2 Year Old Addicted to TV

Get other activities out. 2 year olds love play dough, coloring, art activities, playing musical instruments with wooden spoons and different sized mixing bowls, clothes pin a pillowcase on the back of her shirt and let her pretend she's supergirl, let her use her stuffed animals to put on an animal show or parade for you, use straws or silverware to form different shapes on the floor. I'm telling you what, I sometimes WISH my kids watched more television! Once you introduce them to fun activities, they never go back!

Hi A., I have one other suggestion that worked for us. My daughter was three when we started it, but it may work with younger kids, too. We took an old plastic food container and cut a slit in the top. We gave her two poker chips. Each chip is a show. We call it her TV bank. She was really excited about it when we introduced it. She was in control of when she used the chips and could see when they were gone for the day, they were gone. The next AM she'd get her two chips again. She also loves to be read to, so we added that she could also cash in chips for extra bedtime stories. Another added benefit was that when we needed a little push in any behavioral direction we could tell her that she could earn an extra chip for the day if she behaved (no time outs that day or no potty accidents, whatever the case was) to be used for either a 3rd show or extra bedtime story. The system was a big sucess for us. She got used to only watching two shows, so we don't have to strictly use chips anymore, although she likes it. We renew the system when I feel like we are getting back into a rut and find ourselves watching too much. -S.

My 2 yr old is also very demanding when it come to TV but here's what has worked for us.
1. We only play videos/DVD's
2. He gets to choose which show to watch and he can only watch it for a certain amount of time or a certain "part"
3. We set rules such as "no TV during mealtimes" and "no TV when your friends are over"
4. We warn him ahead of time when it's almost time to turn it off and again right before, i.e. ready, 1, 2, 3 and off.
5. We do not let him watch TV when he is whining about watching it.
6. We are very matter of fact about the rules and after having been consistent with him he has responded well.
7. We provide him with alternative activities and say, "now it is time to play, it's your turn to play with the blocks" (or whatever)
8. If he is showing signs of being tired, we turn the TV off as soon as possible and start his bedtime or naptime routine.

Hope this helps! I know how hard it can be to keep up with an active 2 yr old. Definitely would agree that limiting time spent in front of the TV is a good thing. Hang in there!

I was just saying today that my just turned 2 year old is addicted to the TV. I let her pick her show. Usually I just tell her that after this show we are done with the TV. I try to have and activity palnned so I can say after this show we're doing playdough or going to the store. I remind her a few times throughout and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't-- One thing that usually works is letting her turn the TV off. Pressing the button on the usually off limits remote is very fun:) Also sometimes I tell her it is mommy's turn to watch a show and put on the news then when she is bored she goes off to play and I can turn it off without a fight.

Congratulations, by limiting TV now you set the stage. I have two boys 9 & 11 who watch no TV during the week and unlimited on Saturday mornings. The best thing is they usually tun it off before I ask them to. Self control. I also spend time telling them why they should not watch.

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I know this is an old news item now but I had to go on record as saying I'm really surprised people even let their kids that young watch tv. Mine watched zero tv until he was around 3 and then very limited with Sesame Street, and maybe one other show. Maybe if you have the TV on alot for yourself that is the issue? I never turned it on at all until my kid was asleep. He didn't really even know about the dang thing. Obviously I am not a big tv gal.

You could let her pick her shows, you make the list of shows she can watch let her pick the ones she wants ( 2 shows should equal an hour of TV time.) Once her shows are done that's it, you move her away to craft time or tea party or something else of your choice.

It's funny how some kids seem wired to like tv and others not so much. But I too agree it is great to limit TV, as too much TV seems to REALLY affect attention span/focusing abilities, which then interfere more and more as they get older. I try to make it not seem like I am limiting it to my kids so they don't see it as a reward and if we don't watch it for a few days, they don't miss it if they are wrapped up in other things. (They are ages 3.5 & 2.) Sometimes things like the egg timer can backfire on you because it's something they focus on and prioritize, as opposed to trying to get them not to think so highly of it. One thing is trying to keep it not in the open if possible. We have our big screen tv in the living room and ALL the toys in the family room so we spend most of the time in the family room during the day with the toys. There is a little 13" tv (that I used in college) in the family room but it's kinda hidden behind a gate and toys. So if you can maybe put something in front of the tv so it's not staring at her as a constant reminder to watch, that might help. Like for me, I know I need to keep sweets hidden away and not be reminded of them or I snack when I don't want to...if that makes sense. I agree with trying to keep her busy too particularly when she's wanting to watch tv...maybe play dates, outings, bundling up and playing outside, switching around her toys so she's playing with different things she doesn't play with every day or taking out a favored toy set...stuff like that. I've told my kids sometimes we don't have time to watch tv now because we have these other fun things to do. It's strange to me that people say not to use the tv as a "babysitter", though that's generally the only time I use it...when I really need to work on something like when I was trying to get our computer to work last week and had to be on the phone while the younger ones napped to get the thing to work...their Cars movie kept my 3.5 year old busy so I was uninterupted working on the phone. Anyway, best wishes to you and you are of course doing a GREAT thing trying to work on those good habits now. :)

My 11 and 13 year old have only had dvds and videos since they were 1 and 3 years old, We have offered for them to have network TV and they both replyed no. Additionally, they have never had video games in our home. It gives them more time for creative play, talking with family and reading. It also puts you in control of what they are seeing.

