2007-01-19 04:52:51 · 26 answers · asked by yangyang 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
turn it off and play with him
2007-01-19 05:00:24 · answer #1 · answered by FC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Age 3 is not too late to retrain him, but you need to be firm and consistent. Expect some whining or tantrums, depending on how "addicted" he is. You will need to spend time with him and make sure he has plenty to do without the TV.
Get some good kids' books from the library, and make sure you have toys, crayons and paper. Maybe buy him a new toy if you can afford it, and then just tell him "we're going to try something new, we're not going to have the TV on all the time." Allow him to watch his favorite show every day and then the TV goes off.
Also spend some time outdoors with him, even if it's cold. That will burn off some of his energy, and you may even be able to get him to have a "quiet time" by himself in the afternoons, so you can have a break or get something done.
Good luck!
2007-01-19 05:10:18 · answer #2 · answered by mom of 2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let him watch two PBS/Children's shows like Sesame Street and another one in the morning or around lunch time and then just turn off (unplug if necessary) the television.
Put a building set (blocks, L'egos aimed at his age, etc.), maybe a playset (that has something like a garage and cars or else kind of little house with people and furniture and cars), a few books that have pictures in them, or any toy that is the "sit-down-and-keep-busy" kind in your kitchen or dining room or hall or his room (wherever there is no television); and tell him he has to find something else to do.
Children that age usually like to play nearby their mother and keep making comments to her about what they're doing while they play.
Let him sit at the table and do something like color (even if he doesn't color well right now) or PlayDoh or paint with water. They like that kind of stuff.
Also, break up his days by bringing him outside for a while.
He's not in charge. You are. You can set the agenda of what will be going on during the day, and you can set the rules about how much television he can watch. Just calmly and nonchalantly say to him, "Oh - you know what - we aren't having the television on right now; why don't you go into the kitchen and see if there's something to do."
You can set the "mood" and make it seem as natural as anything just to have times when the television isn't going to go on.
2007-01-19 05:55:42 · answer #3 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unplug the tv, give him other activities to do. Maybe you could limit his tv time. You could let him watch two 1/2 hr shows at the most. You're in charge, you should be able to monitor how long he's watching the tv. If he absolutely must be in front of the tv..why not get him a leapster tv or V-smile....so he can interact and learn at the same time. Good Luck!
2007-01-19 04:57:55 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know you will get the answer "turn off the TV" but I will be watching this for ideas on what to do with my son who does the same thing.
2007-01-19 04:57:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mrs. Always Right 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are the parent-it is you job to find things for him to do. Go to the park and swing, walk in the neighborhood and talk about what you see (a blue sky, green grass). Go to events at your library-they should have a book club for young kids with story time. Take him to the store with you. Play with your child in the house-play with blocks, pots and pans, color. The sky is the limit. My son watches some tv in passing (if there is music he likes to dance and I often join him) but all day long at young age is setting them up to be couch jockeys. And really, honestly, evaluate what you are doing. Is the tv a good babysitter for you? Are you a big tv watcher yourself? Are you inactive? Your child will mirror what they see-if they only see you paying attention to tv and not with them (and I mean really involved with them not just tossing a ball while you are looking at tv) then they will assume it must be a great thing to watch. And yes my son does watch some tv-and we talk about it (Jamie and Adam did all that neat stuff with math, that Mike Rowe sure works in icky stuff). It's easy to run out of ideas and get stuck in a rut with kids activities, but if you look you will find some great low cost alternatives.
2007-01-19 06:18:10 · answer #6 · answered by VAgirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thank job he isn't running around being an animale! Find different activities for him to do. My 3 year old son would watch TV all day if we let him. But we only let him watch his movies before he goes to sleep. During the day, he colors and play with his toys.
2007-01-19 05:01:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn the bloody thing off. It's a waste of time.
Take him to the library or a bookstore for storytime, go to an area rec center and take him swimming, get some coloring books and color with him, go to the park (weather permitting), find some other kids his age in the neighborhood and have play dates, teach him to bake cookies and make supper with you (kids love measuring and adding ingredients), go to the zoo on "free day," visit a museum or aquarium, ride the bus or train all afternoon just to see where you get, drive to a construction site and watch the dump trucks, park at the airport and watch the planes take off, visit a retirement home and bring flowers, buy a big box of Legos or K'Nex pieces and build with him.
There's a whole world of cheap or free activities for you and your son. And he'll love the time you spend with him. Good luck--
2007-01-19 05:06:49 · answer #8 · answered by KD 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My kids used to watch tv all day to but I just turned it off and read to them, played outside with them and just found other things to do. It was hard with them at first but eventually they got used to it and now they would prefer to play outside. I didn't cut it out altogether though. They watch about 1/2 hr after school and sometimes before bed (if I have a headache and can't read to them) and some on weekends. Good luck
2007-01-19 07:39:44 · answer #9 · answered by Melba 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Limit the T.V. usage you are the mom and you are the one in charge, not him. Try to get him in some more active things, like going for a walk, or playing catch with you or tag or hide and go seek. Try coloring and doing activities with him. The T.V. should only be turned on when you need an oppurtunity to do something that he cannot help you with, say maybe cooking, or some heavy cleaning..have him help you do small things around the house or let him help you prepare things for dinner, like tearing up leaves of lettuce for salad or something. Hope this helps!
2007-01-19 05:03:13 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have the same problem with my son. I have all of my TVs hooked up to power strips and when i think he has had enough TV i turn all the TVs off at the power strip so he cant turn them on him self. He eventually goes in his room and plays or he goes out side. Good luck
2007-01-19 04:58:14 · answer #11 · answered by tjhooey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