Who entertains the kids? And give me less TV.
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Anonymous
Those are wildly different ages. Nobody lets their 1 year old watch tv. I’m not sure if this has any relevance. Sorry to be blunt. But like all things parenting I think we all were great hypothetical parents to our older kids, YKWIM? |
Anonymous
| At 8, 5, and 3, they are responsible for entertaining themselves. Even my 3 year old can sit with a building toy (magnatiles, duplos, blocks) for 30-45 minutes. |
Anonymous
+1. Also your 12 month old does puzzles? That’s amazing! |
Anonymous
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Op here. Thanks for the responses.
It’s funny because we’re now doing this thing where I’m living my life; they are living theirs. And it actually makes me more enthusiastic to jump in with them.… Than before when I wanted to escape them. Obviously my almost 3yo and I spend way more time not “living our own life.” I have him all morning to myself, and we’re a little cute team that plays together! I just want to carry these lessons in kid independence into when they’re older too. When they’re teens, I want to strike a balance between being Amish on video games and letting them become addicted. I may set times each day. After they’re dressed+fed until 9. (for my youngest). 12-2 (for my half day kid), and from 6-7 just before dh gets home. |
Anonymous
| Op here again. They’re watching right now. Should I pull th plug? Lol. |
Anonymous
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I think I understand your question. We have kind of a rhythm to the day that includes some TV watching if that's what kids want to do. Weekdays, kids get up and dressed and eat breakfast. TV isn't part of it. After school, kids eat a snack, do homework, and go outside to play. I had four kids in 5 years, so they play with each other. But sometimes I play with them, or I will play basketball with the older kids or we will play a board game together.
Then we eat dinner and kids go to activities. Those that don't have activities clean up, play music, etc. Then they get pajamas on. Once everyone is in PJ's, they can watch some TV if they want to. On the weekends, we sometimes watch TV before breakfast. I usually make breakfast. Once that's on the table, the day starts. Kids have activities, they play outside, they help clean the house, they read or play games. We almost always go somewhere in the late morning/early afternoon. Then, typically around 3-4 pm, things quiet down, and some might watch TV or play video games until dinner, and then again after they get pajamas on before bed. |
Anonymous
Two hours of tv a day for one kid? So 14 hours a week? Come on, OP, you can do better than that. |
Anonymous
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You can just decide roughly how much TV you want to allow and then put time limits on it. And then for the rest of the time, you can do a mix of playing with them/coming up with activities for them and letting them find their own activities. Our 6 and 2 year old generally go into our living room (where the toys are) and get out things they want to play with. Often they will play while I do other things (make dinner, etc.) or sometimes I will play with them. If they are wandering around or (more likely) starting to argue or get too wild, I usually try to divert them to something a little more structured - like I put out arts and crafts at the table and they create stuff - or we go outside.
Generally the kids can just lead - let them just be and they'll pick up something to do (it's not bad for them to be bored every once in awhile!) - your 8 year old does this I would imagine. As for what to do about video games, etc. when they are older, I figure we will take that as it comes. Everything in moderation, set what seem like reasonable boundaries for your family, and go from there. If it doesn't work, adjust. |
Anonymous
Wait, these are TV times? I thought those were independent play times. If those are TV times, those are way too much (and I am not anti-screens/no-screens). |
Anonymous
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Update, it’s more like 12:45-2 for the half day kid. That when he gets home from school.
But, unfortunately, I will admit they’re getting way more. My oldest gets the least because of longer school and after school activities occasionally. She has very little HW this year. |
Anonymous
What's wrong with them watching tv? |
Anonymous
I am sure it’s not a big deal, but that seems like a lot of tv for every day... will your 3 year old watch 4 hours a day and your 5 year old 3? Again, I am sure it won’t ruin them, but it is a lot of tv time |
Anonymous
| Omg these people are not the norm. You’re fine OP... just try to reduce but it’s not going to change their life course getting more TV. |
Anonymous
| My rule is simple: No TV, screens, etc. during the week. During the weekend, DS can watch one movie or show a day, and that is usually at night. I am a single mom and DS will soon be 4. I play with him after preschool, but he also plays independently while I cook dinner. Lot of outdoor time on the weekends. My parents had the same rule. |
Anonymous
Yes, Agree!!!!! I am a single mom of s kindergarten DD. I am also an early childhood teacher. She does weekly ballet, we see tons of children’s theater, museums, library, we are working on a 700!piece puzzle together, games, I play barbies with her after teaching all day, just baked lemon cake with her over the weekend, art, ETC!  I see no problem giving her unlimited screen time when we are not busy. She loves it, and mommy needs a break!
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