Toddler turns off TV?

Question

My one year old will not stop pushing the on/off button on the tv. There is no way to disguise the button and we put her in time out for it. I don't want her to ruin it. It's a very expensive big screen. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I saw something in a magazine full of baby proofing things. It is a clear hard plastic thing like an L is the best way I can describe it. One part goes under the tv so it stays there and the other part on it covers all the buttons. This way you can use the remote but they can't fiddle with the buttons. I think they even had one for VCR's so they didn't try and "feed" your machines.

Answer 2

I assume you have a remote control for it.

The best short-term solution will be to keep her away from the TV. I would suggest you see if you can improvise some sort of cover for the button. That might be as simple as a board covering the part of the set where the button is. As long as you have a way to control the TV you really don't need the button.

If the button is the only on-off control you have for the television set you really do have a problem, but I would suggest seeing if you can find a toy that is more fascinating to a one-year-old than your TV set it.

This is actually something of a sign that you have a reasonably intelligent and creative child. She has discovered cause-and-effect and is receiving stimulation from making things happen with the TV set.

There are many toys that allow a child to "make things happen." If you can find one she really likes she may forget all about the big screen TV.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

I also have an expensive big screen and a child now 16 months who did the same thing starting at about 13 months. This is what I did after about 100 No's, I kept the remote handy. Really, I just kept telling her "do not turn on/off the TV" in a calm tone and kept distracting her if she started to get close to the TV. Also I explained to her what it was she was doing, like "you are turning on the TV, you are turning off the TV" and since she mastered how to work the button every time I wanted the TV on/off I let her do it by saying "go turn on/off the TV. Eventually she got it and now only touches the button when I tell her to. It might get a little stressful and you might get tired of saying no but it will pass, I mean your child will move on to something else more interesting but, instead of putting her in time out for learning how something works teach her how it works. It worked for me. Now my child likes to play with the remote. Solution to that, I bought her one of her own.

Answer 4

You should try placing the tv higher out of the reach of the child cause excessive pressing of a button can damage the tv but not only for that reason but because if she can push the button she can also also pull the tv and many children have died from having televisons fall on them....find some of those velcro safety strips that strap the tv down

Answer 5

To encourage your little one's interests, especially away from home (where it feels like you're losing control). Maybe put together some different small Tote Bags (99 cents at most craft stores) for those "special places" filled with unique things to do. Pre-school Crafts that aren't messy, special block building kits, etc. My thinking is that if you take just a small tote of something special that the Grandparents you're visiting will take off on the idea and expand it, keeping "special project" things at their homes, and thus avoid the TV zombie addiction. I'm sure this sounds (and probably is) a bit of Mary Poppin's syndrome, but it works!!! Ask your Baby's Grandparents, what they remember and enjoyed when visiting their own Grandparents when they were little. I'd be willing to bet it won't involve TV! And it may spark some fun ideas of their own to share with their Grandbabies. Think back to when you were little, was there anything special you remember at Grandma's house or Great Grandparents that you did (that didn't involve TV)??? I remember "my" drawer in the desk at Great Grandma's house had Crayons and Coloring Books. It's not that I didn't have those at my own house, but Great Grandma's were somehow more special and I loved them. Another of my Grandma's was very into crafts, we'd make all sorts of fairly simple crafts for years. LOL, We learned the hard way, that glitter in any project lasted for years throughout the house (oooh did it make carpets sparkle, probably still to this day, in fact it probably outlasted the carpet!). What are Papaw's favorite hobbies? Is there something your little one can learn to help with? PaPaw can we plant some seeds, build a bird house, make a track for my cars out or cardboard or wood? Well, you get the idea. Papaw's are just big kids, get Papaw thinking and you just might see more than you dreamed of. I just found some great deals on Ginger Bread Houses and Cookie Kits at Walmart for about $8.00. They'll make for a perfect (although messy) sort of fun to put together with a Toddler, great memories and great photo ops too! Just be sure to buy a cheap plastic table cloth to keep the mess to a minimum and toss the mess away. Do it once, and it may become a tradition of something fun to do with the little guy! Once everyone gets a start on special things to do, it won't take long before everyone enjoys the challenge of doing something other than watching TV. Hope this helps! Best Wishes!!!

Answer 6

We have a television in our living room...but no cable/reception (we just use ours to watch movies after our kids are in bed for the night)

So when my son discovered the "on/off" button...it was blaring static every time he turned it on!! lol

I bought a power strip to plug the TV and DVD player into. During the day, I leave the power strip switched off. My son still tried the button for a few days, but pretty soon realized nothing happened when he pushed it and so he moved on to more interesting things :)

Answer 7

Remove her from the front of the TV saying No at the same time. Then give her something else to play with in another area of the room - away from the TV. It will not work overnight - nothing will. You have to be consistent and patient. Do this every single time she tries messing with the TV. Or... you could try turning it off for awhile and doing something else WITH her.

Answer 8

I disagree with the first poster. My children are always more interested in the things I forbid. My 11-month-old son tries about 12 times a day to climb the stairs. Every time, we take him away and he does it again. It's impossible to put up a baby gate there.

As for the tv, we have a netting over the front of it that we take down when we use it. It's been a lifesaver for peace of mind for mommy! Take away the visual, the temptation is now gone. :)

Answer 9

When you see her doing it, take her away from the tv. It will get tedious, but after a few days of constantly being pulled away, she'll give up and find something else expensive to try to break.

Answer 10

Old fashion spanking may help!

It's true kids like things that they are not suppose to mess with, for some reason they are drawn to that thing. Although you are putting the child in time out, it may not be a benefit if they don't know the reason for time out and the next time it happens the punishment will be more harsh! Not saying knock ur child out, but spanking the hand each time it's reached towards the TV may help.

Good Luck!