Christine, we're with you. We don't have cable, although we have just about everything else electronic. As I type this I'm babysitting difficult child 3's menagerie of Tamagotchis. We have computers everywhere, of varying ages. Three laptops, one electronic word processor (for difficult child 3's schoolwork), one main BIG computer for the majority of our work/play and various other still-working computers for different (mostly recreational/educational) purposes around the house. We're not wealthy. difficult child 3's first computer was an old Mac Classic we found on the local nature strip, waiting for the rubbish collection. husband rescued it, found it wasn't booting up and booted it from an external hard drive. This helped us diagnose a simple fault which was cured by reformatting and reinstalling a new operating system, as well as lots of lovely educational games for our baby. As it had cost us nothing, we didn't mind if difficult child 3 destroyed it. But he didn't, and we discovered some wonderful things in our tiny tot as a result. Since then we've allowed the younger ones to always have access to our old computers. We limit what games are installed (we insist on only educational stuff, but fun stuff, on them) and we've found that the kids have often learnt more from their computer games than they did at school.
We got a DVD player very early, and we have a massive collection of classic and educational DVDs. We listen to a wide range of music in various situations, and so the kids have very eclectic tastes in music, movies and general knowledge.
We have rules on what can be watched when and by whom, the rules varying according to individual requirements. The main TV is near the kitchen and whoever is cooking gets to choose the program. All computer games must go off at 8.30 pm. Any chores needing to be done after 6 pm - games go off if chores aren't being done. No gaming or recreational activity during school hours, even if a child is home sick. Educational computer games are the exception, once all book work is completed. Or, if the child feels too ill, they can sleep. But even a feverish child has to study during school hours if they're awake enough. If they're too ill to hold a book but too awake to sleep I'll let them watch a documentary.
For us, gadgets and technology are a huge assist and help us provide an enriched environment. In most other areas we're minimal technology. No air conditioning. Only two heaters. No clothes dryer. No pre-packaged or instant meals.
But we do have TVs. difficult child 1 found his on a similar scrap heap to difficult child 3's computer. difficult child 3 has other computers which he uses to learn programming. We adapt, re-use, modify and learn. Our walls are covered with educational posters, Escher prints and puzzles. The house is a mess but we can generally find what we need as well as what we don't. There is a recently-shed python skin on the buffet in the dining-room. It's right underneath the geology and palaeontology collection. difficult child 3 has a collection of small cube puzzles. Immediately outside is a wilderness full of ever-changing life-forms. If we want more excitement we go for a short walk to the beach or deep into the bush. Our neighbours are world-class artists (some) and others are very ordinary talents (like us). A chat over the fence is sometimes very boring, or sometimes exciting. We never know ahead of time.
I guess it's not what we've got but what you do with what you've got that counts.
Marg
