TV Battles (Which Language, Which Show, Etc.

You know what. I let the kids have the TV on all the time. They have TV's in their rooms. They have it on but they hardly watch it anymore. Since I stopped focusing on it they watch it a little bit then they play along side it. If a music video comes on I know that I can peek and my grandson will be imitating the dancers trying to learn how to dance. He isn't able to manage himself long enough to attend a dance class yet.

I think that arguing over this stuff only makes it that more important.

Tell them it's your way or no TV at all. Honestly to me 2 hours is a lot to me because like you I don't like TV. My daughter has never been into TV that much so I have to be honest, this is a battle I've never had to fight. Take what I say with a grain of salt and someone new to the battle.

What about reading or games in the other language? I'm thinking there must be chutes and ladders type games in the other language. You can even research what games this culture played as kids and see if there are any that will become favorites for your kids. Or who can make up the funniest stories in the language with the limited number of words they know. I remember making up stories about swimming with the green frogs or in the green water? Agua verde and rana are about all I can remember now ;-).

They really don't NEED TV, even educational TV. So you can put on your Mom Voice and say this is what the offer is, take it or leave it. If they give up their TV time, then they have to do something else quietly while you do whatever you need to get done. They are not really depressed. They are disappointed. I went a year without a TV when ours died and my mom could not afford a new one. I tell my DD that the TV is going off and if she yells and screams about it, she can spend some time in her room because I give tantrums no audience. She needs to find something else to do. If they get underfoot, then include them. They may not do the best folding job, but they can fold towels. They can take a sponge to a bathroom counter. They can be included in making food.

If they fight, regardless of the language, then the TV needs a break and you can just turn a deaf ear on the whining. I personally do not speak or hear whining. It's not a sound I tolerate in any language.

I also like the idea of using the other language in your day - they'll get more out of using it than just watching it on TV. Make a scavenger hunt in the other language so that they need to know the words to find the next clue, for example.

My Mom's method was to turn it all off and throw everyone outside for 2 solid hours rain, snow or shine.
The only exceptions were lightning storms and really low wind chill factors.
It never got so hot that a high heat index was ever a problem.
We climbed apple trees (got sick eating green apples), and had loads of fun playing with a few bricks, a few sticks and a mud puddle.
It's a whole different enrichment experience that kids don't get enough of these days.

If it were me, I'd let them watch the movies they know already and love (Nemo, Lion King, Rio, etc) and turn it on Spanish Version. In Shrek, where Donkey says "...and in the morning, I'm making waffles!", SPANISH version he makes "tamales" which I find hilarious. My son is 4 and after watching Rio 5 times in a week, I said "I am so sick of watching this movie! (and I actually like the movie) Let's watch it this next time in Spanish!" My 4 yr old was thrilled. Turn on captioning so they can learn the words!

This is my take on it: if you are needing them to be engaged with the tv for two hours so you can do your stuff, make it pleasant for them. Do one half-hour of foreign language and the rest of the time English. One other thing to consider is perhaps deciding to do dvds, so at least you have control over the quality of what they are watching and it allows you to nix the commercials, too.

A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do ;)

For what it's worth, you might find that nixing the television would be hard, for a week or two, and then it would smooth out. They do eventually learn to keep themselves busy, esp. if you aren't willing to solve their 'I'm bored' problems for them. Just something to keep in mind for after #5 is born.

Why is this a battle at all? You're the mom, right? If you want them to watch foreign language TV shows, then that's what they need to do. Or you turn the TV off. I get it that their TV time is "your" time, but you *can* get things done while kids play and/or help you... even with four kids. It's all about expectations and getting kids used to those expectations.

Two hours a day is a LOT of television time for kids, regardless of the language. If you're sure that you're comfortable allowing that much, stick to your guns. Don't give in and they'll stop whining. If you hesitate or give in, they'll keep up the whining because they will know you'll eventually cave.

(Personally, I'm not sure it truly matters what language they're watching if all they're doing is sitting there vegging out in front of the TV. It's still not fully engaging their brains... that's the problem with TV and watching videos on the computer)

I say fight the battle only if you can win it. If they bicker, the whole 2 hours is another language (or off) would be one way to avoid the bickering. You could also try 1 hour another language, half an hour of mixed (like Dora or Deigo) and the other half an hour English. Let them take turns picking the half hour...Monday is Suzy, Tuesday is Joey (if they don't fight those two days you could let them both pick half an hour on Wednesday).

