Homeschooling Tip #5 Unplug the TV and Turn off the Electronics
Have you ever taken a break from the electronics? For some of us older moms, we remember the days when there were no smart phones, IPads or laptops. We had TV, but it was not available 24/7, and there were only a few channels.
A few years ago, my mother, daughter and I had the joy of spending a few days with one of my close high school friends. She has a large family (eight children plus and occasional exchange student), and she homeschooled all of them all the way through high school.
There were a number of things that impressed me about her children. They were respectful, friendly, played well together, and were all high achievers. Our presence in their home did not disrupt their routine. During the day, the younger children played in the yard or in the playroom, some of the older ones were working on school work, one was practicing an instrument, another doing artwork. When it was time for the evening meal, a couple of the children stopped what they were doing and prepared dinner while the others set the table. When dinner was over, the table was cleared and dishes done in no time at all.
It was not until the second evening in their home when it was "family time", and someone opened a cupboard to pull out an old TV/video player to watch a movie, did it dawn on me what was missing from the daily routine in my friend's home. It was the electronics. Apart from the one computer tucked away on a desk in the corner, the sad little TV, and the basic cell phones used for the older children to keep in touch when they were at music lessons or work, there were no electronics. They did not have computer or electronic games, instead, they were playing with puzzles, Legos, Lincoln logs and board games.
Obviously, the order and happiness in my friend's home was not solely due to the lack of electronics, but there is no doubt it made a difference. Instead of being glued to the electronics, her children were playing musical instruments, doing artwork and reading books; instead of chatting with children they did not know in a virtual computer world, they were playing with their siblings or the neighbor children.
As homeschool moms, once the school work is done, we can be tempted to let our children play computer games or watch TV so we can get something done. I know, I have been there. In these last few years of homeschooling, I followed my friend's example and unplugged the TV and turned of the electronics. It made a great difference, and it was the best thing I could have done.
A few years ago, my mother, daughter and I had the joy of spending a few days with one of my close high school friends. She has a large family (eight children plus and occasional exchange student), and she homeschooled all of them all the way through high school.
There were a number of things that impressed me about her children. They were respectful, friendly, played well together, and were all high achievers. Our presence in their home did not disrupt their routine. During the day, the younger children played in the yard or in the playroom, some of the older ones were working on school work, one was practicing an instrument, another doing artwork. When it was time for the evening meal, a couple of the children stopped what they were doing and prepared dinner while the others set the table. When dinner was over, the table was cleared and dishes done in no time at all.
It was not until the second evening in their home when it was "family time", and someone opened a cupboard to pull out an old TV/video player to watch a movie, did it dawn on me what was missing from the daily routine in my friend's home. It was the electronics. Apart from the one computer tucked away on a desk in the corner, the sad little TV, and the basic cell phones used for the older children to keep in touch when they were at music lessons or work, there were no electronics. They did not have computer or electronic games, instead, they were playing with puzzles, Legos, Lincoln logs and board games.
Obviously, the order and happiness in my friend's home was not solely due to the lack of electronics, but there is no doubt it made a difference. Instead of being glued to the electronics, her children were playing musical instruments, doing artwork and reading books; instead of chatting with children they did not know in a virtual computer world, they were playing with their siblings or the neighbor children.
As homeschool moms, once the school work is done, we can be tempted to let our children play computer games or watch TV so we can get something done. I know, I have been there. In these last few years of homeschooling, I followed my friend's example and unplugged the TV and turned of the electronics. It made a great difference, and it was the best thing I could have done.
~Joy
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