Anyone’s toddler refuse to just sit and watch a bloody film? 😭

[crispysausagerolls]

Obviously isolation = parenting on hard mode. I’m usually a SAHM so used to having this little maniacal toddler all day long but Jesus titty Christ not being able to go to the usual classes or activities and having him home alone... WHY CAN HE NOT WATCH A FILM?! I would love nothing more than a 90 minute afternoon sit down with a soothing classic like the Lion King on, after a morning of supervising him trying to kill himself on everything in the garden all morning. I’m pregnant and I’m tired and I want to sit and eat biscuits and cuddle, but the only fucking thing he will watch for any period of time is obnoxious YouTube videos of balls and cars.

Any advice?

And yes, I know parents WFH have it 10000 x harder. Everyone please use this thread to have a moan as well - it can’t just be me that’s wondering how I’m going to cope with not one, but two children stuck at home. 😭😭😭😭

Yep - mine is too young for anything longer than an episode of Hey Duggee and too old to nap more than once a day for 30 minutes. I've gone from working part time, a meetup with friends and a baby class per week to redundant SAHM in the space of 6 days and it's pretty brutal! I'm about to take mine into the garden to spend half an hour preventing him from eating stones. All I want to do is sit and binge watch Malory Towers.

My two year old will only watch episodes of the wiggles. I want to claw my own eyes out. Australia has a lot to answer for

DD is 2. It's Hey Duggee, Hey Duggee, Hey Duggee. Raa Raa at a push. Sometimes even Mr Tumble. But then back to Duggee. I may end up signing off my work emails "ahhh-woof" on autopilot by the end of this

I tried the new Lady and the Tramp earlier (thank you Disney plus). Lasted all of 10 minutes!

@hammeringinmyhead

Malory Towers?! Where is this available?

@MummBraTheEverLeaking

Fortunately never heard of Hey Duggee but perhaps worth a shot?

I can’t watch a film all the way through and I’m 50!

Hey Duggee is great for adults too! Voiced by the brilliant Alexander Armstrong it is 1000x better than peppa pig.

In terms of toddler programming it's one of the better ones (she has no idea Peppa Pig is on the tv thank goodness!) It's on iplayer and netflix.

Just let him watch anything that means he sits still for a bit! You don't need to watch it with him.

I have a 3 year with ASD. It's brutal! Not the ASD, just the fact that he's a complete bundle of energy. Trying to do tasks from SALT, his attention span is 0.5 seconds. We are so used to being out and going to the park for his to burn off steam. He like Paw Patrol but is usually using the sofa as a trampoline at the same time

Malory Towers is on iPlayer. You're welcome.

How do people keep their kids entertained all day long when isolated? I'm seriously stressed about how to do this. My DDs attention span is literally about two minutes per activity. Really miss taking her to a play park, cafe or toddler group to socialise. Not sure how to function without the normal fabric of society.

Peppa pig worked a treat when mine were little and I needed a break

A film is too long and involved for little ones but as long as the music doesn't drive you mad just leave whatever they like on.

MN disproves but IRL everyone needs a break even when not stuck in, in this situation. Mine both dropped their naps when they turned 1 which was

My 4y/o won’t watch a 90min film, but she WILL watch 90mins worth of Bing episodes. Put it on iPlayer & they just move seamlessly on to the next episode while you relax.

Play groups etc always seem more for the adults than toddlers. Little ones need stuff to do but not lots of company tbh.

The adults will of course struggle without these support systems (which is what they boil down to).

Now desperately attempting hey duggee for the first time as I’ve had to bring DS inside kicking and screaming as he wouldn’t accept that he couldn’t push balls in the drainpipe.

Try to do something nice, have a nice time outside and it always ends like this 😭😭🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

OP I feel your pain. 18 month old DS who is just learning to climb. I'm a SAHM too but it's so much harder not being able to go anywhere. Add in a DH working from home - actually playing computer games all day - and suddenly having to "go on a call" the moment he could actually help me with anything. We just fell out about dinner because I said what I was thinking of making and he immediately asked "so what's the sauce going to be". He's now on dinner making duty. Toddler is repeatedly bringing me the same 3 books to read over and over again.

We are TTC but on hold at the moment. This is seriously making me question whether I can cope with another one.

Is it time yet?

My now teen ds couldn't even turn the tv on until he was 10. Was not interested at all
At 4, dd decided nannys tv was better as it had pictures on (but she still wont sit and watch at 7)

He s toddler
Try cbeebies

Assuming the youtube videos you mention aren't actually 15 or 18 rated I would just let him get on with it.

We are TTC but on hold at the moment. This is seriously making me question whether I can cope with another one

I am freaking the fuck out about being due a second baby in 3 months because HOW CAN I COPE WITH TWO?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯

Also @Loladisco your husband sounds horrendously unhelpful!

@helpfulperson

They are for children lol - it’s innocent balls 😂

Mine can manage about 45 minutes; I’m amazed (and jealous) by any toddlers who can manage a film. I’ve got a newborn and toddler and am seeing all these parents on our nursery app doing learning activities while I’m just trying to keep everyone fed and not crying! Myself included.

What about singing dancing about type programmes? Or even music videos or whatever they are called now.

You are much better off with tv programmes than films. I think my dd was about nine before she watched a film!

Another thought is the CBeebies pantos on iPlayer. They are weirdly popular. Perhaps because they are so different from anything else.