how do I get away from the T.V. and have fun activities with a 2 yr old and 7 month old.?

Question

I love to spend time with my children and I have basic cable, but I feel the t.v. is always on! How do I go about without the t.v. on without removing it. I need it off. there is a t.v in my son's room, I wouldn't mind taking it out and using when I want him to watch movies in his room. How do I stop thinking about what is on martha stewart and passions. The internet? I'm so busy playing with the kids and cleaning, and I stop for a moment to stare at the t.v and move on. It kills me..help.

I want the living room to be a living room not a t.v room, how can I change focal point

should I cover the t.v up?

Answer 1

Yes! COver that tv up if you have to!! Addiction is addiction, whether its tv and ridiculous soaps and such or crack cocaine!!
Get the kids, take a walk - look at the trees and clouds if nothing else. Pack a little picnic and get them into it, have them help make the food and even if you just go outside into your yard and sit under a tree or walk to the park for it, at least you are OUT of the house and away from the Boob Tube! I know its hard, I've been addicted to it myself and had to break myself from it. Books on tape helped alot!!

But with the kids, use poker chips as tokens and let him learn to 'earn ' his time with the tv or for a movie. Give your oldest a chip each time he does something Good for you and make a can for him to put them into to save them up. ( Of course, lol, keep the source of those chips hidden... they catch on fast! LOL )

I envy you, however. I can't have children and you have two precious ones ! You are a very lucky mom! Treasure them!!

Take them to the library and get books you can read to the older one and get him/her started towards a love of reading! Its NEVER too early to start to read to your kids, even the 7 month old. Pick YOUR favorite books from when you were a kid. Dr. Seuss isn't the only author out there, ya know.

Maybe you could get a big roll of paper and start "drawing time" with your kids? I know my grandma always loved to get letters from my mom written on the back of pics I drew or my early school work.
Make cleaning the toys up a game time! Set a timer from the kitchen and see if you and the 2 year old can get the room clean 'together!' before the DING! Pretty soon, see if He/she can do it and make it a personal competition with themself.

All this from a woman with no kids. * sigh * Oh well. Hope it helps.

Answer 2

Some parents on different sites say they never let their children watch TV. Yeah right.The only people around my area that do not watch any TV are the Amish down the highway. My daughter is 21 months and yes Elmo and Barney are used to keep her busy sometimes so I can get things done. But when I feel she had enough out come the art supplies or I open the front door and its play time with the puppy.(Outside time is the most fun for us). So don't feel to bad just limit the time that all of you are in front of it.

Answer 3

First of all think about this... the tv isn't meant to be a glorified babysitter. When it became too much of an influence on my kids I realized that I had been a very lazy type of parent. We got rid of it for two years. There is now a very strict schedule for tv use for everyone in the house. I read with them make up games (that helps them to be creative)and we go on outings... nature walks all the time. They can learn a lot this way and not become the boring couch potato their mother used to be.

Answer 4

If you have a spare room like a office or play room you could put it in there if not then you need to just leave the tv were it is and just learn to not turn it on. Go to the park and let the kids have fun playing ball or go to a place with another friend like chuck e cheese and do stuff together.

Answer 5

Just turn them off, thats what I do. My TVs are hardly ever on my 4 year old get 2 hours of tv per week! ANd my 19 month old gets none. As a motivator each hour your child spends in frount of tv increases odds of your child having ADD ! Try a armhoir to hide your tv & take tv out of your sons bedroom!

Answer 6

I think it's a great idea to get a closing hutch to put your T.V. in. My 17 month old son can turn the T.V. by himself, so even when I turn it off, it's a battle to keep it off.

I also find myself watching mindless drivel on T.V., so from one addict to another, good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.

Answer 7

its not that bad mom. just make sure you take a lot of time out for them. make arts and crafts, cutouts, that will keep him occupied for a while. or lay a blanket on the floor and play with them both. like i make a game out of silly things. we sit on the floor and i tell my 4 yr old to try to teach my 7 month old how to crawl how to talk etc. they love going forwalks, just being outside. we take toys out of the toybox and make our family out of different kinds of figurines, even dinosaures and stuff. its fun. i spy is a good one too..not so much for the little one, but he/she will love being on your lap and listening to you talk. just have fun make a game out of anything.