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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Toddler going up close to the TV

14 replies

CoffeeMum · 23/09/2010 11:33

My DS, aged 2.5 will CONSTANTLY go right up to the TV, despite my CONSTANTLY telling him not to, pausing it whenever he does it, even turning it off.

How normal/widespread is this? Is it just another toddler thing? My friends' toddlers seem to do it, according to their Mums, but it just seems that my DS does it all the time!!

I'm very short sighted, and suppose i'm just concerned that he can't see properly. He doesn't seem to have any other indications of not being able to see though - and he seems to enjoy his programmes well enough when sat at a normal distance away.

Thanks very much

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ShinyAndNew · 23/09/2010 11:35

It's normal but it won't hurt getting a free eye test.

Original poster

CoffeeMum · 23/09/2010 11:43

Thanks Shiny - i'm definitely up for getting his eyes tested, but considering he won't get dressed most mornings, i don't like my chances of him completing at eyetest! I hear that age four tends to be a good age for the first eyetest...just before school. Maybe i'll keep an eye on it [hoho] and wait until then. Just curious about whether everyone else's toddler practically licks the screen really!

OP posts:

ShinyAndNew · 23/09/2010 11:44

Well ours does, much to DH's dismay. And yet she spot sweets from 5 miles away

IsItMeOr · 23/09/2010 11:47

I think this is pretty normal - our 18mo does it, and it doesn't seem to be anything to do with eyesight, as he also watches happily enough on my lap sometimes.

I think it's just really exciting to them, and they want to get as close as possible.

I'm fairly sure I did it when young, as I remember my dad telling me it would damage my eyes.

DH assures me that, with modern TVs, that's not an issue .

Firawla · 23/09/2010 12:36

maybe he will grow out of it? my 2 yr old doesn't he sits on the sofa but when he was 1 he was always right up to the tv

ChippingIn · 23/09/2010 13:09

It's normal.

Some of them don't bloody stop it either (eye tests were fine!!!). Most kids stand/sit too close.... you'll soon get used to saying 'move away from the TV or it will go off'.

I remember being told off for it as well and I have good eyesight....

Don't worry about it :)

Karoleann · 23/09/2010 13:13

Hi, I'm an optometrist and can normally get some cooperation out of a 2.5 year old. So if you're worried take him along. Short-sightedness is very rare in children so young, unless they were premature.
Children have very good accommadation and can easily see things extremely close up without it straining their eyes, I wouldn't worry.
Both mine have done/do it too.

LoubyLoubyLouLa · 23/09/2010 18:18

My dd always did this. Had her eyes tested at 3.5 and she has really poor eyesight and now wears glasses.

The eye tests are free, It won't hurt to get tested.

Original poster

CoffeeMum · 25/09/2010 10:05

Thanks for the further replies.

ChippingIn - thank you for the reassurance, and i'm definitely getting the impression that alot of kids do it. I suppose i'm only concerned because I am so very short sighted [and my dad's the same] and I wore glasses from primary school age, so i'm a little more of the issue. However, it did seem very early at 2.5 years for any problems to materialize.

As you say, Louby, i can't really rule out the possibility of an eyesight problem...and thanks Karolann, it's good to know that i could take him for an eye test at this early age, but I suppose as the only issue is the TV thing, i might hold off for a little while.

Thanks everyone

OP posts:

ISNT · 25/09/2010 10:20

hi coffeemum

Our DD did this (literally had her nose glued to the screen ) and then we noticed she had a squint, we took her for an eye test when she was about 2.5 and it turned out that she had very poor eyesight.

I am sure that for 99% of children who do this it is perfectly normal to be glued to the TV and doesn't indicate anything, i think it is worth getting tested just for the 1% who have got poor eyesight. DD was always running around and climbing, there were no other indications of a problem.

Honestly I'm sure he is fine, but there's no harm getting an eye test, just to be on the safe side

ISNT · 25/09/2010 10:21

The 99% and 1% are competely made up BTW!

PavlovtheCat · 25/09/2010 10:29

DD still does it aged 4. nought wrong with her eyesight though, she can spot things from quite far away, further than me with my glasses on.

Wholelottalove · 25/09/2010 22:21

I was wondering the exact same thing! DD, also 2.5 does this too and I'm short sighted. Was going to wait a few more months until I took her for an eye test as assumed she was too young, but maybe it's worth taking her now.

Peeshy123 · 07/04/2025 08:33

My 2 year old dives all over jumping about while watching tv?

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