I'd remove the TV. Not worth being a battleground. the value of TV for a 2 year old is minimal or negative.
S. S.

I just want to start by saying, that there is nothing wrong with t.v. It depends on what programs you allow your child to watch. I am with my son all day, and he watches a maximum of 2 hours of t.v. a day. Considering that he is awake for 12-14 hours a day, this is very minimal. He is 21 months old and watches Sesame Street in the morning, and about a half hour of curious george before nap time, and then another half hour of either curious george or Sesame Street while I am making his dinner.

Now, he never just sits and watches a program. He will play on the first floor of our house while stopping in front of the t.v. for brief periods of time.

He can count to ten in English, count to five in Spanish, identify colors and shapes, identify almost all of the letters of the alphabet and has very strong verbal skills. He also does sign language sometimes while he is talking. We of course work on these activities throughout the day also, but I only allow him to watch shows that promote learning.

I think it is absolutely wrong to allow the t.v. to babysit your child, but if you use it as a tool to engage learning, I don't see a problem with it. I think if you forbid television completely, you are asking for problems in the long run. You have to teach responsibility and what is acceptable.

Also, I just read an article that said if you allow toddlers to watch shows that contain violence or aggressive behavior (like super hero shows and certain video games,) they have a very high chance of having behavioral problems once they start school.

This is just my opinion...hope it helps!

I just had to chime in here. My son watched a lot of tv when he was younger. We would interact with him while he watched it and he could sit and watch a 90 minute movie at one time when he was 18 months old. Now, I never thought that it was hurting him either. BUT, last year, he had a TON of issues with behavior. We began to notice that when he watched tv, it was really hard for him to turn it off and he became aggressive and out of control. We talked with our doctor who told us that for some kids, especially those with ADHD (our son does not have ADHD), tv, or any screen for that matter - video games, computer, etc. will stimulate a part of the brain that, for some reason, doesn't normally get stimulated. So, basically, it makes the brain feel good. Then, when you take it away, the brain wants MORE. I think of it like a drug. The more tv, the harder it was to take it away and our son would do anything to get it back, just like drugs. I'm really not trying to say that anyone who thinks tv is ok is wrong, I'm just wanting to let you all know that for some kids, tv is not ok. We have a rule now that there is no tv during the week and only limited on weekends. This has helped immensely. It was terribly difficult at first, but we have noticed that our son is almost a completely different child!

we did TV tickets, I made them on the computer andlaminated them. They were worth 1/2 and hour of tv. They never even "spent" all of the ones the earned. I like the poker chip idea too. When they started school there was NO tv on weeknights, except for animal planet once in while.

i can use a timer and that she can start it. have the timer go off so you can here it and tell her it is time to this---
also find out what shows she likes the best and have her watch during that time.
for her tempertantrum- my children found early i didn't care. i would just walk away. walking out of the room stops them because you are not giving them attention. one day one of them told me they were going to hold there breath. i told ok but remember i love you from bottom of my heart, and i walked out of the room. when you walk out they are watch to see if you are watch them. as you look in they know so don't. you have to get the tempertantrum under control other wise your problems will get bigger.

A.,
my children are grown, 30, 28 and 24 yrs old. I did not allow them to watch tv as children. I limited their viewing to 1/2 hour/week. On sunday evening, we would sit down together and they would choose their show for the week. If one of them chose Cosby and the other chose something different, the first one wasn't allowed to be in the room when the other one was watching their show. The egg timeridea is a great one. and giving her some feelingof control is also key. I worked with special education students and our best tool was a time timer. this was a large plastic timer with a red plastic film which could be turned to up to 60 minutes or as little as 1 min. the red field was the amount of time the child had to complete a task. This visual was key to the children and they became independent in planning their time accordingly. Any time we give them the illusion that they are in charge it makes our job a little bit easier.
I decided to cut back on TV when I realized that my oldest was totally drawn in by the visual distraction. If she was watching a tv show, I had to literally turn off the tv in order to get her attention. we learned later that she had attention deficit disorder and would space out when watching tv. She also became quite irritable while watching tv. Good for you and your husband. my husband did not agree with me on this either but he has seen thelight finally.
C. in Philadelphia

We found this great device, called "TV allowance", on-line. I highly recommend it. It is reasonably priced, easy to use, and has eliminated all power struggles around TV and video games in our house. We got it when our older girls were 8 and 11 and are still using it 4 years later. Basically it controls the TV thru a code you punch in on a keypad. Each child has their own personal code that they enter to turn on the TV. The parents program the number of hours they want the child to watch each week, and they can also black out certain times (homework, dinner). We allot each kid 5 hours a week. They can plan the shows they want to watch, or blow it all on a Sat AM. They learn to regulate themselves--the TV automatically turns off when their time is up for the week and resets for the following week. They also learn to collaborate (something we didn't anticipate) by sharing time.

Hi A.,
I also have a daughter that likes to call the shots on alot of things. I often have to remind her who the parent is and who the child is. This might not sound politically correct, or whatever you want to call it, but remember that you are the mom and she is the child. If you don't set a guide line for her now, things are going to get worse. Today might be the TV, tomorrow will be something else. How does your husband handle it? What does he say to her or do when she throws a temper tantrum? You both need to work on her together or she is going to pull you guys apart. You can allow her to make her own choices as long as she makes the right ones. You and your husband are the only ones that can teach her how to make wise choices. It is going to be hard but it will help on the long run. I hope this helps.
Sincerely
M.