How to entertain pre-schoolers in the morning without TV

[cranbury]

We have got into a bad habit with 3 year old DD plonking herself in front of the TV about 7.30am and barely leaving the TV until we need to leave at 8.45am. She will turn it off when bored.

DH has to get ready for work, I have to have shower, I have to get my one year old up and ready and get all of us breakfast and a quick clear up of the breakfast things.

Find it difficult to entertain DD and keep her involved before setting off in the morning. DS has only recently started sleeping through so I think its time to tackle it.

Feel like locking TV in a cupboard...

Dont beat yourself up about it, why do you think Cbeebies starts at 6am? For us parents to get sorted whilst the toddler isnt tantrumming/wreaking havoc etc. We have TV on in the morning, it works for us.

Don't understand the question..............!

We have a box of puzzles. It is plonked on the floor and DD plays with it for a while. Then she helps make DS's breakfast (he's 19 months).

I don't see the problem tbh.

I understand the problem I have a tantrummy 3 1/2 yr old who is now in the habit of watching TV from 6am until we leave all together at 6.45am. Having today explained that tricky fussy behaviour at nursery will mean she will not be able to watch TV at all that day, I realise I have shot my eary morning self in the foot. I need to come up with some alternatives too. Although I might give just saying "no TV" for a while and see how that goes. We are so rushed anyway!!
X

I have a 1yo and a 3.5 yo. We don't do tv in the mornings cos otherwise we'd never get out of the house! The DSs come into our bedroom when they wake up (at around 6) then they're up for breakfast between 7 and 8 depending on our schedule and how long we can keep them from hurtling downstairs! Then breakfast, clearing up, play if there's time and out. DH is in charge the days I work but the routine is pretty much the same.

Sympathy on the tantrums, DS1 is the same if he starts expecting tv at any particular point, which is why we try and prevent it being part of the daily routine. He'll often watch a bit while one f us is getting tea ready.

We never have the TV on in our house in the mornings because I don't want to add arguments about turning it off to the list of stresses about putting shoes on, finding coats and so on and so on. That said, I don't really get why a pre-schooler needs "entertaining" in the mornings. On nursery mornings, we have enough to do with getting up, having breakfast, sorting teeth, getting dressed and being ready to leave the house at 8.20 that there's no time to watch TV. If my girls wake up earlier than I want them to, and I haven't had time for a shower, I just ask them to stay in their room until I AM ready and then we head downstairs for breakfast. Either that or they sit on my bed and we chat about inane rubbish whilst I get dressed.

Easy, cbeebies on Radio 7, available on your TV on Freeview, or DAB radio or internet.

We generally have a no-tv in the mornings policy, if by some miracle we manage to be ready before 8:30 I let them put it on, but usually we all just stay in the kitchen with the radio on.
After breakfast they draw at the table while I wash up then shower, DD(9) reads to me while I make packed lunches, straighten my hair and generally potter around while DS(5) colours or plays with his cars.

For older children find Big Toe Books (BBC Radio 7, normally on 4-5pm Mon-Fri) on the imternet

Could you have a box of toys that she is only allowed to play with in the mornings, and change what is in it regularly? (ie hide some of her toys away and have them reappear in the box).

Although you might find that if she gets used to no tv, and no adults entertaining her, that she will potter around and play with her toys.

Cbeebies radio is great, its on BBC Radio 7 every morning from 6-8am.

3 DC's...6,3 and 1. We get up at 7ish and leave at 815am...all have breakfast together, then DS1 aged 6 gets himself ready...it's mayhew whilst I get the younger 2 and myself ready, but I do the kids first then plonk them in front of the TV whilst I rush around like a blue arsed fly get myself ready.....

Don't beat yourself up about it.

If she is getting bored, then get her to entertain your 1yo!

no tv in mornings here (2yo ds is the only child in the world who does not like tv. much to my irritation).
tbh he usually just potters about getting under everyone's feet. he likes watching dh shave, and while he does that i get five mins to get ready myself. he will conceivably play a bit with cars or something while i get breakfast etc.
i work pt so don't have to leave the house every day but mornings when i do it is admittedly v stressed as it's a struggle to get me and him ready at same time. mostly try and organise to within an inch of our lives the night before (his bag packed and ready for childminder, clothes laid out for both of us, etc) and then have more time in the morning to go at his speed.
suspect it's about expectations - if he liked, and was used to, tv in the mornings i'd be hard pushed to wean him off it with the thrill of watching me straighten my hair/helping feed the dog. also don't know if i'd manage with two preschoolers. so frankly, if TV working for you right now, might as well go with it - maybe just try and shorten duration? and make a game available in the mornings that is only available in the mornings so it's more enticing?

We have fallen into the same habit and i now have 3 yr old wanting to stay home instead of nursery - to watch TV!
Might try the radio option - seems a good compromise!

I'm having terrible trouble prising DS away from the tv at the moment but he is not allowed to watch before school.

DH gives both DSs breakfast while I have a shower and get dressed. Then DS plays in his room while I get DS2 dressed and generally just potters.

I think I'm going to start putting it on in the morning because dd just follows ds1 around while he gets ready for school and winds him up, pulling his pants down, hiding his tie, distracting him with toys etc. she is a menace. At least if she's watching tv we can all get on with it without the shouting.
putting toys out for her doesn't work, it's much more fun winding up her brother.

We have always had tv on in the morning before ds (2.4) used to wake at 5.30am and it was the only way to keep him from waking everyone else up and keeping me sane.

However since he now wakes nearer to 7am and dd (4.7) has started school, the tv goes off at 7.20 after Little Princess.

It seems to work for us and I am so pleased that it is not on for hours any more.

Thanks for your responses have had no TV on 2 mornings out of 3 so making progress. Think if we had a smaller house or at least a less vertical one (3 floors) then it would be easier for DD to potter round after us. Although DD now seems to want to watch me have a shower and get ready (used to be my only 10mins peace all day!) [hmmm]. Also doesn't help that DH seems to pretend kids not there in the morning and just gets ready to work in the same slow way he did pre-kids. Making him at least start breakfast before I get down.

Trying to get DD to potter more but she is just not the pottering kind, more intense and very focused kind!