To ban TV completely?

[Bustermqc]

My DS never used to be that fussed by TV but in the last couple of months has become
OBSESSED. I am desperate to have it to give me a bit of a rest but it always always always ends in tears. He has never once happily turned off the TV. It is always an absolute screaming tantrum. At the moment he probably watches about an hour maybe three or four times a week. I was going to let him watch more when on mat leave with next child (maybe an hour a day) but now I think it is toxic because he just can't be measured about it and jut makes things miserable.

I have tried all sorts of tactics, making very clear to him when we will turn off, putting a timer on, all the things I can think of.

So am I better off just saying no TV at all and
Hoping I can cope?

combust22 - how intriguing, What do you do about bad behaviour?

We kept watching TV instead of doing homework. My dad shut off the cable. For forever. He still doesn't have it over 10 years later.

We just switched to dicking around on the internet after school. Didn't do much except change the medium.

I would work on just establishing good habits and only having a certain amount of screen time each day.

We have limited tv too. Stop watching when a programme naturally ends. Try prewarning him that times up in 2 mins. Set an alarm to go off which means tv has to go off.

My little one wasn't interested, then about 2 got too interested, now aged 3 isn't bothered at all.

redcliff- depends what type. there are natural consequences for actions, but no punishemnts. What do you mean by "bad behaviour"?

DS1 was like this when he was 2. Constantly wanting to play with our phones as well. He's now nearly 4 and not nearly as bothered about screen time. We gently encouraged it but he basically went off it by himself (and yes, I have noticed an improvement in his behaviour as a result).

I think 2 is an awkward age in that some kids really can't entertain themselves for that long, or focus for long on an activity. Certainly I found that TV was pretty much the only way I could keep DS occupied and in one place while I got on with things. Nowadays he's much better at keeping himself amused - yesterday he sat and coloured for half an hour while I tidied the kitchen - unthinkable for him at the age your DS is.

A PP mentioned making them self-limit by giving them something more interesting to do. That really worked for us, but not until he was 3.5+. I'm on mat leave at the moment and usually park DS1 in front of the TV while I settle DS2 for his naps. Once DS2 is asleep, we have an understanding that the TV goes off and we have 'DS1 and mummy time' doing whatever he wants - baking, playing cars, puzzles, board game etc. For DS1, one-to-one attention is way more enticing than TV since DS2 arrived.

It's also easier once they become more verbal - so can understand 'Just one more episode then it's going off' etc. or a timer (I use the duck setting too!).

combust22 - bad behaviour like refusing to get dressed when you need to leave the house or kicking/biting? That sort of thing.

Refusing to get dressed- fine they go out in pjs. Take a coat in case they get cold.

My kids have never been violent so I have no advice about that I'm afraid.

I don't think he watches that much. And I expect its cbeebies which is quite educational. Could you just put it on for his favourite programmes then off? Any tantrums just ignore and say come on, we are going to read now or build something, take the post and you can post it etc?

I found it quite useful that when a program finished and I said right that's it, and there was a little tantrum, it was quite a good way to help them learn I meant what I said, and also have something nice to do after.

I found the tv a bit of a godsend after having another baby via cs, and being home alone abroad with no support as paternity leave didn't exist. Bf a newborn whilst reading a story to ds or letting him watch a bit of tv was ok.

You can't be building and painting all day and after a day of it at nursery or whatever, relaxing infront of the tv for a while is ok? Kids have to learn how to relax too, and switch off.