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. 😭😭😭😭

Oh I feel for you OP, when pregnant with a toddler you just need respite. When’s your partner home? Here’s hoping some of the suggestions here will help, or even just ranting.

I just came down with temp and achiness last night so we are all now doing without our daily walk, DH now having to wfh so I have been looking after 18mo and 4yo whilst feeling crap. He’s just came and taken wee one while big one watches telly and I feel soooo much better!

Try Jack Hartmann exercise and rhyme on youtube. You can ‘do school’ and get them jumping around at the same time.

You do have to do it with them the first few times so they get the hang of it first. Then its biscuit on the sofa time

All the toddlers I'd say

If I put the TV on DS likes to go to the box then switch it off... then wobble it.....

Be cautious with YouTube unless the official channels for the progs.

If you have Amazon or similar that's a safe bet.

Or as pp says, cbeebies.

Toddlers shouldn't be sitting watching whole films, surely it's odder if a small child can sit for a whole film of something they can't even understand

My daughter will sit and watch Hey Duggee or Sarah and Duck for a while. Also Raa Raa and occasionally Baby Jake. Gives me a precious 20 minutes to get food sorted etc.

I only just recently too my 4 yrs old to the cinema for the new 45min Paw Patrol film. At 42 mins, he wanted to leave. But normally, he flicks through youtube so fast i get a headache, he watches 2 seconds and changes his mind. Youtube Kids is good. If i need a nap, we take the tablet to bed, i snooze for 30mins and he has Youtube kids on.

My DS 2yo are on the opposite side of this issue, he’s obsessed with the telly and no matter how many times I try to keep him entertained without it, he’ll paw at it until he gets to watch something (feel like such a shite Mum admitting that!).

DD however, very much like your DS (twins!) she will sit still for Hey Duggee (though she’s bored of it a bit now), Pocoyo works well as it’s quite wacky, Peppa Pig (I despise that Pig 😂).

The first thing to hold her attention for more than a few seconds was Monsters Inc (also got her first giggles without direct stimulus like face pulling or tickles) and now she will watch a lot of that, I think because she likes Boo (identifies with her maybe?) 😂

Oh and I have their toys in the living room so if we do decide to have a movie on they’ll be playing about at the same time, the only time I’ve had DD sit and watch something with me was when she was a bit poorly with a stomach bug.

@NaviSprite

Definitely not a shit mum - bet you can’t wait until she’s old enough for Zelda? 😁

I am starting to wish we didn’t have a garden btw. The time he is inside now is just time crying to go in the garden. Jesus wept (but he didn’t have children so not really). 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Mine started with dvds of books they knew, gruffalo , room on the broom etc. Not 90minures, but still a sit down!

Nope no films here just bloody Peppa Pig! I don't mind Hey Duggee because I secretly fancy Alexander Armstrong 🙈. Bing...oh no!! Why is it teaching children to speak like that?! It needs putting in a pie!

It doesn't matter what I try and put on for her to watch she will ignore it as soon as she sees me try to sit down with a hot drink.

Bing...oh no!! Why is it teaching children to speak like that?! It needs putting in a pie!

HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!! Amen

The only film my hyperactive toddler used to sit and watch was Disney Cars.

Though he wouldn’t just sit and watch. He usually stood and watched. Would wander off to do something but then come back and watch a bit more.

But he was usually quiet during it

Let him go in the garden OP

If he wears himself out running around like a loon, he’s more likely to sit down on the sofa and chill with a film

@Soubriquet

I gave cars a go this week actually on the advice of a friend whose child adores all Pixar things.

Not only was he only vaguely interested and also walking off like yours, but it was not something I wanted to watch myself. I’m dying to watch frozen 2 😭🤦🏻‍♀️

Imagine all the snacking, sitting down and watching things we could all be doing now without children.

@Nottalotta

You are actually onto something there - he has watched the hungry caterpillar a few times. It’s just a shame he usually doesn’t want to and wants these fucking annoying balls. I suppose it’s really brought his naming of the colours and numbers along though as they are vaguely educational? clutches at straws

Give cars a chance

I was resistant but it’s actually quite amusing.

@Soubriquet

I will send you a photo of my garden later - it’s on the river without any fencing and it has several tiers so number of concrete steps. It’s a death pit. Supposed to be moving house on Friday. Into a house which has a building site for a garden so exchanging one death bit for another 😭😭😭😭 Have ordered a Big play pen in the naive hope he will stay in the pen and run around in there, safe and contained.

Try numberblocks, alphablocks, cocomelon, that's the stuff mine like/liked at a younger age.

I don't put stuff on that I can't stand. They get to watch Blippi when I'm cooking.

Oh and Jenny the story lady. Reads stories, so you don't have to.

Oh that’s awful OP

Sorry you can’t go out doors.

@Nottalotta

FUCKING BLIPPI 😂😂 he mislabelled a Pentagon in one and now he’s on my blacklist

@Soubriquet

I can it’s just very fucking stressful 😁