TV-Free Activities - Submitted by Blog Readers

Some of our favorite memories have been made around a crackling campfire. We all enjoy spending the peaceful evenings together outside. Campfires are especially fun for everyone because there is something for each person to work on. Our little brothers love chopping firewood, we girls prepare a meal to roast, and Dad enjoys spending time with his little men as they work together. Although marshmallows may be the little ones highlight of the night, everyone delights in the special time when our guitar, banjo, or fiddle adds to the chorus of voices as they all join in song. You can always find an evening campfire at our home in the summertime. -Kami

We play board games and read in the colder months. When the weather's nice, we like to play outside, take walks, go to the park or just sit on the deck and watch the sun go down and TALK! - Kelly Our family loves to read! Usually we don't have much time for it, but when someone is sick, I spend most of my spare time reading to them. Right now we're in the middle of Elsie Dinsmore, Little Me n, and various American Girl books. We never watch regular tv, and maybe a video every other day. -Marqueta

We are a family of 8 and have not had a TV for a LONG time! We live on a farm of 100 acres and have found God's wonderful creation to be the very best substitute for hours mis-spent in front of the TV. Most of the time we would have been "planted" in front of the TV, we redeem by *planting* in the garden or tending the beginnings of our orchard. We all work together in these activities - and we all enjoy it. -Cindy

We actually have a week long of TV free activities (Sat is our only TV night)!! Monday: Reading Night --- We all gather around and Daddy reads from a book while we do things like handiwork (sewing by hand, beading, etc.). Tuesday: Family Fun/Date Night --- Sometimes we head out for putt-putt golf, or dress up and head out to a restaurant, or out to the backyard for some fun (you can buy so many backyard outdoor activities like soccer, volleyball, badminton, balls just for fun!). Wednesday: Family Devotions/Church --- Sometimes we goto church, sometimes we stay home and have our own family devotions. Thursday: Arts and Crafts/Hobbies night --- beading, sewing, woodworking, pom-poms, origami, scrapbooking, photography, painting, working with clay. Friday: Game Night --- we usually pull out a board/card game and play play PLAY! And then eat eat EAT! Sometimes we learn a new card game. Saturday: Saturday Night Sundaes --- we pull out all the toppings and make our own ice cream and watch a DVD. Sunday: Family Night at church --- we attend service on Sunday evening. -Paula

Well, we do lots of fun activities besides watching tv. In the winter we play games and put jigsaw puzzles together. But the activity I enjoy most is in the summer. We live near a large lake, so in the summer months when it's hot, we put together a picnic supper, gather the beach toys and flotation devices and as soon as dad gets home from work we go to the lake until it cools off. We have had so much fun there together. And since we live here, we are able to go on the nights when no one else is there and stay home on the weekends. :) In the winter months it's fun to sit by the fire and read or listen to a good book on tape. -Kris

We like to play charades. A 4 year old and 3 year old are quite entertaining with charades. Also, my two cuties love to put on a puppet show too. Now that is wholesome entertainmet!! - Tracy

Since our Reformed journey is still relatively new (just about 3 years) the tv has become one of our latest convictions. More and more my dh and I are realizing what a hindrance it is in our family's life. As we seek to glorify God in all things we realize that this is something that will eventually have to go away completey (with the exception of the news and a few decent movies). At any rate, while we have always loved to play games one of our favorites has become Chicken Foot with dominoes. We can all play ( me, dh, 14yob, 13yog, 6yog) and it helps our 6yo with her math. We also purchased a separate tin of dominoes for our 3yog so she can build and pretend she's getting in on the fun as well. Pretty much any day of the week our family will play Chicken Foot over watching any TV. -Michelle in TX

We haven't had TV for many years and the favorite thing we do instead of watching the tube is playing outside together. It is seriously fun to have Big Wheel races down our hill, play in the pool, chase each other around, and zip on the zip line. -Erica

Instead of television in the evenings, we sit with our little ones and have "family time". Usually this consists of a Bible story, prayer and lots of singing! Even Nathaniel (16 months) sings along. He loves to do the motions to "He's Able" and "Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation"! But on some special evenings, Daddy announces that we're going to "act out" (in preschool terms) our Bible story! Suddenly Daddy becomes a whale, the coffee table is turned into a boat, Eliana (4 yrs.) is stationed as Jonah in the boat, Mommy is the sound effects and light manager (really I just flash the overhead lights and make storm sounds!) and Nathaniel just watches in awe as the story unfolds. Our favorite part of this story is when Daddy "spits" Eliana out on dry land and she announces to all, "I'm going to OBEY God now!!"With live action such as this, who needs television?? :)-Selina

My favorite thing to do instead of watching TV is to get down on the floor with my husband and daughter and start playing. My husband is a big goof, so it's fun to see him get a big storage bin, tip it upside down, and use it as a stage to play puppets ... having the puppets talk to our daughter, as well as each other. It's just absolutely hilarious. Then we have tickle-fests. Those are always GREAT as my husband is just as ticklish as our daughter is. I even taught pookie how to blow on my husband's belly, just like I do to hers .... oh she loves that. Basically, we just hang out and get silly as a family. - Brandy

My husband and I live on a tight budget as many others do also I am sure. This week we are planning (on the warmest day of the week) to go to the local park and have a picnic. I plan to make some foods my husband enjoys and just look forward to being out in nature, maybe taking a walk, etc. without being distracted by the t.v., computer, or phone. I am looking forward to it! Sincerely, Lynda

My niece and I sit on the sunporch, our legs hanging outside and pretend
to go 'fisihing'. She's only two and LOVES it!! -W

My husband (married 1 year, 4 months...no children) and I don't own a tv but we occasionally watch a dvd from the library on our computer. What do we do for fun instead? Our favorite activity is to go hiking at a very nearby mountain here in Washington State , but we also like to re-decorate our apartment together for free/cheap. We occasionally will go to a store like IKEA and then we head straight to the thrift stores 50% off sales and look for ways we can incorporate the ideas we saw with things in the thrift shop or by re-arranging the stuff we already own. Last time we did this a month or two ago, we got curtains and a new comforter sham for a total of $15! We also like to check out books from the library on different geographical locals...so we can plan our "someday" trips! :) -Rachael