My kids won’t watch TV

Tonie box? My daughter isn’t that fussed about telly but loves listening to her Tonie box and flicking through her books with her teddies

Whilst my 4 year old will now sit and watch something (he wasn't interested in TV for a long time, either) we very much limit TV time and he certainly doesn't have TV time every day. He's more than happy entertaining himself with imaginary play, which generally centres around sports or cars, or making music. We've also been teaching him to read and he did go and get his reading book off the shelf and just sit and read it to himself... Then he came to find me to ask if he could read it to me 🥺 Beyond sports, cars and music, Lego / Duplo / Sticklebricks are also great, as is just being left to make a good old fashioned den! Another thing he likes to play is shops - he has a cash register and lots of pretend food. When the weather is decent, just chuck them in the garden (Smyths has so many cheap, easy garden games), supervise some water play, let them climb trees... Whatever! The world is their oyster and there is sooooo much to do besides watch TV or constantly bother parents!

Mine doesn't watch much TV but he's been able to play solo for a long time, Lego, Duplo, colouring pencils etc, what about imaginative play? At that age he would spend ages building a train set then using his toys to create a world around it usually with various disasters and rescue operations needing to be coordinated. Do you play with them all of the time?

I am not reading all the comments. Have you checked their sight and hearing is ok? I started school with glue ear and without glasses. It really held me back.

There is a cbeebies radio

On from 6 o clock to 8 o clock

I understand this when I see people berate parents who use iPads to distract on meals out - my daughter would never sit and watch an iPad 🤣

What do they do to wind down though?

How old are they? Can they read? What about listening to an audiobook or Toni?

That’s a bit unusual.

Have they got a Tonie Box at all? Would they perhaps listen to the stories on there instead

Are they very invested in books? I found a really nice link between books and TV was the Julia Donaldson stories. Similar age kids and if you get the little figurines too then they can enjoy acting it out while the mini film is on TV.

I was pondering this last week. When we were young there were warnings about children watching too much TV - ‘square eyes’ and all that. Now, with the rise of other media, like YouTube etc, chuffing TV and cartoons where there’s a plot line and a moral to the story and often the programs have a thread of educational value seem like the lesser of two evils. Mine have never really sat and watched TV and I really wish they would like you! 30 minutes of them sat still watching a program now and again instead of being up my arse 24/7 would be lovely, almost mindfulness IMO!

Will they focus on anything else? My dd is very active (potentially adhd to be honest) and struggles to watch a whole tv episode but she can sit and focus on more interactive things;
Colouring
An iPad game (not ideal but sometimes necessary)
Cosmic yoga
Playdough or clay modelling
Gymnastics on a mat in the garden
Card games or board games with her brother
Books
Daft stuff like threading beads on pasta

If they're pestering you, I'd just stick strictly to a routine that says "I'm cooking now, for 30 mins (have a sand timer) you need to do the following activities quietly, without me" and set up a little circuit of craft on a table, a tv programme in the background, a book corner and maybe a cosmic yoga on the laptop or dance for kids type thing if they will follow it somewhere else. Let them get on with it. They'll start doing something if you ignore them long enough!! Then massively engage when you're ready "great job, let's all sit together for dinner and you can tell me what you got up to, what did you like best". I reckon once you've caught their attention with something you'll be fine - it's just trial and error, one of mine loves tv, my dd just isn't bothered even aged 8 (just like adults really, some just don't like tv).

You don't need to entertain them 24/7. Refuse to engage whilst you're cooking. They are likely to escalate to try and get your attention (before they realise you mean it) but keep it boring and repeat the same message, mummy is cooking now. They will eventually realise you won't entertain them. Try to have stuff set up for them like toys, music, colouring, books and let them be bored and figure it out.

My 4 Yr old won't either. And it's killing me off.

Mine has never watched a lot of TV. Often bored and does something else quite quickly. 2 years ago I was sofa bound with hyperemesis and had the Olympics on for background noise and my daughter came and watched it.

She generally doesn't like cartoons but like watching real people doing stuff.

I wouldn't start with trying to get them to watch a show or TV but maybe put something on in the background that might grab their attention for a few minutes.

You tube videos of books being red allowed used to give me a few minutes of peace too. It's not essential for them to watching it either

Also, flip it on it's head - what will they engage with?

They’re probably too young. Possibly have adhd. Give them chores to do and that might change their minds and watch it 😅

This Is going to sound harsh but in order to create independent kids who will leave you alone, you really need to learn the art of ignoring them sometimes! Kids today are constantly played with and entertained. Just take yourself off around the house, getting on with jobs etc. They need to know that mum is not always their entertainment. Don’t always engage, honestly it won’t kill them. They still know they are loved and cared for. I would leave the tv on with no actual pressure, just have it as background, they will find something they like eventually.

Work on independent play with them instead of tv

No wonder- tv is utter crap for kids these days. Too colourful, too loud, fake characters, contrived storylines. Kids TV was so much better when it featured likeable, relatable characters going on real adventures and solving real problems. Or they made you laugh out loud. How old are your kids? People here have made great suggestions for retro classics. A second vote for The Littlest Hobo for older kids but also stuff like Woof, Dogtanian, The Cities of Gold, Ducktales, the Gummi Bears. For little ones you can’t beat Tom and Jerry. But who knows if you can even get these shows on TV any more.
You say they don’t engage with it at all. But if you have it on in the background something might catch their attention.
What about a cool sensory box of things they can play with/explore that aren’t ’too’ messy and don’t need your direct involvement. Google will have ideas.

Mine were never bothered about TV either. They would colour/do cutting and sticking/playdoh etc at that age though.
What do they like doing?

How old are they? Why can’t they just do other things like drawing or whatever?

If you want quiet time then try a colouring book and crayons, or an age appropriate puzzle. Perhaps only bring those kind of activities out in the evening to make them more special.

There used to be children’s radio. It was amazing, when mine were primary school aged, we’d have it on over breakfast. Something like and non messy crafting might give you the space you need.

Wgat age are they ?