We’re revamping our family computer/TV limits this week, and I thought I’d give you an update on what we’re thinking. (But shh…kids have yet to be informed.)

 There are two parts to this. The first is easy — the rules. There are four:

1. Every Wednesday will be a screen-free day. (Thanks, Sally.) This was a no-brainer. It feels manageable. And I like that the rule applies to parents too. I used to be religious about Turn-Off-the-TV-Week each year, and I anticipate Wednesday will feel a bit like that, with more pleasant, quiet family time.

The next three are oldies-but-goodies of ours and relate primarily to TV:

 2. No TV after school/evenings on weekdays.

3. Using two screens at a time is not allowed (our computer and TV in the kitchen are about 15 feet apart, and it can be tempting to have the TV on while using the computer). Gameboy counts here, too.

4. If you’ve seen it before, turn it off. This rule is a great way to limit without being a total bad-guy. The majority of cable programming (especially on Nickolodeon) is reruns. The thought is to be thinking qualitative, not quantitative (see below).

The other part of this is a total rethinking — stressing quality over quantity. I read a fascinating discussion on whether to limit TV, written by a homeschool parent. She makes the point that homeschooled kids use TV differently than kids in traditional schools. Their learning is self-guided, instead of being handed down to them. So, homeschooled kids tend to seek out what they’re interested in learning about on TV, then to turn it off and go elsewhere. By comparison, traditionally schooled kids come home from school, tired and wanting to zone out. For them, TV or gaming serves this need, so they continue to watch shows they’re not interested in. There’s also a very interesting discussion on 43 Folders about limiting, in which some people defend a more self-regulating approach to kids’ TV/computer use, saying their time on the devices has served them well. And they make some good points

With this input, Joe and I are experimenting with a more organic test of when to press the OFF buttons. Our hope is that it’ll help our kids (and ourselves) learn to moderate from within. It’s also based on the fact that not all screen minutes are created equal. Some are great learning moments, others are just to self-sooth.

How to communicate and implement this new approach is a little tricky. But I think the key is to vigilantly ask, “Have you had enough?” And to make a point of offering active and artsy alternatives every day. I must admit, I’ve been somewhat of a slacker in this regard lately. So, I’m geared up to be a bit more of a troop leader, instead of waiting for interest.

Well, that’s the plan. I hope to give it a couple of months and then reevaluate. Stay tuned.