Well...I have to admit, I agree with those, that think this sounds like a lot of tv,especially with preschoolers. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes we do what we gotta do to get through the day.

If you are desperate and need this time, maybe split the difference and find some bilingual shows? If it's Spanish...Dora, Diego, Maya and Miguel, Handy Manny. Granted, most of these shows just have phrases and I don't consider them TRULY bilingual, but it is a compromise.

Another option may be to find the shows they are obsessing over in the language they are learning.

Splitting up the television time may help. Instead of trying to get all these kids to sit still for two hours straight...take it at 30 minute intervals. IF they aren't certain when you will allow their tv time, you may find that they aren't as interested in tv time.

You're the mom, you make the rules. I know my kids would have hated watching TV in another language as much as they would have hated taking piano lessons but that's YOUR call.
And the whining? Oh God I couldn't stand that. You need to nip that in the bud NOW. They whine, the TV goes off, period. So what if they get upset? That may sound harsh but as much as I could put up with the bickering, wrestling and general loudness, whining just rubbed me the wrong way and my kids knew it lol!
I know your pregnant and tired but you must realize you're going to be even more sleep deprived and busy after that baby comes.
My kids probably watched about two hours of TV a day, sometimes more, sometimes less, but I managed to tend to my chores whether they were in front of a screen or not. Your kids SHOULD be able to play on their own while you get things done, all throughout the day. You're making your life harder by trying to get it all done within such a rigid time frame. You can vacuum and dust and sweep and mop and fold laundry and still keep an eye on them while they play :)

I feel you with the young kids and wanting some quiet time during the day. I have 5, 8 years and under and most of the time the younger ones are more work when they are "helping" then not.

I don't let the kids choose what they watch, I just let them choose when they watch. They either get an hour in the morning before breakfast or an hour at night before they clean up and then bed.

If I hear any complaining about the choice of shows, I turn the TV off immediately and it only takes one or two times before they get it and if TV is that important to them they will take what they can get :)

So no, don't put up with the whining and it may take you more days to get everything done but it's only a few more years before your oldest will be able to at least watch the younger ones and come get you if there is a problem...
this too shall pass, as long as you don't put up with anything now that you don't want to always have to put up with!

Good luck, Big Hugs and wishing you all the best with this pregnancy :)

If you are adamant about not turning off the TV, then why are you making more work for yourself by creating a battle at all? Let them watch TV in whatever language they want. Television and enrichment don't really go together anyway. Find another way to support their language skills and let this one go.

It comes with the territory. Sorry.

BUT! How about getting a Rosetta Stone language program and one by one have a kid at the computer for language lesson. It really can be fun learning that way.

Why not go outside in the yard with them so you can monitor them? Basically you've got to re do your routine to fit in around them. Maybe you can get something for tomorrow's dinner started the night before. Like take it out of the freezer, let it defrost overnight, get it prepared to throw in the oven and let it be till it's done at dinner. Or choose simpler meals that don't take a lot of prep time.

"Better enrichment...." yes maybe. But there's a lot of unnecessary tension and screaming. Maybe you should compromise by getting a 2 hour movie you approve of, set the kids down to watch it, and go about your stuff? Hubby can help in the evening surely! At their age they don't know the reason for a foreign language.. If you have a reason for it, like living in that language, that's different. But when no other kids speak it, they aren't getting repetition. When you and hubby don't use it at home, they aren't hearing it. So there's confusion. Yes at their age it's an ideal time to hear another language. But it's up to you and hubby to use it consistently around them. Ultimately they'll soak it up like a sponge. But it has to be present. You can't expect the kids, at their age, to learn it and you don't reinforce it. That won't work. Learning it has to be somewhat fun. That's why Rosetta Stone is so good. Pictures, the language, review....it really works well. I have one myself, my son has one, and I'd suggest it to anyone.

I know that foreign language is a nice addition, but there is also a lot of value in having an excellent command of the English language as long as they're going to be living in the U.S. This does not just include speaking, but they also need to build their vocabularies and written skills. They are in an immersion program at school, so perhaps they should be more immersed in English at home. If they are going to watch tv, let them watch in English as long as it is age appropriate.