2 year old in charge of the Channel Changer

[disykat]

I will not let a 3 year old control what I watch.

I've agreed with everyone, but I had to laugh at this statement! I swear I haven't watched what I wanted for 16 years now. Just tonight I wanted to watch "Cougar", but I had noplace to watch it where the kids wouldn't be able to see it too. My kids totally control what I watch - but only because I have want my kids to have higher standards in their tv watching than I'd secretly like to have!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Anyone else having this problem? My 2 and 1/2 year old has completely tried to take over the channel changer. Not a problem for me for I have my big screen in a seperate room, but for the others they are dealing with her and her demands to constantly watch tarcoons. (This is how she pronounces cartoons.)

She screams for hours if the TV is not continuously on either Max and Ruby, Spongebob, Wonderpets etc. And she screams when they go off and explanations that they are no longer on TV at that time, do no good at all. I say well I can personally call Nickalodean and demand that they re-air Max and Ruby for you but they probably won't listen to me, this does no good.

Anyone have any solutions to this? Thanks.

If she is "screaming for hours" & screams when her programs are over, I would put her on TV detox.

Not only is your dd displaying a completely unhealthy attachment to TV, she is running the house and a 2yo should never be placed into that position.

 

[muffyn]

I've agreed with everyone, but I had to laugh at this statement! I swear I haven't watched what I wanted for 16 years now. Just tonight I wanted to watch "Cougar", but I had noplace to watch it where the kids wouldn't be able to see it too. My kids totally control what I watch - but only because I have want my kids to have higher standards in their tv watching than I'd secretly like to have!

aah but that is what a bedroom dvr is for!
you watch YOUR programs on your schedule when kids are not around.
& pause button works wonderful if anyone walks in room unexpected.

 

[nuke]

Solution? No TV for a few weeks until she learns to entertain herself without cartoons as a babysitter.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Turn off ALL of the TVs and do something else. Go outside and play ball, take a walk, go for a bike ride. Stay in and have a tea party with her, read books. make some easy cookies, fill the sink with water and play together, get some age appropriate craft materials. Sing songs, color pictures, play with all of her toys--together.

This is about far more than TV. This is about discipline, control and a 2 year old that is bored and watching way to much television.

 

[3doodlebugsmom]

That TV would be soooo gone! Unplug it. Find some other things to do. You have a 2 yr old addicted to TV. If you don't stop this behavior, what do you think she'll be like at 5...12....16... when other things she wants will take the place of her tarcoons. Yikes!!

 

[okeydokey]

Time to control the TV habit. No 2 year old needs to be watching so much TV she has become addicted, nor do they need to be taught that they are the boss of the TV or anything else for that matter.

 

[DMickey28]

My DS is the same age and he gets the same way sometimes. It's time out for him, the TV goes off and he gets a few other toys to play with. If he continues to run around yelling "Car-tunes" then he gets put in his room (which doesn't have much fun in it right now) for a time out. He calms down eventually.

We only watch a few select shows. Mostly PBS, Curious George is his favorite, The Backyardigans and Olivia on Nick. He used to be interested in other PBS shows but now he isn't so much. He LOVES his movies but we only watch those once in a while.

We have the TV on a lot in the house but very rarely does he actually sit down and watch it. He much prefers to read his books.

My DS does not control what we watch but it's alomst as though he has his shows and we have ours. Luckily his are in the AM, then he doesn't watch anything during the afternoon and evening.

 

[SNylund]

Well I guess I made it sound a lot worse than it is, for I'm having trouble with the fire hose putting all these flames out .... but I didn't mean she literally has the channel changer and we don't take it away from her. I just meant that she has a strong attachment to tarcoons. We are turning it off and making her do other things. But we don't want to spank her when she screams because Max and Ruby isn't on. Was just wondering what some of you do. Now all of a sudden I have a big urge for a firehouse sub.

 

[MushyMushy]

I did 1-2-3 Magic when my kids were little. Worked like a charm even into their early teens! I forget who the author is, but the book is still around.

As for time outs, I always did 1 minute for each year of their age. Any longer and they don't get the point.

I don't think you're really getting flamed as much as you are strong opinions. It did sound really bad in your first post though, you've gotta admit.

