Turning Off the Television

I have always said that I wanted to limit my children's television watching, but in practice it has not happened enough.  Well, a couple weeks ago, I started turning off the TV more often, and I can see a difference.  Today, because we didn't have cartoon's on, Emma gave me a little musical concert playing her instruments with her MP3 player.  We did the Hokey Pokey together.  She had a camp out in her tent with her dolly.  We baked cookies.  She colored.  All things that she would not have asked me to do if she was watching "Mickey" or "Max and Ruby!"  And because she asked, I was willing to play with her.  What a difference turning off the television can make.  I need to remember to do so more often.