old watch maybe 30 minutes a day of a movie on the Ipod-but TV is no longer a fixture in our house….and we don’t miss it even a little bit! I don’t want my daughter growing up obsessed by a television set and whatever TV producers see fit to advertise for a little girl her age….I want to be in control of that! She still gets to watch movies and the occasional “Clifford” show on PBS, but it is more like a special occasion than the norm, and she appreciates it so much more…and it can be a cool family time for us, instead of just a babysitter
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Love this! We made the jump to no cable about a year ago and, like you, have only seen positive effects on our household. I love how you described the peacefulness in the soundtrack of your home… It’s definitely my favorite part of being cable-free as well
Proud of y’all….. now I just gotta bite the bullet and do it!
We cancelled our cable when we moved, so we just get basic channels. Since we started full day school we have been watching less and less TV….and I find the less I watch, the less I want to watch….I’m thinking TV free is in our future.
I love this post and the positive effect it has had on your household. I took the t.v. out of the kitchen, so that’s my first step. I don’t miss it.
We went through the same thing. We’ve made it for 9 months, and only have it now because the cable company got my hubby on the phone instead of me and lured him in with “3 months free..” Surprisingly, we’ve not used it at ALL since it was installed 3 weeks ago, and the kiddo has watched about 3 hours. It is amazing how much we are doing together as a family now, and like you, we are putting the money to better use anyhow, so none of us really “miss” the boob tube anymore!
We are on six months of no TV and I honestly miss it less and less as times goes on!