Screaming tantrums when turn off tv - addicted?

[Nosleeptoddler]

Hi

Just curious as to whether anyone else experiences this, I’ve searched but couldn’t find any other threads on it.

My toddler son turned 3 at Christmas. We’re not really a big tv family (we only have 1 which is in an adult sitting room the kids never go into) and so he never really had anything beyond 5 mins of peppa on my phone from 0-2. From 2 onwards we introduced a bit more tv partially because we had a newborn and also because TV is quite helpful in just allowing us to get stuff done.

HOWEVER, my idea of carving out 30mins free time every day is not working, as he seems to be utterly addicted to the tv, and turning it off results in a complete meltdown - either immediately on turning it off or within 30mins after - he just seems angry and on edge. I hear tales of friends with kids the sam age who can give them 30mins in the morning or 30mins before dinner and I am baffled as to how this works - it basically takes me 1-2 hours to reset the aftermath of 45mins of tv.

Is anyone else’s child like this? Is something wrong with my DS that he can’t seem to process it?

Not really worried as such, it does mean we are now totally screen free as a house to avoid this - just curious as I guess eventually I’ll run into this issue again as he gets older.

Hopeful bump

My eldest dd was like this, still is very into screens and if one is on she becomes zombie like. Her mood is different too with too much tv/screens. However when she was around 3 we spent alot of time watching tv on cold days/evenings. we had no money and lack of transport to go out. I've always had to give her a warning so as an episode starts say once this finishes tv goes off. She was the same with visits to the park it was always just a bit longer she never wanted to stop doing something she was enjoying.

At 11 it's now her phone/computer games but she's given fair warning then it goes off. Tantrums/backchatting leads to a ban so she knows it's not worth it.

you can get sand timers for 5/10/15 minutes or use a kitchen timer. Visual things so he can get an idea of this is how long I have left. These work in the nursery I work at for turn taking so could help you with warning him tv will be going off shortly.

Does he watch whatever's on for 30 minutes, or a specific program? We only ever watch things on catch up, so before we start, DD knows she's going to watch one episode of X. At the end of X, she just gets a static screen, so no incentive to keep watching. Might that help?

I'd go cold turkey for a few days. Sounds addicted.

I find it helps if have a clear reason to turn off, so turn it off it’s time for dinner (most is watched whilst I cook) or turn it off we are heading out etc. If just turn it off then takes soo much longer to get over it

Stop allowing him tv time altogether. It may take a few days of tantrums but will be worth it. Just plug it out and tell him it is broken. You'll need to engage him in toys, puzzles, books, Lego, whatever, to keep him occupied instead.

My ds was exactly like this at 3 we had to ban tv for a while. Honestly it was my fault I used it as time to myself - in summer it's much easier as they're in garden but winter can be tough. Now hes a few months older and never asks for tv. But banning completely was the only way to go and if he screamed after tv off he was told no tv next day- 3 is old enough to understand.

Thank you all!

He has a slightly different problem from what most of you seem to experience. He doesn’t have tv every day, not even close - probably 1-2 times a week max - and many weeks nothing at all. And when it’s not on he doesn’t really miss it; he might occasionally half heartedly ask for some thomas once every couple of days but it’s not big deal at all and he just goes and does something else if you say no. So it’s not that he’s got into a habit at all.

The issue is when he’s actually watching. We always say “this is the last episode”, we’re stopping in 5mins etc to give him warning. Nothing seems to work. It’s just a massive meltdown even if he’s been given 100 warnings. It’s like tv literally sends him crazy.

@Nosleeptoddler based on your update I would just cut it out completely!

I’ve found in my circle of friends that it’s actually the children who have the least TV who have a reaction to it like your son... as it’s such a rare thing, they are completely engrossed with it when it’s on and struggle with it being turned off.
We have our TV on fairly often but my DC are completely indifferent to it, they usually just watch for a couple of minutes then go off and do other things.
I’m not saying the answer to your issue is to give him more TV... not at all. Just that it might be a reason for his behaviour. Sounds like cutting it completely is probably the best way to go.

Yes we are going to just cut it completely I think. Frustrating when (like this weekend) we are all ill and just want some downtime, but better than all the screaming!

I was just curious as to whether anyone else had found this was a marker of something else - I don’t know what, an addictive personality?! FYI he is a crap sleeper and eater as well. Tho on the plus side incredibly eloquent and charming.

Same issue !! Any update ?