My 4-year-old gets 2 hours a day of TV. He chooses what and when. His siblings, 3 and 1, showed no interest in TV. Now, the 3-year-old wants to watch too and requests things like Sesame Street, which the 4-year-old hates. It's only fair the 3-year-old gets to watch now, too. But, HOW? I don't wants my TV on more than 2 hours a day. And I am not buying another one to feed an unhealthy habit.
(Plus, the 4-year-old would end up watching Barney even if he hates it, just because it's on.) So I can't give them each 2 hours or one would watch 4 hours a day!
They don't like the same things on TV at all. If one chooses Barney, the other screams.
Help! (And when the baby is old enough to want to watch, more help!). How do people have multiple kids and one TV and not go insane?
p.s. We have basic cable, that's it. And we use the library for VHS tapes. No video games, though, ever!
Take turns. Every other day one gets to choose what to watch. OR when the 3 yo is watching, do something with the 4 yo. Better yet, keep the tv turned off.
In our house... it's either agree on something or it gets shut off. (And agreeing can be 1 thing for 1 hour and a 2nd thing for another). Whining, fighting, making fun of another person's choice ALSO equals either the TV being shut off, or the offender being banned (aka if one is making fun of the other for their choice). They can try again tomorrow.
my boys are 8 and 3 and they get to pick one show each or use their time toward a different electronic like the computer, wii, or playstation. Our tv rarely goes on while the boys are up even when its cold they like to play outside, or make homemade playdough, do crafts, etc.
edited: my kids get 45 minutes each of electronics if they pick to watch tv they get one show each and if they argue everything goes off.
I have 2 kids... a recently turned 4 year old son, and an almost 8 year old girl. They both watch the SAME things. That is just the way it is. That is "my" rule. If one does not want to watch a show that is on, then too bad... go do something else. OR it gets turned OFF and NO ONE can watch.
Or I tell them, "Fine, Mommy will watch the news... or my show...." and that gets them QUICKLY to stop arguing about it.
OR... I take away the remote control... and then ONLY me or my Husband, can use it. Period. And then they lose their "privilege" to use it. That works with my kids. We have done that.
And by the way, since my son is 4... my daughter, has to watch shows that are appropriate for him... NONE of those "teen" Hannah Montana type shows, which "I" personally hate. Eeew.... watching air-headed girls on tv is just NOT the thing I want my girl to "bond" with. har, har.
good luck,
Susan
Just give your kids a choice of two shows, if they don't agree on a show that both want to watch, there is no tv. Do it with my kids all the time (who are 3 yrs old and 5yrs old). You are the one in charge, right!
one show each a day. no need for more tvs. we have 3 tvs, and most time during the week it's not even on, unless i am watching something.
either keep the tv off all together or divy up the tv time. Each gets to pick 1 hours worth of show, when the 1 year old gets old enough to care, let them have 45 minutes each or something.
Dear J.-
Thanks for the memory flash back...my kids...til eldest was 7 or so...did NOT even realize there were channels other than public TV during the day. They also were convinced that movies (disney and child oriented) were the 'half hour of the movie before bedtime treat' ALL kids had...lol.
After the eldest went to a friend's 'spend over'...he ratted me out!! Not only other TV stations...BUT...CHEESE DOODLES!!!
*sigh*
How I wish for the days when their favorite movie was 'Snow White and the Seven 'whores'...as middle kid used to call it...lol
SEIZE control while you can...lay the foundation...have them read...play games...set limits!
I guess I was lucky...my guys were very close in age...but the half hour of a movie before bed was a ritual for years...a small portion of popcorn for each...and they still speak of it now...
I send good wishes!
michele/cat
1 hr to the 4 year old 1 hr to the 3 year old and 1 year old has to watch with three year old or no tv. if that doesn't work than maybe half hr for each than one half hr together show.
If you want to stick to the 2 hours, one kid gets one hour of choice and the other gets one hour. Pretty simply, they learn really fast. We do one show each. So they both get to choose.
Don't do it by time, do it by a video choice. Each kid gets to choose 1 video or show, per day, and that is it. Our tv is in an armoire with doors, and when their show is over, the doors get shut and that is IT.
Can I suggest something? Turn off the stupid tv. :) Neither of them need it. And, they really don't need 2 hours of it. If you want it on, you pick what they watch. Period. It's pretty easy, really.
My kids are 7, 5, and 2. The 2 yr old is just starting to show interest in Elmo and Barney (which the others refuse). My 7 year old is busy with school and other activities that she doesn't watch any TV during the week. My 5 year old is in afternoon kindergarten, so I let him watch 1 show maybe 2 mornings a week. I usually try to have legos or something out on the floor when he wakes up so he gets interested in that before asking for TV. My 2 -year old, I only turn on his shows in the afternoons when the others are at school and I need to fit a quick shower in - which is not every day. They only get to watch night-time TV (usually a movie) on a non-school night. And they must agree. If they do happen to watch regular TV together (Sat morn), I read them what is on and they must agree. If there is something I know they will not all watch, like Sesame Street, I don't say that choice and noone even knows its on.
I have a four year and a two year old. They both have no problem when I say, sister picked the show yesterday so it's brother's turn to pick now. If they scream, tell them they don't have to watch it if they don't like it. They can do something else. It's not as though they NEED two hours of tv a day.
we don't even have cable or stailite or anything what we do is put on disney movies. my so usually watches two a day. Every child will watch classics like pocahantas and sleeping beauty. I have a huge collection for him to choose from. And if they fight over movies choose something neither of them are arguing for. that way it doesn't seem like your taking sides and they don't have to fight.
What my mom did when we were little was to say 2 hours of TV and divide it up. When there were 2 of us, we each chose an hour. I think for 3 of us, she shortened the time to an hour and a half and we could each choose half an hour of programming.
I also only have basic cable and my son has no interest in TV (actually whines when I turn on football or the news) so I don't have the problem myself.
2 hours is a ton of TV for a child to be watching! I'd let them each watch one show and that's it.
Ummm we have 5 tv's but that is beside the point ... do you have split screen feature on your tv? can you give them each 1hr but during the other's hour put on a v-tech game that they want to play or something.
Hi,
I haven't read everyones answers so I may be repeating. I did read some and I do agree with scaling down to 1 hour and letting each one pick a show for their hour...or letting one pick a show today and the other picking one tomorrow....or you picking the show and calling it a day.
Or, lastly invest in a DVR so you can record everyones favorite show and you pick a time when each one can watch an hour or so of their shows.
Hope this helps!
