Needing to limit tv time

Anonymous

Needing to limit tv time

Feeling like a crappy mum.
I feel like I've failed my daughter. She is such a bright girl. But I feel like she's lost her ability to "imaginary" play.
She is obsessed with watching a certain tv show. And I've bought her things relating to the show because she loves it.
But whenever she plays she copies the stories in the tv show..
She was always amazing at playing, making up stories etc
I feel I've let it go too far. I know kids will be kids and she will grow up one day (shes 5) but I think I need to give her a break (maybe even a tv break)
Any ideas on how to gently remove tv for a period?
Thanks

Posted in:  Parenthood Guilt

7 Replies

Anonymous

Is she prep? No TV on school days works great for us.

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Anonymous

I agree, no TV Monday-Thurs, Friday afternoon as a treat and maybe a movie on the weekend. After school is now homework, outside play, drawing/colouring, Lego etc. Works really well.

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Anonymous

You are not crappy and you didn’t fail. Every single one of us has had to adjust our parenting as issues arrise.

My sister banned tv on school nights about three years ago. It’s worked really well for them and they’ve never looked back.

I’ve never had to limit tv as my son has never shown any real interest in it. It’s not because I’ve been a good parent it’s because I got lucky!

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Anonymous

We do it the other way, no tv on weekends. Just turn it off and do stuff. Talk, go out. We put on a movie for a rest at lunch and a movie at night.
On school days they watch it in the morning on the odd days theyre up and turn it on, until 7 when its time to get ready. And they watch it for a bit before or after dinner.
To cut it down just turn it off and do something else. Even cover it or move it so its not centre stage and its not the default to turn it on and have it playing. Try playing music instead. She'll probably love it once you get started.

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Anonymous

To be honest, this all sounds very normal. You're definitely not a crap mum!
We don't do TV before school ever, just because my kids are zombie like enough in the mornings lol.
Half an hour per afternoon and an hour or so a day on weekends seems like a good aim!

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Anonymous

I don’t think you’re a crap mum for that.

Just start turning the TV off more often. I turn the TV off when I’m cleaning the house or to “have dance parties” with the kids. I usually always replace the TV for music (the music I want to listen to, not Children’s music) and the kids actually enjoy it.
We have a rule that TV goes off once they get dressed for the day (they aren’t school age yet) but if yours is, maybe you could say no to TV in the mornings before school.

It’s just making small little steps, nothing drastic

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Anonymous

Our youngest is 3 and we limit screen time on a 'reward based' system. He gets the ipad/tv/computer once he does basic chores (like putting his toys away or helping us take something to/from the car) it's routine now so we have very few tantrums

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