TV alternatives?

I don't think television is inherently evil.  

I do, however, think lots of things are better. We tend to reserve TV time for when someone is really sick (i.s. stomach flu = Mateo gets approved cartoons all day), while at Grandma's, or for another special activity together.  Plus, until recently, Alex- now 19 months, didn't really notice the TV so he could have cared less. 

While there are programs out there that we'd consider educational or at least entertaining, and we have a couple that we love (i.e. Baby Einsten, Curious Geroge), not many would dispute the fact that nothing can beat real-life play time or interaction.

That said, I know parents need a break.  I am with my kids all day.  I can't play with them every second of the day. Some days I think my life would be easier if I just put the TV on for them all day.  But we don't want to do that.  Here are a few things that we enjoy and that keep the boys busy:

1.  ROTATING TOYS

Things with wheels toy box

Most of our toys are organized in the boys' closets which are locked closed for little people.  Maybe I'm a control freak or maybe I just really like organization, but I can't handle having all the toys out at once.  I'll rotate the toys a couple times a week (or when Mateo asks) and it's fun to watch the boys find new ways to play with them.  The unspoken rule is that if Mateo wants to get out his Lincoln Logs, his Mega Blocks, his K'Nex, etc....then we put something else away.  Plus, I don't mind when they can dump their toys out and make a "mess" when there aren't as many toys out to be messy with.  This helps a LOT. Having a rotation for toys also really boosts their desire to play with their toys. 

Mateo is almost always up before Alex and sometimes he'll see a "new" box of toys and get busy playing while I get breakfast ready.  

2.  LISTENING STATION: 

Yes, our listening station is very old school.  But I have some books on tape, the libraries still carry books on tape, and Mateo really likes it.  I'm sure there are books on CD if you want something more 21st century and I know there are lots of new-age electronic things from Leap Pads to iPads but there's something wonderful about the lack of a screen in this listening station.  Mateo knows how to use our iPod touches, has mastered the touch screen, and they do come in handy when he comes along to my appointments or on long car rides, but this is different.

Sometimes he has the attentions span to sit down and turn the pages while the story reads.  Other times he just likes to listen to the story while he plays or colors.  And, I must say, listening to the story without the book is just as great because it really fine tunes his listening comprehension (yes, I still have a classroom teacher brain sometimes ;) A great part of this is that Mateo can select, rewind, and play the tapes all by himself.  Yay!

3.  COLOR/CUT/CREATE:
This "station" has definitely morphed as Mateo has gotten older and as Alex has gotten taller.  It is now at our highest surface possible- up at the counter (like a breakfast bar) in the kitchen.  Mateo has his little caddy with scissors, stickers, all sorts of utensils, and paper.  It's accessible all the time.   Sometimes when I'm cutting out my coupons he gets the inserts that have already been cut from and finds cool pictures to make a collage. We do painting and other projects on occasion, but this is something he can do all by himself.

4.  PLAY OUTSIDE:
I don't really let the boys play outside when it's cold. They seem to get sick easily and just don't seem to have the strongest immune systems.  So while this may not be the best option in cold weather, now that the spring weather is coming out in full beauty, we spend a lot of time outside.  Swings, slides, walks, kicking a ball, digging in the dirt, finding clovers, acorns,  (or _____), drawing with chalk, etc.   The boys are at a great age to play together outside.  Babies are much harder (in my opinion!) so last summer wasn't as easy!

Mateo digging up moss in our grass, haha.

5.  PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS:
Sometimes my kids just want my full attention.  They want me to play WITH them and not just be NEXT TO them.  Although I know it's hard to sometimes give up my agenda or productivity, it's great for them.  Plus, I think they learn new ways to play with toys when we play with them.  They are more creative and more imaginative.

Playing at the nearby elementary school play ground that is walking distance from our home. We found daisies, poked dirt with twigs, climbed on stuff, and other fun things

6.  READ BOOKS:
Mateo has an odd attentions span for listening to books.  We've been reading a chapter book lately that I was sure he wouldn't like, but he kept begging for more.  We go regularly to the public library and our church library to find some new gems.  Plus, I have a lot of books myself from childhood and teaching days.  We rotate those too ;)  Sitting down to read a book with Mateo:  definitely his love language (quality time!).  He also loves telling oral stories at nap and bedtime and I love seeing his imagination bloom.  Alex is just barely getting to the stage where he'll sit and listen to a book.  It's exciting to me that he's not eating them anymore haha.


7.  PLAN A LESSON:
We've really enjoyed doing preschool at home this year.  Doing preschool with my friend and her kiddos on occasion this year provided some extra accountability in planning.  It was also way more fun and added some cooperative learning.  Regardless of the specifics, it is fun to engage Mateo in intentional learning times and then see the learning unfold in play time later in the day.  And sometimes, Alex likes to join in as he can too!

8.  PLACE YOUR TV STRATEGICALLY:
What also keeps us from having the TV on more than we do is the fact that we don't have a television in our main living room.  Our split level home is a funny layout that I've come to love over the last 4 years.  So, our downstairs den houses our TV and it's just not somewhere we hang out a lot of the time.  We spend most of our time at home upstairs.  We do have a small TV in our master bedroom- so on some occasions I can utilize that TV for the boys.  Plus, Aaron and I are just kind of weird and we don't make time- like ever- to watch TV when the boys are awake.  If we watch a movie or a show (Psych is our fav) it's later in the evening when they are asleep. Oh, and without cable, options are limited.


So, as I said at the beginning, I don't think TV is inherently evil, but I really appreciate it not being a part of our daily routines.  Mateo might watching something once or twice a week, but it's not every day all the time blaring over stimulation in his face.  Kids are only little kids once.  I say, let them play!