How can I convince my toddler that TV is NOT the most important thing...?

Question

...while having a giant 55" TV in the middle of the family room?!

sweetie, i didn't literally mean "convince" my toddler. I was referring to the unspoken cues he'll get by seeing something that massive in the center of the home.

there isn't anywhere else to put a TV that big in our home.

Answer 1

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN... MY 5 AND 4 YEAR OLDS ARE THE SAME WAY. I JUST GET SOMETHING REALLY FUN AND GO OUTSIDE SINCE IT IS SUMMER TIME. I HAVE INVESTED IN A HUMUNGOUS FRISBEE, BEACH BALLS, A TRAMPOLINE, BIKES, SLIDES AND T-BALL EQUIPMENT AND EVEN THOUGH THEY DO GET BORED WITH IT, I TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THEM EVERY DAY. EVEN IF YOU JUST SAY, COME ON LETS GO FOR A WALK... KIDS LOVE BEING OUTSIDE. I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY THROW A FIT WHEN THEY HAVE TO STOP WATCHING THEIR FAVORITE SHOWS, BUT JUST TELL THEM MOMMY WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM TOO. WE USED TO HAVE THE TV ON WHILE WE ATE TOO, BUT WE HAVE STARTED SHUTTING IT OFF SO IT IS NOT THE "MAIN EVENT." GOOD LUCK AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

Answer 2

Think about what things are important in your life - or your families life. Those things are usually represented in how you display things in your home. Some people really like cows and have cow things all over their house. Some people think that family is very important and have pictures everywhere. With having a TV that large in the middle of your house you have told your child - without words - that TV is really important. That may not have been your intention - I am sure that it wasn't since you are asking the question - but you have to de-focus the TV - make a movie room for special times that you use it and have a smaller TV for everyday. Yes I know that is not what you wanted to hear since you have no where else to put the TV, but moving "life" to a room where the TV is not located is a huge step.Then your child doesn't see it all the time and it is not a huge part of his visual world.

Answer 3

My 4 yr old LOVES watching TV, movies and playing video games! My daughter (2 yrs) has NO interest whatsoever in the tv though! LOL But I have had to actually limit my sons time on it!!

What I have done is set ground rules for TV time. He is allowed to go into his playroom (where there is a small tv) and watch it quietly when he wakes up in the morning until about 10ish (thats when I have had the time to have some coffee and wake up myself and when our day really begins!) He then knows that its time to spend quality time w/ the FAMILY!

We either go out and do something, play in the backyard or play w/ board games, play-doh... or whatever else. If its a rainy day, then sometimes I will let him watch a little more TV then usual. But he also knows that around 3pm (which is my 2 yr olds naptime) he gets another hour of TV time.

What worked for me was to make a daily chart! We have the days of the week across the top and the time of the day down the left side of the board. I took pictures (and got some from the net) of differant activities, foods, etc. Each night before he goes to bed he gets to "choose" from the pictures what he wants to do the next day. There IS a picture of a TV as well as his computer and video games. He chooses a differant picture for each hour and can go to the board each time we finish one activity to see what is next! There are even pictures of differant foods so he knows what he is going to eat for lunch & dinner. There's bathtime, school and even pictures of differant people he gets to spend time with! This way he has some "control" over what he gets to do, knows what is coming up next, AND he doesnt get pre-occupied with just wanting to watch tv!

Its a WONDERFUL way to get your child involved in thier OWN lives and also a great way for YOU to stay on some kind of schedule!! If you want more info on how to make a chart like that you can feel free to email me! It has been a GODSEND!! LOL Its a HUGE chart though.. about 3 of those big posterboards and we have it taped up in the kids playroom!

Good luck and dont worry.. as soon as you set some ground rules and give him other options, within a few days he wont even "worry" about his precious TV b/c there will be SO MANY OTHER things to choose from and to do!!

Answer 4

Get him out of the house more. Take him to the park, play games, read books with him. Show him how much fun he can have without TV. Don't have the TV on during dinner or special events. Don't have a TV in his room either. Those things should help. The best thing is to get him active and outside.

Answer 5

I agree with all the others, you teach your kids by your actions. Not only when you watch TV instead of doing other things, but also in your placement of things.

Your options beyond setting a good example, reading, taking them outside, playing games, etc

1) get rid of the TV, buy a smaller one.
2) I assume here that you have a huge TV because your hubby is insisting on it, which might make option one difficult. Tell him that if he wants to keep the TV, he needs to build or get a cabinet for it. Give him a budget and a timeline. If he doesn't comply, craigslist it, show him how much $$ you can get for it. Might change his mind, or at least get his butt in gear.

Until either 1 or 2 happens, re-arrange family room seating. Put the couch so its back is to the TV. Not so comfy to watch, but also shows through arrangement that it's not important. Subtle, maybe, for a kid ... but they're starting to get the hang of that kind of cue. They know that if everyone's sitting to look at something, that means that's an important something.

Answer 6

Okay. You are the adult. Turn off the TV and get your child interested in something else. You need to get the stupid TV out of the middle of the room. Not only does your letting the child watch TV whenever he or she wants give the child the false impression that it is an important thing to do but having the TV as the centerpiece of the family room is not doing anyone any good.

Answer 7

Turn the TV off and move the furniture around so that it isn't all facing the TV. Maybe have one chair that faces the TV. Don't make the TV the focal point in the room.

Answer 8

Turn it off, go outside and play and do other things. My kids like TV too but i let them watch an hr in the morning and a movie at night then all we do is play and other things for the rest of the day. You shouldn't have to convince a toddler your the parent

Answer 9

The toddler is not in charge, you are. He doesn't need to be convinced of anything, he is lnly a toddler! Don't turn the TV on. Have him watch one half-hour TV show each day. Spend the rest of the time playing, coloring, doing Play-doh, etc.

Answer 10

Just keep it turned off-as much as possible-don't' have it on all the time he is around. If it's on all the time and he sees the grown ups constantly staring at it--he gets the message. That thing in the middle of your family room is inconsequential to him unless it is doing something to get his attention. He will ignore it unless it is on. Trust me.