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DS can't handle TV

6 replies

Hairissues3 · 05/11/2022 07:47

I'm wondering if anyone had that and it eventually got better.

DS is 4.5 and everytime he watches TV he lashes out afterwards. He will just pick a fight and scream, sometimes hit or throw something and it escalates into tears, shouting, slamming doors.

It's not because he wants to watch more TV and I'm not letting him, it happens even when he decides he's had enough and switches the TV off himself. He is a really chilled out boy and we don't have any issues with his behaviour outside of this, so it has to be linked.

I'm now worried it's because he's not been used to TV enough when he was little, which I know isn't a bad thing but isn't it a bit weird that he can't handle it at his age? He never watched much TV until he was about 3 and now only watches about an hour or so on weekend days, just age appropriate stuff.

Last week he was up every night when he's usually a good sleeper, and I realised that as it was half term he had been watching some TV everyday and am convinced that's the reason. He would wake scared, crying, not wanting us to leave his side.

Should I just not let him watch TV until he is older?

OP posts:
AllotmentTime · 05/11/2022 07:48

What’s he watching?

Hairissues3 · 05/11/2022 08:36

Paw patrol, pj masks, toy story...

OP posts:
howaboutchocolate · 05/11/2022 08:39

Does he watch TV alone or is someone sitting with him and watching along with him?

I've had the same issue with DD and it's the lack of attention. If we watch a film together and I'm engaging with it, she's fine. If she watches something I don't like so I'm on my phone or doing something else, her behaviour gets worse afterwards.

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OhWifey · 05/11/2022 08:41

Yes. Same issue with bright, fast stuff. The more sedate things like Sarah and Duck or Bluey don't result in the screaming / lashing out that you describe. YouTube is banned entirely.

Hairissues3 · 05/11/2022 08:56

Thank you I'm quite reassured it's not just us. @howaboutchocolate he mostly watches it alone actually as I'll use that time to sort out the baby, prep dinner, or make a start on a million housework tasks. I had never thought of it but that could well be the issue. I'm going to experiment by sitting with him next time and seeing If its any better!

OP posts:
Hairissues3 · 05/11/2022 09:01

@OhWifey yep, YouTube is banned here too as I'm just at my wits end with the TV thing as it is. Everytime I talk to him beforehand, explain we'll watch one episode and he must be kind afterwards, not like last time etc.. he'll be all lovely so I think let's try the TV again. Nope, turns into the devil. So tiresome!

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