I've moved back in with my parents (because my new college is right down the street for them so I save like...$10k on room and board!) and the task of watching my 4 year old sister has fallen into my hands. I've realized that she watches TV CONSTANTLY.
I can't get her to eat or go to bed without the tv being on. It's incredibly annoying. My parents had always been busy and the babysitter they had before I moved back in just used the tv as a babysitter.
How can I wean her off of it?
2007-11-16 03:20:47 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Do it slowly like turn it of and turn the radio on and start to dance in her face. Run in circles and act crazy and get her to jump up with you. Take her outside and tell her you have to show her something and lock the door and find something outside to do. It takes time but you have to do it like you have so much interesting things to show her.
2007-11-16 03:31:49 · answer #1 · answered by Nae 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Be firm. Start with turning the TV off at dinner time. Make her sit at the table and eat (with you---you have to eat with her or this won't work) and talk to her. Tell her silly things that happened to you that day, or if all else fails, get her to tell you about the characters in her favorite TV show. Anything to get her talking and eating. After dinner ask her if she wants to play a game with you and keep things fun without the TV. Let her decide, and don't be surprised when she says "No thanks" and runs for the TV. Let her see you doing fun, non-TV things like reading or drawing or dancing to music anyway. Keep asking her to join you. After awhile, she'll be more interested in what you're doing than the TV. As far as going to bed with the TV on...that is going to be a big problem and it will take a long time to break, and your parents will have to get involved and help out. Good luck! :)
2007-11-16 13:36:27 · answer #2 · answered by Jacqueline D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweetpea... that is horrible and you do not have an easy job!! I think that the hardest part will be eating or going to bed without the TV. I would tackle them one at a time. Cut out all TV in the evening except eating time... and then completely redo her bedtime ritual first. This is my girls bedtime ritual.... dinner, bath-time, then hop into bed in our PJ's for settle down time... and we trade stories and talk about what fun things we did during the day and what planned for tomorrow, then story time (I usually make this long so the girls are good and tired... 2-3 books), then we say a prayer together (let them bless their loved ones) and then it is lights off and I sing their favorite lullabies. I do this until they fall asleep and then I have my free time. I would also recommend getting your parents to support you on the whole she shouldn't have a TV in her room. She is old enough to get out of bed and turn it on... so I would remove that right away before even trying to do the bedtime ritual. Then as for eating... does she usually eat alone watching TV or does everybody eat together watching TV? Make a special game up for eating.... kids love games. Get everybody involved at the table. It shouldn't take too long before she has so much fun at bedtime and eating that she won't miss the TV. GOOD LUCK!!
2007-11-16 13:27:37 · answer #3 · answered by crissygirly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try finding other things she's interested in. Painting, play-doh, going to the parks, etc. If she's well entertained chances are she'll be too preoccupied to think about TV. Use TV time as a special treat. It's good you're concerned though, no child needs to watch THAT much TV. Good luck.
2007-11-16 11:29:53 · answer #4 · answered by N and A's Momma 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what we do is let them watch half an hour at a time.
for example we let them watch Blues clues but as soon as it is over i give them coloring books and crayons or plain paper and they have to draw or color for 1/2 hour,then together we play a game like I spy or simon says. then after the game they can watch another 1/2 hour of tv. then after that they have to play in thier room for an hour before lunch.
After lunch they get 2 hours to watch a movie so you can do the cleaning and they can rest.
but after that they have to play inside or out side untill dinner.
after dinner they get 1/2 hour tv. then they take thier bath and brush teeth. then they get a story before bed. But NO TV IN BED.
2007-11-16 11:52:18 · answer #5 · answered by favorite_aunt24 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD!!!! If she has been doing that all along it's going to be hard to take her off of it. Do some special projects with her...Art work, dolls, make believe, dress up...the more she gets tired the better it is...then she can have a little tv time..and straight to bed...
2007-11-16 11:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by apricot4u2eat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
playing outside is good alternative to television as well as the library or other educational facility. I turn off the tv when I've had enough listening of it....
2007-11-16 12:06:32 · answer #7 · answered by lemon.seed 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Colouring books, magic painting things (the ones where you paint it with water and a picture appears), dot-to-dots
2007-11-16 12:10:13 · answer #8 · answered by Cat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