Cutting down on TV time, what alternatives do you do/could i try?

[PickledLily]

DD is watching more TV than I would like, but am struggling to think of an alternative at certain times and something dh can do with her that doesn't involve automatically plopping her in front of the TV. She watches tv first thing, while we try to haul ourselves out of bed at 6am, and it calms her down after nursery when she is shattered and would otherwise have an epic meltdown for about 30mins. Stories don't seem to cut it for quiet time. What's your routine like at these times, any suggestions for alternatives?

I think it is difficult to change once a routine is established.Our kids had to entertain themselves in their rooms reading or playing until 7am but I can see that if she wakes very early that gives you a bit of time to get organised.I think the chilling out time after nursery is probably quite therapeutic.If we weren't just going into the darker evenings I'd say get DH to take her out for a walk/local park/kicking autumn leaves/splash in puddles etc. Will she read on her own? Can she 'help' you in the kitchen as you do jobs and find out about her day?What age is she? She would probably like to have time with you if she has been at nursery all day so could she be nearby wherever you are and have some playdough or drawing or activity to get on with whilst you chat to her?

She's 2.5, hence not wanting her watching much TV. Mornings aren't so bad as she's alert and will concentrate on things, but likes to have company. No chance of her staying in her room unfortunately, she rarely manages to stay in her own bed all night.

She's in nursery 8-5, so yes, she does just want time with me but hasn't the energy to concentrate on anything. I end up lugging her around trying to do things at the same time, but she always has a massive meltdown - just too tired to know what she wants.

I wish I could just throw the TV out though, I hate the rubbish they put on. Maybe I should just use DVDs instead, then I can limit the time and content more easily.

Firstly I wouldn't worry too much, in my opinion TV has a time and place and as long as it's part of varied activities not an issue. However there is something that has worked for us. We have a smart TV so can access iplayer from it, I encourage my DD to choose a programme to watch, I find it's easier to limit the time spent watching as it avoids the passive watching if anything that happens to come on and makes if easier to switch off when you feel she has had enough. I also let her do some painting and drawing on the ipad which works well of you could try the cbeebies story time app which is excellent (and free!). Good luck

We record favourite shows on the sky box then they each get to chose one programme, when it has finished the screen goes blank and they know it is finished. Limits the endless cries of "just watch this one".

I would agree with above comments.We don't have tv/pay licence but use catch up tv on internet streamed through a tv screen.This not only saves money but means you have to choose a programme and when it ends,it ends and stops. The other advantage of this is that they don't get bombarded with ads.Although she is still quite young but I was always amazed that my nieces and nephews produced Christmas and birthday lists as long as your arm for current cool toys and my kids could never think of anything they wanted.I came to realise that as they were watching no telly they were not being enticed to want all this stuff.It is very liberating. DVD's good too.

Thanks everyone. I'd agree about the christmas present 'wants', I don't let DD watch any channels with ads for this very reason.

No iPad here or Sky, so not an option for us, but iPlayer gets used a lot via the TV.

Out of interest vdbfamily, do you get hounded by the TV Licence people? I know they used to be awful for this in the past if you didn't have a licence (but didn't watch live TV, or in my friends case, even have a TV!).

We used to get hounded all the time but actually now you ask I don't think we have heard from them for a few years.We had to send of a form saying we do not watch live telly and that was that(after years and years of hounding!!)

We have cut out TV in the morning which then makes me feel better about the TV in the evening. DS 2.8 is happy to sit and listen to stories so that helps. He is also in childcare 9-4. The other thing we instituted was no TV on weekends unless he is ill. That made a huge difference. We are tired but he feels he gets our full attention and is much less whingey and doesn't ask for the TV.

I put the radio on and have a little dance to the music with my ds in between cooking the dinner. It's fun for both of us. I also hate relying on the tv and am trying to cut down. It's usually hunger that makes ds grumpy after nursery though, so a little snack sometimes helps.

Don't worry about being hounded. If you don't use a tv or stream live tv, then you don't need one, hounded or not.

I got a visit recently. He said 'I'm the tv licence man'.
I said, 'Oh hello, come in.'
He said, 'I don't need to. Nobody who is lying ever invited us in. I'll fill in this and you won't be bothered by us for a few more years.'

My two (5 and 2) do watch more Iplayer than I'd like. But sometimes it's just to keep everyone sane.

DS's first sentence, at under 12 months, was 'More Baby Jake please' so I have never been worried about their language (just their awful taste in tv!).