[allisonrose]

<p>My son is over 2 and we began allowing some TV at age 2. I'm not really thrilled about it because I think that playing or reading is so much better for his developing mind. Hubby is very pro-TV. He grew up with it on nearly constantly in his household. We have let him watch some Nick Jr shows. The problem comes in that he's gotten attached to two shows in particular and asks to watch them. Generally I avoid TV during the day (I'm a SAHM). He always asks Dada at night and my hubby usually says fine and puts on the shows for him. The other night when my hubby turned off the TV, our son threw a huge fit: hysterical crying that went for 10 or so minutes. Finally hubby decided we'd skip storytime and brought him straight up to bed.</p>
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<p>I was thinking it was the TV that was the issue. But then yesterday he threw a fit again because I wouldn't let him have a third yogurt drink. It didn't go on as long and I managed to distract him by pulling out some blocks. So perhaps TV isn't the main issue but rather that he is pushing boundaries.</p>
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<p>This morning our son woke up way too early: around 6 am. I'm pregnant and not sleeping well so hubby took him downstairs. Of course hubby put on the TV for him. Our son ended up throwing a fit but it wasn't clear if it was because the TV was turned off or because he wanted the last banana that my hubby didn't know still existed.</p>
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<p>So what do you think? TV as the problem or just typical toddler pushing boundaries? If it's boundary pushing, any recommendations for handling these fits?</p>

 

[sapphire_chan]

<p>I know toddlers who have never seen TV who have exactly the same reactions to things.</p>
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<p>My tv-watching toddler has far more tantrums about things other than TV than about TV. (And most of the TV tantrums are triggered by not wanting to let parents finish watching their show. Why on earth will she happily play alone for an hour if I'm doing nothing but turn on a 45 minute show and she HAS to have us play with her??)</p>

 

[Courtney-Ostaff]

<p>Boundaries.  It's about the right age.  Ditto on the kids with and with/out TV having equal tantrums about TV. </p>
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<p>I tell you what, I got sick and tired of my dearly beloved husband rotting her brain with TV on his watch and then her begging for it all the time.</p>
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<p>So, this past week I've been rotting her brain non-stop.  She actually has basically quit watching TV altogether now that I always say yes. ;P</p>

 

[allisonrose]

<p>Courtney - That's an approach I'll keep in my back pocket for now. My son really zombies out to the TV - it's a tad creepy. We had a babysitter watch our son while we went to my hubby's Christmas party a couple of weeks ago and I'm pretty sure he watched TV for the whole three hours we were gone. <span><img alt="greensad.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;"> So it might take an awful lot of TV to get him to be sick of it.</span></p>
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<p><span>Would definitely be interested to hear approaches for dealing with these tantrums....</span></p>

 

[Courtney-Ostaff]

<p>@allisonrose: Tantrums are tough.  I have several approaches that I use. One, I basically ignore that she's tantruming, and pick her up and love on her, agreeing with her on how frustrating it is.  Two, I redirect and distract: Want to go outside? Want to go to the park? Want to paint? Want a bath? (she luuuuvs playing in the bath).  Three, (and now that's 36 months, I'm just beginning to phase this in) I just ignore it. Just go about my business.  Four, I do reserve the right to change my mind if she convinces me (mostly politely,) that I'm being unreasonable.  Hasn't happened much, but I am the typical absent minded professor. </p>