Struggling to occupy toddler during work hours without the tv.

[sqirrelfriends]

I'm in a great position to be able to work from home, and am really lucky to be able to do so but I'm really struggling to occupy DS who is almost two.

I'm finding I'm having to have the tv on in order to work and feeling really guilty about it. Anyone feeling the same or got any tips on how I can avoid this?

To be honest as long as he is safe which he is, anything to survive the days at this point is enough.

I would be putting the tv on

Thanks @Marieo he's safe, I've had to block off parts of the house as I just can't follow him around like I usually do.

Yeah, just put the tv on.

I'm in the same position and my toddler watches tv for the entire day. I don't feel good about it but there isn't much other option right now.

I'm self employed. Try making a room in the house as child safe as possible and stick a stairgate in the doorway. Make sure the room starts tidy but lay out 2 or 3 toys each in a different corner. Pop toddler in the room when you know they're not hungry or tired then you work in next door room (or sit in hallway with laptop). Basically they need to know you're nearby and be able to hear you and you need to be able to keep an eye on them but the clear message needs to be that you're in separate spaces each doing your own activity.

Persevere, let him whinge for a few minutes. If actually distressed obviously offer comfort but if just grumbling, leave them to it.

You should be able to get to a place where you can work in 20 minute snatches. Make sure that when you finish working you give good quality 1-2-1 attention.

I'm self employed and started doing this with DD from around 12m. She protested a bit at first but is now brilliant at occupying herself (sometimes for a whole hour nowadays!)

Thanks @INeedNewShoes I'll definitely try that. If all else fails I'll deffo not feel too bad about the tv, desperate times and all that.

My first dd watched too much TV, I had absolutely no family help (deceased) no one to watch her even for second and I was sahm.

We balanced any thing out with so much outdoor activities, days out. She's now 13, top sets, avid reader, very sporty...

Relax!!

You're doing your best. It won't cause long term harm

Put the tv on. We are all on survival mode at the moment. My DD is on the iPad far too much right now but at least she is safe and happy.

We have the tv on pretty much all day at the moment apart from when we go for our walk. Don't worry too much about it, these are extraordinary times.

Mine used to watch too much TV at one point when I was having a crisis, they are fine now (teens) and doing well academically. Put the TV on and lose the guilt