My kids won’t watch TV

[pineappleandmango]

And I know it sounds like I’m being a smug mum - I’m not, I’m actually bloody desperate for some screentime but they just watch two minutes then shoot off.

I know it sounds like a non problem but I’ve just read yet another post where the proposed solution is a bit of CBeebies and it’s troubling me a bit tbh. I’m just wanting a bit of quiet time at the end of the day when I cook dinner and I don’t get it.

How old are they? Can they read? What about listening to an audiobook or Toni?

I understand this when I see people berate parents who use iPads to distract on meals out - my daughter would never sit and watch an iPad 🤣

What do they do to wind down though?

There is a cbeebies radio

On from 6 o clock to 8 o clock

I am not reading all the comments. Have you checked their sight and hearing is ok? I started school with glue ear and without glasses. It really held me back.

Mine doesn't watch much TV but he's been able to play solo for a long time, Lego, Duplo, colouring pencils etc, what about imaginative play? At that age he would spend ages building a train set then using his toys to create a world around it usually with various disasters and rescue operations needing to be coordinated. Do you play with them all of the time?

Whilst my 4 year old will now sit and watch something (he wasn't interested in TV for a long time, either) we very much limit TV time and he certainly doesn't have TV time every day. He's more than happy entertaining himself with imaginary play, which generally centres around sports or cars, or making music. We've also been teaching him to read and he did go and get his reading book off the shelf and just sit and read it to himself... Then he came to find me to ask if he could read it to me 🥺 Beyond sports, cars and music, Lego / Duplo / Sticklebricks are also great, as is just being left to make a good old fashioned den! Another thing he likes to play is shops - he has a cash register and lots of pretend food. When the weather is decent, just chuck them in the garden (Smyths has so many cheap, easy garden games), supervise some water play, let them climb trees... Whatever! The world is their oyster and there is sooooo much to do besides watch TV or constantly bother parents!

Tonie box? My daughter isn’t that fussed about telly but loves listening to her Tonie box and flicking through her books with her teddies