Alternatives to screen time for surviving as a single parent

[unexpectednewstart]

I'm a single mum to a 3 year old and 6 month old. I'm surviving okay but the preschooler is a big fan of CBeebies and watches more than I would like. I allow her to watch it twice a day for between 30 and 60 mins and need the time to prepare meals, clear up, shower etc. However on days like today, I really struggle not to give in and let her watch more. I've been up since 5 and she will not play on her own.

Any tips of other activities a three year old could do while I do all the other tasks? She's not a fan of colouring in and needs close supervision with things like play doh (or she throws it everywhere to get my attention.)

TIA

Ps I also use CDs with stories on.

Get her to help you with the chores. When you are dusting then giver her a cloth so she can dust too
When washing up give her a damp sponge so she can wash her plates and bowls
Give her a dustpan and brush etc

She’s enjoy working alongside you, she’ll be getting attention and it will help develop her skills.

If you need to do extra screen time on some days that's not going to harm your children. Don't be so hard on yourself. It's hard enough as it is some days without setting impossible targets.

^ Id also agree that extra screen time is not big deal. It really doesn’t affect them much, it’s the children who’s main activity is tv every single day for hours on end that end up behind in development.

My DS plays on his own. I just tell him no to telly, I'm doing jobs, and he can either help me or play on his own.

Help her out by teaching her how to play on his own. Get down with her and play with cars / figures /playmobil etc. Once she knows how, she'll do it herself (that's the plan anyway!)

Trains/cars occupy the 3 year old here for a while. Or play food - still have to play with those but it's easier to ask if they can get me a cake/pour tea/find an orange etc while washing up or cooking

Thank you for your ideas. Maybe I have been setting myself impossible targets, so I'm currently enjoying snuggles in front of CBeebies! My daughter has always wanted lots of dedicated attention and has found it hard to play on her own. Your suggestions have made me think I probably do need to put more energy into encouraging independent play, but the tough sleep-deprived days probably aren't the best days to try that!

Does she go to childcare?

There’s some tv that inspires my son to play more (eg Thomas the tank engine, fireman Sam, octonauts) - if you spot anything like that it’s a win-win!

If she likes story CDs, we also like the CBeebies podcast (he gets bored of the same stories, but there’s a new CBeebies everyday).

Kids rhyme, learning while watching.

@HermioneWaslib
Cbeebies podcast, that is a great tip! It didn't occur to me that might exist. I am very bored of the same CDs!

@PaulMorel
Is that a particular programme? What's it on?

My toddler ds spent quite a lot of time with the tv on when I was suffering with severe morning sickness. Rather than all day CBeebies I hooked the Xbox up and put YouTube on - there’s a lot of videos that teach shapes/numbers/colours that I made a playlist of, so it made me feel a bit better that he was learning at the same time. (At least that’s how I justified it to myself)

^ although he now says ‘orange’ with an American accent 😂

It can be found on youtube @unexpectednewstart I'm sure your child will enjoy

I'm in a similar position - long LONG days with an active toddler and a 7 month old. Far too much screen time for my liking but it's the only way he will leave me alone for a few minutes so I can see to the baby or do anything at all really!

He does have a Kindle fire with some downloaded games on it, they are basically jigsaws and matching games. For the real life version he would want my help but magically on the Kindle he will do them by himself.

He also goes to playgroup and nursery some days where there is no screen time so I feel ok that he is not spending that time in front of a screen.

He does sometimes 'help' with chores but I find that stressful because he ends up creating an almighty mess and I end up in a worse position than I started in. I'm not particularly houseproud, but I try to limit the amount of time cleaning and tidying and he extends it!

I do worry that I'm lazy and that I'm harming him my neighbour has a DS the same age (and a baby) and he has one episode of paw patrol per day at night as a reward for being good. ONE EPISODE! I don't know how she does it.

That amount of TV isn't going to do any harm OP, especially as you're interacting with her in between.

From watching my younger siblings with their friends I'd say it's those who have hardly any screen time who end up obsessed! My little sisters friends who aren't allowed to watch TV want to spend all of their time at friends house watching TV, whereas those who are used to it and more keen to play with their friends.