How can I get my kids to watch TV?

they are the very active type. every second of the day, they have to be up and going (and going and going and going). Sometimes, like once a week, i just need them to sit down all at once and be quiet and watch TV. None of them can seem to do this. They hate TV. The middle aged ones like Disney Channel and all those movies and shoes (Hannah Montana, High School Musical) but the others, forget it. Is there anything I can do to get them to settle down and watch it every now and then?





and I%26#039;m sorry about repeating this question, I%26#039;m just trying to get more answers. The last time i asked this, i didn%26#039;t get very many good ones.

How can I get my kids to watch TV?
Hon tell them there is to be %26quot;quiet time%26quot; for one hour whenever and schedule it in. They can read a book, go play a video game or do a puzzle or watch tv. When I raised my nephews from 1pm-2pm they had quiet time they had to read a book or just be in their rooms by themselves doing something that wasnt overly noisy. Sometimes they watched tv sometimes they laid on the bed and slept many times they read a book or comic





By the way you dont want them watching to much TV I have a 7yr old SD and that is all she does she%26#039;s either watching TV or on the computer she wont go outside she wont do sports and she is obese as a result of her inactivity but her mom uses TV as a baby sitter and my sd says %26quot;it keeps me entertained%26quot;





*EDIT* I just read your profile 14 kids! No wonder you need quiet time. Boys seem to be more active and you have 8 of them! My son is more active at 16 months then my daughter was, my 2 nephews that I raised were more active then their sister. The older ones can understand you need quiet time and though I am not a big promoter of older kids helping to care for younger maybe if you talk w your older ones they can maybe take the younger outside so that you have a break? I wish you all the luck in the world being a single parent isnt easy but its worth it.
Reply:Why not just tell them you want some quiet time. Get them involved in a game or playing in their rooms or something. Why do they have to watch TV?
Reply:I very much appreciate wanting them to have some quiet time (for your own sanity!) but you are fortunate that your kids aren%26#039;t TV zombies.





Maybe you can just set a time every week that is designated for that -- Wednesdays between 4 and 6 p.m. or whatever -- when they can watch TV or do anything, but it has to be quiet. Instead of trying to define the activity to occupy the time, define the time and let them choose the activity that occupies it.
Reply:Once a week, have a family movie night. Go rent some movies together, and pick out snacks and popcorn. That night after dinner play a board game or another game together and then have some snuggle up on the couch time for the movie. Younger kids may like to pretend you are at the movie theater and make little tickets and pretend to sell the popcorn to people. Hopefully then you can have two hours where everyone is sitting together and relaxing and you can discuss your opinions about the movie when it is over.
Reply:If your goal is to have them in a safe place without direct supervision, then why not ask them to play quietly in their rooms. If they would rather be in your sight, then put them at the table with play-doh, modeling clay, coloring books, or puzzles. Quiet time does not have to be in front of the tv. I don%26#039;t know if anyone will give you ways to get children to watch tv, most are trying to get their children away from the tv or other electronics.
Reply:Wow, this is not a question that is asked usually people would want to know how to stop them from watching.





The only suggestion I would have is to take them to the video store and let them pick out a good movie preferably a movie that is based on some type of cartoon, or tv show, that way if they like the movie they will want to watch the tv show/cartoon more often. With the movie either get them some popcorn or pizza something that they will actually sit, that way they can get their attention to the tv since they are sitting to eat. Of course you don%26#039;t want them to get in the habit of eating and watching tv so don%26#039;t get them pizza or popcorn every time. I hope I was able to help, and good luck
Reply:Children shouldn%26#039;t watch much tv according to recent studys that say it delays development and increases ADD....amongst other things...





http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positiv...





http://www.mcghealth.org/News/newsletter...





http://digg.com/health/TV_can_harm_child...
Reply:The younger ones look upon their elder sibblings as leaders and if you can get the bigger ones to sit down and watch tv, the rest will usually follow. Look up for a good movie and talk to them abt it. Tell them, hey why dont we have a change for a while. This movie is real interesting etc.. etc... Make pop corns, get soda, dips, snacks and make it a fun time together.





We forbid our daughter to watch tv during weekdays except on Tues when her favorite show is on for an hour. Otherwise she is restricted to watching tv only on Friday to Sunday (hours restricted). We rather she goes out to play with the neighbours kids then lost in her world of tv.





In my family, i am the one who wld hardly watch tv. It is not easy to get me to sit down and watch a movie... lol
Reply:My child is the exact same way, always wanting to go, go, go. I bought the nintendo wii game for the tv with the kung-fu/ karate game and the dance mat game... It is interactive, where my child has to get up and do karate moves and or do dance moves, depending on what game that is played. It has been keeping my child entertained for a few hours a week.


The game was costly, but worth it to me to have just a little time to myself!!!!
Reply:i think if your kids would rather be active then sit and watch tv, you are lucky. if you need them to be quiet, well send them in the yard to play or something. arrange a quiet time in the house where they can read books or color...if they dont wanna be sucked into the TV world, dont force them
Reply:You can try board games, puzzles, legos, coloring books, or other alternatives.


Try taking them to a park where you can watch them yet have some quiet time.


If not you have to find a show that intrest them.
Reply:How old are your kids? I have 3 toddlers and I understand what you mean by needing them to settle down every now and then. My kids seem to enjoy watching PBS sprout (I know it%26#039;s offered on Direct TV and some comcast customers.) They are too young to get into other channels such as Disney, Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network. Some of the %26quot;stupidest%26quot; shows grab their attention and they sit quietly and watch the episodes. WE all watch Noddy and Jakers Piggly Winks (actually a top rated kids show), but they love to also watch Angelina Ballerina, Kipper (why???)...but they will sit down and watch anything on that network. If you don%26#039;t have cable, these shows are offered in the mornings on PBS, maybe u could record them for those emergency situations when you need quiet time.





The 2 and 3 yr old watch tv w/us for a little bit at night, but that usually doesn%26#039;t last long.





Do your kids like movies? My son would insist on watching Finding NEmo, Shark Tale and the Incredibles OVER AND OVER. My second is into Barney..the 3rd is quiet, but she%26#039;s only 11 months old.





I%26#039;m sure threatening to change the channel isn%26#039;t the best parenting advice, but that works for me sometimes. They usually go sit quietly and continue watching their show.





I wish u luck.
Reply:The key would be finding something that interests all of them, unless you have more than one tv and want to split them up. You don%26#039;t say what their ages are so it%26#039;s hard to answer specifically. You could offer them a reward. Tell them if they will sit still and watch one show or one movie then you%26#039;ll take them to the park or do something they want to do. Tell them if they get up and move around or make a lot of noise they won%26#039;t get the reward. It%26#039;s pretty funny that some people offer tv as a reward and you might need to reward them for watching. Some of the PBS shows are good for kids of various ages. Mine like Curious George, Cyber Chase (yours might like this since they are active), Arthur, etc.
Reply:I think you should try to find something else that they enjoy doing. Maybe drawing or making crafts (most kids like to cut and glue stuff) or playing in a sand box where you can monitor them. Try not to encourage them to do anything competitive because it won%26#039;t be a break for you..you%26#039;ll be refereeing.





If you make a big deal about their art work %26amp; display it, they may be more interested in creating more.
Reply:There are other things they can do quietly without watching tv. Board games, reading, playing with toys etc. Maybe try those and see if it works.



visual arts