Almost 2 year old watching a lot of TV...embarrassed its got this bad

[Acceptableinthe70s]

I've nc as I'm embarrassed things have got this bad am looking for some advice on how to get ds to watch less tv.

I was determined there would be no tv til 2 but over the last few months its crept in and he now watches an hour in the morning - every morning, and it's always Peppa Pig, then half an hour at lunch time, and then an hour at bedtime, so that's 2.5 hrs of TV a day!

He goes to nursery three morning a week (in which case there no tv at lunchtime) and the rest of time he's with me, we'll be out everyday, the two full day he's with me we'll do 2 a actuvities a day (Gymboree, soft play, music classes, swimming etc) one in the AM and one in the PM. The days are very structured so when he's not watching tv (at the times i said) we are always doing something interactive.

He's bright (I think) can count independently to 10 at 20 months, can count backwards from 5 at 21 months, has just started reciting the planets in order (gets some wrong but still impressive I think) and started talking in sentences from 17 months.

This isn't stealth boasting I just want to give you all the full facts.

Do you think 2 - 2.5 hrs of TV a day is too much? When he gets hysterical peppa pig is the only thing can bribe him with and will calm him down. He talks about peppa constantly as well.

I honestly don't know what to do, and it seems like everyone else's toddler doesn't watch tv. I feel a bit like a shit mum. What am I doing wrong? Honestly t just crept up on me, it started off with one episode and now he's obsessed! He loves his peppa pig toy and when we're out in the street I feel like other mums are secretly judging me.

I wonder if you would feel more in control if you get some DVDs of some things you know/ think he might like. The difference with DVDs is that they are only on for a set time limit and no adverts.

Thank you all so much, you've been really helpful. I'm heavilly pregnant at the moment as well, so it's physically hard for me to entertain him some times (running around etc) but he does get out and do lots of stuff too. I'm going to try and cut back the screen time a bit and when I can't try not to worry too much.

I just feel so embarrassed when we're out in the street and he's having a tantrum screaming PEPPA PIG PEPPA PIIIIIG! I feel like everyone else out there's thinking all I do is dump him in front of the tv.

My sister used the dreaded peppa to calm her ds, to get him to eat, to get him to sleep etc etc. it was like peppa was the nanny. But then he just gradually grew out of needing it. It is hardly ever mentioned now, and he is a charming chatty kind 3yo. Think of the tv as a tool that you use and you control rather than a sign of slack parenting! When you new baby comes you may come to use the tv more than you want at first but for godsake don't beat yrsf up about it!

Until your last post OP when you said you're heavily pregnant, I did think I'd maybe cut it down a bit. But being in early pg myself, the tv is on a lot more than before, so don't sweat it

That said, research is increasingly finding negative effects of watching tv on young children (check out aric sigman's stuff, scary...) and after hearing this guy speak recently I resolved to keep an eye on ds's tv time then I got pg

My nearly two yr old is also peppa obsessed - and doesn't speak half as well as yours, so I wouldn't worry about that side of things. It's more the impact on their attentional development amongst other things. Tbh, I notice even when ds whines for peppa, he'll watch a few episodes then potter about playing and only whinges for a few seconds if I turn it off.

Maybe try that? Limiting the episodes? Or for now I'd do whatever makes your life easier! I'm not looking forward to being heavily pg with ds to look after...

Thank you misty* this morning, I manage to limit tv from the usual hour to 25 mins. I know is lot still but managed to limit it nonetheless.

He's started having really bad tantrums recently (throwing self on floor, screaming, everything's no, crying) does this sound like the effects of the tv or normal for a 2 year old?

I'd say normal for a 2yo - but tv can overstimulate them too, so a bit of both maybe. Honestly don't beat yourself up about it - just being concerned and having a heightened awareness of how much he's watching will help, and shows you're a good mum :)

Ds has recently started having post nap meltdowns. Spectacular they are! No idea what they're about!

So you're either out or he's infront of the tv? Where is the time just the two of you playing at home, just mooching about? Babies need down time to play and just be, especially with their mum. I don't think the tv is a prob but an activity every am and pm? That is def too much. Do one activity a day and the rest of the time interact with him and give him a bit of tv, no big deal.

My DS (same age as yours op) has been watching way too much tv. More than 3 hours sone days. It goes against my beliefs I never would have thought I'd be using it in this way so I can get stuff done/ have a rest, but I'm pg and just can't do any better some days. Having said that we just hid the tv a couple of days ago and it's worked a treat, he doesn't think of it if it's not there. We have been getting it out in the evening. It's only smallish though you might not have that option if yours is a big one.

In case helpful, other indoor activities that work well for our 21 month old at the moment:

Puzzles- DS loves them and can now do 12 piece puzzles by himself

Extended bathtime with plastic cups and jugs for pouring and duplo people and animals to make up stories with.

