The day the television broke

by Linda Lee (Subscribe to Linda Lee's posts) Mar 15th 2008 3:30PM

Categories: Toddlers, Development, That's Entertainment

First he wanted it a couple times a day, then nearly all day long. It became the source of a thousand and one tantrums: he demanded it after breakfast, before lunch, whenever there was a moment of downtime. When he start tearfully asking for it after he bumped his head or stubbed his toe, I began to think we maaaaybe had a problem on our hands.

I'm talking, of course, about Blue's Clues.

Oh, television. (Teacher, mother . . . secret lover.) We've been letting Riley watch way too much TV since the baby was born, to help him stave off boredom during the hours of feedings, diaper changes, and fuss-management. Truth be told, I was using it as a crutch to help me get one child placated so I could deal with another. Or, you know, have five minutes to eat my lunch.

Apparently Riley takes after his mother in that he can't get too much of a good thing, though, so it was time to cut him off. Cut us ALL off. Cold turkey. So we told Riley that the television was broken.

(Is that bad? I mean, lying? Come on, can't this fall under the Santa category of BS?)

For a few days now there's been no Blue's Clues, no Maisy, no Curious George, no nothing. And the tantrums have dramatically decreased, the kid is actually spending his day finding things to do (he even made a pretend TV out of Legos and "watched Joe makea SNOWMAN, Mommy" while holed up in a blanket fort), and my brain feels 23% less numb from not having to hear the Thinking Chair song all day.

Side bonus? My husband is not allowed to watch Cool Tools, Mythbusters, Smash Lab, or Flip This House during Riley's waking hours either, because dude, TV is broken, remember?

I suppose we'll eventually let Riley start watching the tube again, but I think we'll need to offer it as a special treat instead of making it part of his daily routine.

Did you ever find yourself letting your kid go overboard with the TV?

Comments (12)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mary O 3-15-2008 @ 3:47PM

Oh my gosh... this post is such an inspiration to me. I've also been letting my two year old watch way too much TV since our new baby was born four months ago! I need to do the exact same thing you did... no more TV.
That's it. We're starting this afternoon. Thanks, Linda!

Keri 3-15-2008 @ 5:15PM

It *will* go overboard if we let our 2 and half year old watch TV every day. So he only watches DVDs (we have no cable) on weekends-ideally one movie a day but it doesn't always work out that way. Setting limits has definitely decreased the drama. Hope you figure out something for Riley. =)

Jessica 3-15-2008 @ 5:26PM

We decided to get rid of the TV, we have a 5 month old and I cant watch a movie all the way thru anyway. I am still going thru withdraws but its getting easier. My husband hates tv, I on the other hand would LOVE to have cable (which we have never had) but I know its better to go without. I have talked him into getting a tv for movies only....when our new room is finished being built, so say in 2012.....sigh.

pbhj 3-15-2008 @ 9:11PM

>>> "So we told Riley that the television was broken."

Couldn't you, y' know, have some respect and tell him the truth ... too much TV isn't healthy and it's more fun doing other stuff too.

Or is that too "parent-y"?

Cara 3-15-2008 @ 11:28PM

Um, have you ever had a 2 1/2 year old? Cause I have one and there's no way he would understand what it meant for something to be unhealthy. He does, however, know what it means for something to be broken. I do look forward to the day when being able to tell him that he can't have/do something because it's bad for him will actually work though. I definately want him to eventually understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy activities, but I think that's at least a year off for him.

My question to Linda is, how did you actually do it? Did you unplug all the TVs? 'Cause Payton can easily turn on every TV in the house.

Kristen 3-16-2008 @ 1:04PM

I am going to reply on Linda's behalf to this comment, and perhaps open myself up to the ridicule that is too common on "Parentdish." I don't even have children yet (though I am definitely planning to!). However, I do have a Master's degree in Social Work and I work with children for a living doing counseling. And I can assure Linda, and all other parents, that a little "white lie" about something as mundane as the "TV being broken" to a 2 1/2 year old is NOT going to cause any damage. In fact, it will likely only serve to benefit the child if it avoids a tantrum and gives mommy and daddy a tiny modicum of sanity, therefore affording mommy and daddy more patience and endurance to play with an interact with said 2 1/2 year old. With that said, and I only put in this "disclaimer" to avoid further ridicule: A parent should not make a habit of lying to their children, and rather should work with them to understand complex issues (like TV being bad for you) on an aga appropriate level.

pbhj 3-17-2008 @ 11:28PM

I do only have one 2-and-a-half year old kid, you're right.

He may not understand the full intricacies of something being bad for him. But, he sure understands "turn it off now please, lets read a book" or lets play a game or lets go outside and splash in puddles. He also knows that if he doesn't I will, but he enjoys pressing buttons so he does it.

I just think lying is wrong and find that those prepared to lie a little don't generally hesitate to lie a lot.

As for being qualified in social work - if that was a child psychology degree and you were doing a doctorate on "trust and lying and the child mind" I might be swayed :0)

I guess it's fine until they catch you watching it. Then they know you lie to get your way ... do you think they'll trust you after that? Should they?

Eric's Mommy 3-16-2008 @ 12:26PM

Eric's TV in his room is unplugged at the moment, along with his video games. He's been watching way too much TV.

jane 3-16-2008 @ 3:40PM

I will open myself up to ridicule also because I feel “sometimes” parents put to much emphasis on trying to make their kids happy by letting them do what they want to do. We have to remember that we are the parent and if we say “no TV” then it’s no TV. I don’t feel I owe my 3 year old any kind of an explanation. I also would not take the TV away from myself or my husband to that extent. A little white lie is one thing but they are going without TV because a 2 year old is dictating the household and I wouldn’t do that. Children, no matter the age, have to learn from day one that there are rules and laws that we follow.

Just my 2 cents worth.

L8ybug 3-17-2008 @ 7:16PM

It was a hard habit to bust, but we did the same thing. It took four days or so, but then our 2yo started entertaining herself, had fewer tantrums, and slept better. She now only gets a "movie" if she has no accidents all day long. And only after the bath (if there is one that night), and then afterwards must go right to bed. Accidents and bedtimes have been challenges for us, and this provides an incentive.

SKL 3-18-2008 @ 1:30AM

I'm generally in the camp of saying "no" rather than lying, if those are the only two choices. Yes, I have to deal with some whining and crying, but they are learning that this is a Mamacracy, and ultimately this makes life better for all of us.

But, I must confess to telling my kids that their most obnoxiously loud electronic toy (which they, of course, LOVED) was "broke" when I took it away to "fix" it and never brought it back. I sort of rationalized that they wouldn't understand the term "defective" which is true of anything that loud and screechy. I still have to figure out how to "fix" it though . . . .

isisaquaria 3-24-2008 @ 5:22PM

Is there another toy they would love, but not annoy you as much that could come in when the other toy couldn't be fixed? Just a thought

I agree that it is not good to lie, but annoying toys can drive a person to do anything...it was alright until they found the on/off switches themselves and now the older two can find the batteries--why do they grow up?(lol)