 

[kidshop]

Well I guess I made it sound a lot worse than it is, for I'm having trouble with the fire hose putting all these flames out .... but I didn't mean she literally has the channel changer and we don't take it away from her. I just meant that she has a strong attachment to tarcoons. We are turning it off and making her do other things. But we don't want to spank her when she screams because Max and Ruby isn't on. Was just wondering what some of you do. Now all of a sudden I have a big urge for a firehouse sub.

It's normal for a 2 y/o to be frustrated when they don't get their way. You have to be firm and you have to mean it. Which means you can't be afraid of or not want to deal with the screaming. But there is no need to be angry and it doesn't deserve a spanking. She needs distraction and redirection. Say something like 'they aren't on anymore today, but we can watch tomorrow.' then you have to have something else to do for distraction. You said she screams for hours, but that can be b/c screaming got the shows turned back on before. If the screaming never results in a cartoon, it will end. It really can be that simple.

We have tivo, so we rarely have this problem, which is both a boon and a curse! My 2y/o can watch the specific show she wants, but time watching is still limited. I just turn it off and say we are done watching for today. Then we do something else.

 

[Pollito916]

Well I guess I made it sound a lot worse than it is, for I'm having trouble with the fire hose putting all these flames out .... but I didn't mean she literally has the channel changer and we don't take it away from her. I just meant that she has a strong attachment to tarcoons. We are turning it off and making her do other things. But we don't want to spank her when she screams because Max and Ruby isn't on. Was just wondering what some of you do. Now all of a sudden I have a big urge for a firehouse sub.

The first post did sound pretty bad, and some people tend to over-react. But the reaction here was probably still tamer than if you had posted this on a different messaging site. You definitely don't want to spank over cartoons, that won't help. Just be firm with her and distract her. She is too young for any other kind of punishment besides turning off the tv and putting her in time-out.

We just got a firehouse subs down the street - maybe I should go try it for lunch.

 

[clutter]

aah but that is what a bedroom dvr is for!
you watch YOUR programs on your schedule when kids are not around.
& pause button works wonderful if anyone walks in room unexpected.

I wish!!! I agree with Disykat. When I saw that, I laughed because I do let my dd (now 12) control what I watch on tv. There's just some stuff I like that she doesn't. And we're joined at the hip at home these days. (Which is how it should be, right?) It's dinner together, homework (I read) then she usually wants to watch something together before bed. Once she goes to bed, I follow. I'm up earlier in the morning, but that's not the time to watch The Mentalist. So I have a DVR full of shows and no time to watch them. At least she started to like Ugly Betty, so I don't have to add that to my list!!!!

 

[clutter]

The first post did sound pretty bad, and some people tend to over-react. But the reaction here was probably still tamer than if you had posted this on a different messaging site. You definitely don't want to spank over cartoons, that won't help.

I have to agree, my image of screaming over tarcoons was pretty intense!!! The good news is that I found that somewhere around 2 1/2 I noticed that my dd 'got' the fact that saying something like 'later' or 'after dinner' didn't mean 'no,' but it meant 'not now.' Once she got that concept, life was SO much easier. Until then, my favorite two words were "oh, well."

 

[SNylund]

I have to agree, my image of screaming over tarcoons was pretty intense!!! The good news is that I found that somewhere around 2 1/2 I noticed that my dd 'got' the fact that saying something like 'later' or 'after dinner' didn't mean 'no,' but it meant 'not now.' Once she got that concept, life was SO much easier. Until then, my favorite two words were "oh, well."

 

[lillygator]

Anyone else having this problem? My 2 and 1/2 year old has completely tried to take over the channel changer. Not a problem for me for I have my big screen in a seperate room, but for the others they are dealing with her and her demands to constantly watch tarcoons. (This is how she pronounces cartoons.)

She screams for hours if the TV is not continuously on either Max and Ruby, Spongebob, Wonderpets etc. And she screams when they go off and explanations that they are no longer on TV at that time, do no good at all. I say well I can personally call Nickalodean and demand that they re-air Max and Ruby for you but they probably won't listen to me, this does no good.

Anyone have any solutions to this? Thanks.

Well I guess I made it sound a lot worse than it is, for I'm having trouble with the fire hose putting all these flames out .... but I didn't mean she literally has the channel changer and we don't take it away from her. I just meant that she has a strong attachment to tarcoons. We are turning it off and making her do other things. But we don't want to spank her when she screams because Max and Ruby isn't on. Was just wondering what some of you do. Now all of a sudden I have a big urge for a firehouse sub.

glad I found the second post before I posted....