As a counselor and life coach I have always taken a strong stand against having a television or computer in any child or teens’ bedroom, period. Yes, we used this rule in our own home. We had objections at times and that’s alright. It didn’t change our actions.

My rationale is two fold. First, I see the social isolation, decrease in social/emotional skills, decrease in peer interaction and increase disrespect of authority from children and teens who have electronics in their bedrooms.

C'mon, admit it. You sometimes use the television set as a cheap babysitter. That's ok...we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it's a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder!

If you're trying to limit the TV viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these TV-free activities guaranteed to keep the kids busy... at least for a little while!

1) Make paper airplanes

What did we ever do before the boob tube? Television has taken the “family” out of family time. Everyone’s eyes are glued to the television set and no one is talking. By setting a few guidelines, you can keep your kids from becoming strangers in their own home.