Question

well step for the betterment of yor wards. i have 6 years baby girl and she is addicted to watch cartoon network such as "Disney Network, CNN, Pogo, Jtix etc. when she come back from school she started watching cartoon. i am fed up with my baby girls habit. that is why i have given her some cd such as "Hanuman" "Hotel Mei EK Bandar", Krishna, Mogli, Tom and Jerry etc. thanks.

First I commend you for raising your boys on your own. Parenting can be hard. Cable supposedly has a way of blocking channels you do not want them to see. Parental controls. I have never used them, but I know someone who put blocks on his cable because of his roommates would be ordering movies at his expense if he didn't. There is no harm in disconnecting the cable and just renting DVD's. I love Blockbuster.com because when we are done with the ones we get thru the mail we can take them into the local Blockbuster and swap the envelope for a new movie. You can go online with your boys and let them pick movies. Its a good way of monitering their TV time. I keep saying I want to do that as well, but right now there are three shows my husband and I like that we couldn't watch without cable.

I dare suggest that perhaps, instead of focusing so much on tv, maybe you should consider getting your kids interested in reading, or in some hands-on hobbies that will help them develop some skills later in life. Just a little caveat. The more we try to deny people (especially little ones) the more rebellious they may become. Your plan might work. I don't have children, but when I do, I want to find ways to keep them busy in positive and constructive ways so that they won't be parking themselves in front of the tv in the firstplace.

I admire the fact that you don't want them to watch that junk. I have an 8 year old boy myself and I too am a single parent, it seems he lives to watch that channel as well. I also have the same problem as you on not wanting to say no. But I disagree on just canceling the cable. Even though you are not letting them watch it you are doing so indeiscretly and they are not realizing the fact that you are the boss and that is just how it is going to be. One of the hardest things I have learned, especially being the only parent, is that you want to be there buddy but that that is not the right way to raise them. They need to be told what to do and not to do, what is right and what is wrong, etc. If you don't, they will never learn. You have to think about the way you want them to act when they are grown too. Unfortunately, in life you don't always get what you want, people are going to tell you no. If you don't let them learn these kinds of things now you will have more problems than just cartoon netwrok.

Diconnecting the cable is a good idea or using the V'chip so they can't see the Cartoon Network if you disapprove of their programs. But lying to your sons is not a good idea. You should sit them down and tell them that you don't want them to see the shows on Cartoon Network and why you don't like them. Then show them the cartoons you have for them to see instead.That way you are not lying to the two most important people, your sons.Good luck! You are not a bad parent. A bad parent wouldn't care what their kids watch on t.v.

I think this is a good plan. Sometimes it is really hard to say no to something your child really enjoys, so if you must do it backhandedly than you must. If the end justifies the means...But you should also try to discourage those shows because they will probably have access to it eventually through friends or relatives.

Maybe you should switch to a dish or digital cable. Some digital cables allow you to block certain channels. I have Dish Network and it has parental control. I can block whatever channels I want. Also, you can set it to where you can have certain people signed in and only channels they can watch will show up. That way, you can watch adult shows when your kids are asleep. And when it is their turn to watch tv, you can set it to where there are only specific channels they can watch. So in case they get to use the remote control, they still can't change it to channels that you don't approve of. They would have to have a passwaord that only you would know.

I don;t really understand lonnie, you are disconnecting the cartoon channel but buying several cartoons and other dvds? So you are not against all cartoons just certain ones? I think it is great that you want to supervise what your children are watching. But remember if they visit other children's houses, they may not be supervised though.

I think that this is a great plan and if you do not want them watching the cable cartoon network than that is fine. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your wife and i sure hope that your boys will be fine as i am sure that they will be! I think that you are doing great and being a single parent especially of twin boys it takes alot of work and effort and just do what you feel you have to! God Bless!!

Hi. I understand where you're coming from. Sometimes the shows in cartoon network are a bit of a "junk", as you've said. However, I don't believe that you should just be sneaky and disconnect the cable. You should be honest with them. You're the parent, you have their best interests at heart and you believe that they shouldn't watch such shows so you're going to disconnect the cable. They may protest at first, but, really, you have the final say as you are the father (and you pay for the cable anyway). That being said, I don't think banning things like junk see cartoons will really help. They could easily see them elsewhere, like their friends' house. I think the key is supervised watching and guidance. If they really like the cartoon network shows, maybe you could have a few taped episodes and just them watch those in small doses and in your presence. Point out why you think these are "junk". Being a single parent is not easy, especially since your kids are still young. I think that contrary to what you are saying, you ARE a good father, because you have thought about even things like the TV shows that they watch. Some other parents don't really care enough to notice things like those. I'd say you're doing a good job, so keep it up!

its a good plan but i don't think you let your cable be disconnected because you hate cartoon networks and you don't want your kids watch it. They are still a kid so that is their like. You said that you hate saying no, well there are times that you should say no or else you will put to something you dont like. As a father, i think you should say no if its really need to say no. You should be firm on what you said, in order for you to be respected by your kids and for your kids to be discipline. I gues i've help you a little and you get something from me.I am not that fluent in english, I've just tried to say whats my opinion.

Cancelling Cable tv is always an option, but I do feel it would be better to sit them down and explain to them why you want to do that. Being sneaky about it will only damage their ability to trust and believe what you say in the future. I would also like to say that it's hard being a single parent and I applaud you for the job you're doing. I'm sure their mother is looking down on you and is very proud of you and what you've surely accomplished. Keep up the good work!

frankly, whatever plan works for you and your family is a good plan. however, i would just get the guts to "be a good parent" and say "no" to cartoon network and other things that you don't like them to watch. can't you get one of those tv guardians and program it to only show certain channels?? remember that there are some good shows for kids out there. especially discovery kids, food network, animal planet.... love all of them. anywho. do what you want, but the "no" will have to come out sooner or later....maybe get some practice in now:) take care.

I think canceling cable is a great idea. But why not tell them why & encourage interests in things other than television. At 8, they are probably just starting to enjoy independant reading for fun. Encourage that with trips to the library. Have a family game night & play board games with them for an hour or two.

You disallow your kids to watch cartoon network, and yet you bought cartoon dvds for them to watch? Isnt it the same? Oh well, i think you the choice on what cartoon movie/show they will be using. Your the parent and i think you just handle yourself well..

childrens of young age likes watching cartoon Network very much,but at the point of view what u have done is better like disconnecting the cable connection.Dont think that ur not a good parent ,every parents has worry about there childern in every aspect,and ur so lucky that u have a twin boys.....................

I think it is a good move. I wish more people would do that and get their kids from out in front of the tv. I am like you I don't care for the cartoon network. Why don't you shut it down and let them know why. Then get outside with them and get them active. This will also help with diabetes.

I think it is a good plan.

In my opinion, it's ok to have the cable disconnected but you have to talk to them about it, be honest that you want to disconnect the cable because you don't want them watching certain "junk" shows, maybe they would realize that cutting the cable means they would not be able to see some good shows also, they can promise not to watch junk shows anymore but of course you have to be on guard always.I believe you instilled in your sons some good christian values and that they will obey you as as thier dad.

Well, I guess its the problem of too many superheros. With heros comes the villians too, they are definitely a package. Disconnecting cable, should not bring about big changes in the family relationship. It might for the first few days, but after that things should work out well. 8 year old kids are the most impressionable and the most active too. Getting them involved in productive things like helping out in the family chores and rewarding them is a good thing to try.