Almost 2 year old doesn’t watch any TV, should he be?!

[Babynameone]

I started off consciously not letting my baby watch tv when he was born, we didn’t do any of the baby tv etc. I have always had the tv on when he’s there but just with my programmes on and he doesn’t take any notice. Now he’s almost 2 and so many people with kids the same age have been mentioning all the programmes they like. I have tried him with a couple of things recently but he couldn’t care less, just walks away to play with his toys. I’m guessing he’s just not interested because he’s never watched it. Is he going to be missing out on learning any words etc by me not encouraging him to watch kids tv programmes?

Of course not. Why would you think tv is essential? He interacts with you and other people so he's learning language all the time.

And I give it 2 minutes before you are accused of stealth bragging.

There are lots of other ways for them to be learning words like reading/telling stories, singing, just chatting about what they can see or what they are doing, having music or radio on in the background so as long as they are getting exposure to some of those things it's fine! He might also become more interested as he gets older, there is plenty of time yet!

Ah your ruined my fun.

Haha stealth boast alert!

Human beings have been around in some form for 2 million years. TV has been around for less than 100 years. Previous generations seem to have managed fine without it! I don't expect lack of TV at age 2 is going to stunt his development.

And agree with PP - you will be accused of stealth boast. Various guideline say kids shouldn't watch any TV at that age anyway.

No he isn't. My DPs and DGPs were born decades before having a TV in the house was the norm and they all seemed to pick up speech just fine.

In fact a DF didn't have a TV when her DC were young and one of them is soon off to study English at Uni so i don't think she's missed out by not watching Peppa Pig either

If you are worried about his speech I'd do this progress checker and ring the helpline if it says "you've answered no to some important questions".

He will learn much more from you directly talking to him then he will from listening to the tv. Don't worry about it, it won't be long before he gets into tv given half a chance I'm sure!

If it’s a competition, tbh I’d much rather kids watched an hour of nice toddler TV a day then it was switched off rather than mum’s adult TV programs blasting out all day long.

They don't really have the concentration for TV at that age, it's why the young kids programmes on CBEEBIES are so short. Don't worry in a years time you won't be able to get them to stop.

My almost 2 year old also doesn't watch TV but that's because I've chosen not to let her. Why force your DC to watch it if he's choosing healthier options? (Though I suspect you aren't really concerned about his lack of TV and also sense a stealth boast here 😂)

No, he's not missing anything from not watching TV.

It is detrimental to language development to have a constant background noise though so I would limit the amount of time the TV is on with your stuff when he's around.

We never had the TV on until DS was 2 and he wasn’t at all interested at first. He could watch an hour straight now at age 3.5 - give it time!

Of course not! He will learn by listening to you (& others) talking to him and reading to him. Take him to playgroup, story time at the library etc. No child of his age needs to see any TV.

Well done you 🙄🙄🙄

I agree with Suprima. I hate it when people have the telly on all day in the background. Switch it on to watch a specific thing then turn it off! As your child gets older, even if they seem uninterested they will be hearing abd absorbing stuff that is aimed at adults. Much better to allow an hour of Cbeebies educational programming aimed at their age.

The reason they are not interested could well be because the telly is always on spouting nothing of interest to them. If they're really not interested at all that's fine. Switch the telly off and actually interact with your child face to face rather than half-watching telly all the time you are with them.

Once my eldest was past the breastfeeding and sleeping all day stage I never had adult TV on in my kids' presence. Cbeebies for them while I was making dinner or similar. Otherwise we'd be playing/reading /drawing etc together.

He's not missing anything, but the OP is missing out on the masterpiece that is Bluey.

I was the same as you, and actually by 2 I was desperately trying to get him to watch something because he became really overstimulated easily and would bounce about the house, not playing but just making mess and destroying things.

Yes all the amazing parents without TVs will come on and say how amazing it is, but fuck that sometimes I need to get stuff done.

Anyway, at about 2.5 he would watch a bit more and it’s just enough for me to reset or get myself ready!

My DD didn't watch tv until she was at least 2.5yrs old. Just had no interest in it. A year later and she's addicted to waffle the sodding wonder dog.
She loves Steve and Maggie on YouTube which I don't mind her watching at all as it really helped her with her delayed speech.

My DS (16mths) watches quite a lot of tv and I haven't noticed any obvious difference in him compared to my daughter who didn't watch it.

Same here. I only ever let my LO watch when cutting his nails once a week. Then when he was 15mo tha I forgot to put on something and he didnt care he was interested in what I was doing with no issues.
I let him watch 30mins once a week and he doesnt caare for it. If it is about real life things he loves I.e animals and Vehicles he pays attention hut only 15mins. He prefers to play and read his books.

Don't be worried. It is normal either way. My partner was the same he prefered to play and do things then watch TV or play videos games etc. Just personality.

Plus my parents grew up with No TV or Radio only when they were late teems did they have access and they are well educated one of a professor in languages and the other is a Nurse.

How do you think the human race developed before tv's?

Well, that is undeniable.

Do a pop a bit of Bluey on when he's in bed OP.

They have got years ahead of them to watch Tv. The later you expose them to it the better IMO

My 2 x ds's loved it from an early age and it meant I could leave them whilst I say cooked dinner. Suited me!

Cartoons are everything. I would never be able to cook an evening meal without them and I am grateful that they exist. 15 mins a day. DS only cares about one series, he walks away from anything else. But I thank the series creators from the bottom of my heart :):) (And I also suspect op was a stealth boast…😂)

Wow so many comments about a ‘stealth boast’.. sorry just questioning something I can’t really question in real life as everyone else’s children watch tv! Im pointing out that Im now not purposely ‘not letting’ him but it’s just his choice not to. I started off not letting him watch any as I didn’t think it was good for them but as time has gone on and so many people go on about these shows/he goes to classes and there’s big life-size characters there/there’s all the toys for every show etc, it’s like he’s missing out 🙈

@MixedCouple a real life thing is the only thing he’s ever shown any interest in but my husband says he didn’t ever watch cartoons as a child and he can’t even watch a film now because it’s not real life so I suspect he might have got that from him 😂