My 5 year old loves cartoon dont get me wrong like any other kid... But he rather watch cartoon 24/7... My husband and I have brought him outside to play and that last for like 15-30 minutes,we have got him toys and wants nothing to do with them,we play family board games and that last 15 minutes with him, also at night before he go to bed he has the TV on cartoons.. If we set the sleep on the TV he just turns it back on and we have told him when it go off its off for the night... Last night it went off and my husband got up to go to the bathroom and our son told him that he was scared to be in there because cartoons where not on... SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!!!!!
2007-07-26 03:19:29 · 26 answers · asked by ivy12231981 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Well, you're the parents, he's the kid, am I right on this?? I would say take the TV out of his room and keep it off in the living room. The only reason he's getting away with this is beccause YOU'RE letting him! Eventually he will come around to the idea of playing outside and playing board games and maybe even reading books. There's an idea, invest in some books for his age, they sell comics and Nickelodeon books and magazines and all kinds of other crap, let him read those so he can still see his cartoons AND he'll be expanding that brain of his, too. And as for the being scared thing, I don't know him personally, but I would say that's just a ploy to keep the tv on, get him a nightlight if he's really scared though. Good Luck!!
2007-07-26 03:28:25 · answer #1 · answered by analicia_d82 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the TV's, not just his, but yours too. Show him that you don't need the boob tube. I agree with some of the other people that the TV is used as a babysitter. You've let this happen by even allowing a TV in the child's room.
When I was 11, I had a TV in my room for two months. The only reason I was allowed to have it was because I broke my leg and it was in a full cast. Playing outside was a little difficult.
Being a parent you have to know how to set the rules and stick by them. If you give in constantly, then they learn they don't have to do what you tell them to. You can't feel sorry for them just because they are crying that they are not getting their own way. They aren't always going to get their way in life. The sooner you teach them this, the better. Life is NOT fair, and never will be.
2007-07-26 10:57:08 · answer #2 · answered by soprano440 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, take the tv out of his room. At 5 y.o. he does not need his own tv.
Second, set limits on how much tv he can watch per day. Ex. two (30) minute shows or one movie. Give him a night light if he is afraid of the dark and go around the room with him to check for monsters if that is what he's scared of.
Third, get him involved in helping out around the house. Instead of letting him watch tv to get him out of your way while you do chores, let him help you. He can help put the wash in machine, put away silverware, set the table for dinner, sweep the floor. He may not do a good job but it will keep him busy and you two can talk while you're doing it.
To get him interested in other activities, don't just give him the book or toy. Get on the floor and play with him. Have a set reading time like right before bed. He will love that you are snuggling up with him.
Yes, he will throw tantrums for awhile about not having the tv but eventually it will subside. You just have to endure it for as long as it lasts. As parents, we have to set the rules and limits and no amount of crying, begging, whining or pleading should dissuade you from the rules you set. Also, try rewarding him with stickers or special time together for good behaviour.
2007-07-26 10:43:56 · answer #3 · answered by treasures320 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be a parent.
That means making rules & enforcing them. If that means taking a TV out of his room (if that's where it is), the so be it. YOU are the BOSS. If the TV is in the family living room, then block (or password-protect) those channels (most TV's have a way to block or delete channels, and all the satellite providers do, as well).
Provide him with something stimulating as an alternative (board games, toys, books, coloring, Lego blocks, stories or books on CD are great, etc.) or involve yourSELF in an activity with him. He would relish the time & attention.
But mainly is comes down to being a parent. Just as you (hopefully) wouldn't let him eat cupcakes and french fries for every meal, you must set boundaries & let him know that, no matter how much he complains or cries, you are the mommy, mommy makes the rules, and that is that. You don't have to explain why or try to explain rationale, just do it.
2007-07-26 10:40:42 · answer #4 · answered by Dingus M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, you need to decide who is running the show in your house. You take the TV out of his room, and deal with the fall out. Even if it seem like punishment for you and your husband, you should figure a way to have NO tv at all. Your son, like mine who is 4 1/2 thinks he is a grown up. Hard to handle, but no means no, and if my boy throws a fit, well, I hand him a box of kleenex to wipe the tears. Yours sounds like he has his whole body clock set to the cartoon network. You have to reset the clock, cancel cable, or just watch one absolute favorite, and when its over, off goes the tv.
You are doing the right thing by introducing other things, outside family games, and maybe if you make them the ONLY choices, things might go better, and then have one show for a treat. I can so understand you!!!
Good luck
2007-07-26 11:05:58 · answer #5 · answered by frameliner 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son loves cartoons also, and the way i deal with it is that the TV has something called parental lock where u can turn it on and it locks the TV so that u have to only turn it on using the remote control, and if that doesn't work then u can just take the TV out of his room and let him know that when the TV goes off it stays off. Hope every thing works out for u..
2007-07-26 10:48:29 · answer #6 · answered by sherralle05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the kid in his place! He's not going to die. You want to be ruled over by a 5 year old? Make him stay outside, make him sit until the game is over and if he is going to throw a fit, then think of an appropriate punishment and enforce it. At 1st you will feel that you are constantly punishing him, but he will eventually get the message and the problem will stop. When my child, who is younger than yours, starts throwing a fit, I tell him that if he doesn't knock it off, I'm going to send him to his bed or that I'll spank him. It's amazing how quickly his attitude changes. And why? Because he knows that I'm serious. Personally, I think that your child is just being manipulative with the whole "scared" thing. But even if he is scared, don't you want to get beyond that? After a few nights he will see that there is nothing to be afraid of. Put your foot down and stop being so wishy washy. Do you want to be that family that everyone is rolling their eyes at, because they see that the parents have no control over their kid. A 2 year old is one thing, but by 5 a kid should understand the concept of consequences.
2007-07-26 11:53:47 · answer #7 · answered by mel1026 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be stern about it. When you give into your child's demands, he wins. It is a contest of wills. My sister's children are the same way about television at night. They don't do that at my house. Allow him a certain amount of "t.v. time" during the day and stick with it. If he turns the t.v. back on; turn it off. Find something else that entertains him. Buy him a sketch pad and have him draw the cartoons he likes the most instead of watching them. Make t.v. a privellage, not a livelihood. Your child is his own individual and you should allow him the space he needs to develop that. But you are still the parents.
2007-07-26 10:46:12 · answer #8 · answered by carisunmomon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you might think that i sound like a real bi** but the reality is that it is our own fault, dumping the kid in front of the TV so that we can get to our chores, but remember, you are the parent not him, he is 5 and knows what boundaries he has with you, i have 2 of my own and my son started to get like that, so i just set the rules no cartoon during the week he had his tantrums i ignored them the can only scream that long, weekends they are allowed one hour of cartoon, the rest of the day they are outside or playing games in their room ( no pap games) thinking games, kids are born with a TV and it is our fault, you must remember that you are the mother and he is a child, Ifhe is scared get a night light , be firm with him, my son is only 4 now and he snapped out of the TV thing fast. It took a lot of tantrums and fights but i won, a four year old was not going to tell me what he want, (after all i gave birth to him) Cartoons are fun for them but the kids of today are not kids anymore they are TV watching eating machines , put your foot down , Good luck
2007-07-26 10:31:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
" our son told him that he was scared to be in there because cartoons where not on..."
What is it about the cartoons that makes him less afraid? What is he afraid of? When did this start? Do you think he's turning to the TV for security? Maybe you should deal with this before listening to any of these tough-love suggestions.
I think ultimately the answer is in your son, not on this board.
2007-07-26 11:09:27 · answer #10 · answered by j n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