My 3-year-old only asks to watch TV. That's all he wants to do. I addressed this issue, and he is not allowed to do so beyond 2 hrs. in the middle of the day.
He never wants to play outside, read books, play blocks, even when I offer to do these things. Sometimes he will, but mostly he is a total bore!
He goes to preschool three days a week because I don't want to hear him ask for TV all day. At least there he is active and busy. He claims not to like it. At the Halloween party today he would not wear a costume (claimed he was shy). He would not sing the songs with his class, and he screamed when I left (the parents had been invited in for 1/2 hour to hear the songs).
I thought toddlerhood was that magical age of discovery and excitement (that described him at age 2), but at 3 he seems like a lazy teen! Starting this month I enrolled in 4 mom/tot classes through the Park District. That is going to keep us out of the house all winter, and super busy each day of the week. I wonder, though, should it really take running around to 4 classes? I'm sure plenty of kids are inside all day in the winter, or at least some days.
My almost 4 yo loves tv too, but we limit it. If he isnt really busy he gets bored. I think its just the age and boys are like that, so im told. Activites are great for them. I need to do more with mine. But the park and classes are a lot of fun for him, so i think youre on the right track. But it is also good for them to occupy themselves for part of the day.
Whatever works honey. My kids were involved in park district activities and kept them off street corners all their lives. Keeping them busy is the key to their happiness along with a lot of hugs n kisses from parents telling the kids how proud they are of the children. Kids look for the love from you always and it must be shown to them. Enjo this toddler while still young. When they don't need you anymore, it sucks.
He sounds so much like my grandson, also 3 years old. It should be the 2 1/2 to 4 years olds that are called terrible. You know that TV should be limited and you are aware that to continue at his rate he could become over weight. It is a lot of work, aparently, to keep him occupied and for some reason, some kids really get a lot of enjoyment from watching TV. My grandsons face just lights up and he does move around a lot physically while watching TV. Part of it is to just resign yourself to the screaming and ignore him. "I will answer your question about TV one more time and then I"m going to ignore it. You already know the answer is no." Try to get a lot of sleep because the screaming does stress us out and then we just welcome the quiet and let the child watch TV. Kids won't do something unless it pays off, so NEVER pay off his screaming by letting him watch TV. "When you play with the toys for 1 hour, then you can watch......." the old 'when...then' sentence is easy to understand and think of when they are screaming. Tell yourself that this phase will pass, notice and comment on him when he plays well alone. Have friends over for play dates. Buy toys that can be interesting over and over, blocks, train sets, books. In the winter, let him run around the house as much as can be tolerated.
How frustrating for you! I think I would cut back or cut out TV entirely for a while, and try some new things. There are storytimes, classes, and play areas at local libraries that are free. Do you belong to a moms group? www.parentswhocare.org is a nice one. These groups get together and go on outings/playgroups, etc. Will your son play with a friend from preschool if you have them over? Some families have their child earn Tv/computer/gaming system time. It is a reward for positive behavior in other areas of life, rather than a guaranteed block of time daily. That may incent him to participate in something else. Is there a particular show that he loves? Would he be interested in books/puppets/board games/toys of those characters? I think you have the right idea with the park district class, and perhaps you can make some connections with other children who can also become friends/playmates.
I'd take the TV away, save for 30 minutes a day. I'd directly relate your sons unwillingness to engage with the world to his TV watching. TV dulls curiosity and creative play.
As to activities, I've had my 19 month old enrolled in three activities and a playgroup since she was 6 months old. We are out of the house 5 days a week, and we go to the park in the afternoon when nice outside. So no, we don't stay around the house, and this winter, even with a newborn (I'm due in 4 weeks), I plan on keeping her in her activities. I also plan on joining the DuPage Children's Museum so that we have someplace indoors to go. I also bought her a snowsuit and have little doubt we will be outside playing unless it's dangerously cold. My daughter needs to run around, and there is no way she is doing it in my house!
