Is anyone else's DC like this with TV screens?

[ellie4]

Ds1 6 is completely absorbed by TV screens. I know everyone says they can't get their childs attention when they are watching TV but this is way more than that. If the TV is on sometimes I might have to call his name 6 times to get him to listen. If I stand between him and the TV screen to block his line of vision in an attempt to get his attention he would try and look round me and if I then move again to block his view again he would look round me again. This can happen 4 times before he will look at me and I get his attention. It feels like he is only realizing there's something blocking his view and it takes him a while to realize its not something its someone iykwim

It seems to be a moving picture that triggers him. A computer screen will also have the same effect as do the advertising posters that are on a screen. I've been walking in a shopping mall with him and if he sees one of these he will just stop walking and be transfixed by it. I've even seen him drawn to the screen saver of our dvd player that is just a white Samsung logo bouncy round a black screen.

I've always thought its more that he can't help it rather than he just likes it but I really saw this point today. We were somewhere that had a kids entertainer and he had gone to ask her if he could make something for his baby sister. We could see him but too far away to hear how far he got but he started to ask her then saw a TV on and that was it, he just lost all train of thought. I could see the moment he first saw the TV and I could see him try to keep speaking but he was unable to keep going and when the lady tried to speak to him he just didn't notice she was there anymore.

If the Tv or whatever screen he is watching is turned off he is generally fine although I do tend to give a warning that its going off soon.

I try and limit screen time and he has become much better at not ignoring me since I've been implementing my rule that if am I ignored 2 times then the TV or Ipad goes off NOW. I can't believe dh bought a bloody ipad. I've been trying so hard to limit screen time.

Its not something I've heard about before so I was wondering if anyone else has a child like this and if so what helps? Just curious really

Ooooh yes. Dd(6) will wet and soil herself while watching tv as she can't tear herself away yo go to the loo!

We limit it but I don't know if it helps as it makes it more desirable. But if we left her to self limit she'd watch it 24/7

I wonder too about limiting it making it more desirable. Yes too to the lack of self limiting. We don't live in the UK and the TV is shite but he will quite happily watch something that he doesn't even understand the language of. I have to admit those conversations amuse me:
DS " but mum don't turn it off, I love this programme" Me " ok what's the programme called?" DS "errr", Me " what's that character called?" DS "errr" Me " whats that character called?" DS "errr" Me "ok, off now"
I find it harder to limit the ipad as there's always something to watch/do.

ellie
this is totally my DS also. Anything with a screen.. smartphone, ipad, tv, PC, nintendo, whatever. I dont know if its that real life is so difficult that its easier to switch off and observe it on a screen or what.
I often wonder if its a visual sensory thing too...my DS will fidget at the dinner table, has to tip his chair around to do homework, does visual stimming when out and about. But put him in front of a screen he can sit still for hours.
I have a strict rule that it 'goes on for an hour'. He knows how to set the timer on my phone. Once it rings, he will always ask for more time, but usually accepts that his time is up.