Reading board books- Julia Donaldson esp good

Making the soft toys talk to each other and do slapstick falling down and being hurt, needing a drink, giving them plates of toy food to eat etc

Building towers out of duplo/ wooden bricks

He has spent ages today 'playing' the piano (!) and his xylophone

When I wanted to change a mealtime habit recently I set up a mini tea party for all the toy animals and gave them all a rice cake and some water (so they didn't all get too sticky) while he ate his tea. It worked a treat AND he drank loads of water from the little toy cups (he will normally only drink juice). So maybe a lot of distraction for a few days if you decide you do want to reduce mealtime tv?

Thank you all for the suggestions, apple we do do so,e indoor activities (tea party, sticking, drawing, throwing and catching ball, garden activities)..I guess I feel guilty if he's in front of the tv ever as I feel I like I need to always be entertaining him or doing something productive.

I've definitely taken all comments on board though nd making a conscious effort to limit the tv, today was only 1hr and 45 mins. I know it's still a lot but an improvement!

It's a stage. Dd2 was peppA pig obsessed at 2. Watched loads of it. She is now an extremely bright 3.5 year old who isn't that fussed about tv now. I honestly think your days seem pretty balanced.

Don't worry about it,the more you make tv out to be some special treat.the more they will want to watch it.

My Tv was on all day, my kids could take it or leave it.

I feel your pain! I was worrying about the same thing last week as I noticed that when DD (2.1) was playing with her toys she was acting out scenes from peppa pig! I panicked, decided it was ruining her imagination and she hasn't watched any Peppa Pig since. I thought we were going to be in for a week full of massive tantrums but its really not been that bad. She's objected a bit but its less and less each time she asks and now when she asks she mutters to herself that it's not on before I have time to answer her.
She probably watches a similar amount to your DS each day but I've found that since I banned Nick Jr (I've switched to cbeebies) she will wander off and play by herself rather than being glued to the screen.
Just in the last week there's been a massive difference in her ability to entertain herself and I can actually get some cleaning/cooking done without peppa pigs operating voice in the background
Sorry for the massive post, try not to feel to guilty, I know it's hard.

fourgates gonna try moving my sofa tomorrow. Then I can lie on it and hope DS runs round it

*irritating not operating.

I've not read all the above. We tell our toddler that the TV needs a nap. She accepts it needs to sleep. We also warn her if a programme is nearing an end (last one / 5 mins left / 1 min left etc), and set the boundary at the start ("just one episode" or -more specifically - "you can watch tv whilst I feed the baby" or "you can watch peppa when the baby is asleep" or "you can watch in the night garden whilst mummy showers (and I know you aren't getting into trouble as you're transfixed)"

He's been up since 5.30am and so far no tv! So that would've been an hour clocked already. Trying my best to limit it.

My dd watched SO much TV as a toddler. It was literally the only thing that kept her still. I find it much easier to limit her tv time now, as she has plenty of other things she can do independently, which she didn't at 2. Try not to beat yourself up about it. Some kids are just a bit telly obsessed. Ds has never really been that bothered.

An 'easy' way to cut down the screen time is our house has been to not allow tv in the mornings. I have 4dds six and under and I could see the 'trap' of getting another hour in the mornings. This rule is broken for school holiday when they are allowed to watch morning tv. They watch a channel with adverts. Seriously, it shows me the power of advertising. A week or so with advertisements during cartoons and they want soo many toys!

Sometimes my kids do get too much tv, and I get upset by it. But, especially in summer, they can go by not watchingtvatall.

As my pregnancies have been close and I have had severe morning sickness for 9 months every time, I have used tv a lot but also managed to 'wean' them off it. No morning tv has always been a rule I have stuck by though. (I remember my mum sticking us moronically in front of the tv every morning, just can't see how it is a good start to the school day).

Hi, Most have already answered everything you probably wanted to know. Don't blame yourself for it. You sure are a good mom and you do everything you can for him. Don't worry about others judging you. I know it is easier said than done but try cutting down on his TV time, I'd rather the night time. This is not a do or die situation. Don't fret too much and don't be critical of yourself.

I would be less concerned about the TV than the apparent lack of unstructured play time tbh. It will be infinitely easier for your when DC2 is here if DS can potter and play by himself, so if I were you I would work on trying to encourage him to do so now. Set him up with an activity/toy and pop in and out, so you are around and available but not playing with him all the time.

Things my DS liked at that age and would play with independently: puzzles (and more puzzles!), playdoh, cooker and play food, trains/cars, shape sorter, lots of books, toy animals.

I would definitely cut down on the paid activities too - if nothing else these will be tough to keep up with a newborn, so it will be even more of an upheaval to suddenly stop all those, especially if he isn't used to playing at home.

Apologies if this comes across as patronising.

I agree vinegar am doing my very best to get ds to learn to play independently. Am 40+2 today so would be ideal if he could entertain himself for a bit when his brother arrives.

Any tips on getting him to play on his own? When I leave him he screams and shouts mummy mummy and cries hysterically. Same if I'm in the room but not playing with him, but he plays independently when dp looks after him in the mornings on the weekend.