https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:06:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346635 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:12:35 +0000 daniellemybelle 2346635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO definitely watches TV but because I've noticed it does affect her behavior when she watches first thing in the morning, I have tried to wait until after her nap. The only way we can do that is to get out of the house literally every day. The maybe one weekday per week that we stay home she is happy to play for a long time in her playroom because she hasn't for a few days. </p> <p>I would maybe try some toy rotations? Your LO might get more excited about blocks for example if you put them away for a week and do something else.</p> <p>My LO is just a little older than yours and she is nuts about "helping." So maybe get into baking? Or heck, have her wash all the plastic/durable dishes in a big bucket! </p> <p>But honestly, there is no way we could stay home every day. Can you invite other moms over for playdates? Find a Facebook group in your area - that's what I did. Maybe you could ride with your husband to work, he can drop you off somewhere and take you home at lunchtime? Or you could find some kind of public transportation (or heck, Uber) home. Even if it's only once a week or every other week, that would be worth it to me - and I think beneficial to your LO! My LO needs socialization and stimulation or her behavior suffers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346629 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:09:37 +0000 lamariniere 2346629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have a TV and my LOs get very minimal screen time (ipad/phone). Screen time just isn't really a part of their lives. I don't think every moment needs to be structured and my LOs do a lot of independent play. I try to have them help with chores or appropriate cooking activities and we try to get out a lot. Can you walk places or take public transit? Or are you really stuck at home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346550 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 09:07:51 +0000 MrsSRS 2346550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we were stuck hone we did a structured day with time slots like chores, water play, sensory time (bean bin, play doh, finger paint in the bathtub) outside time, walk, books, art, dance, etc. At this age kids will change so much by the end of winter attention span will be longer and it helps the day not last forever when you don't have to change activities every ten minutes. Sometimes it helps to change rooms. Already done blocks today? Try doing them again on the bed, or at the table, etc. Bundle up and get outside every day! When you're home it helps to remember that it's a GOOD thing if something takes a long time. So LO wants to put on shoes independently and it takes 20 minutes to get outside for that walk? No problem! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346528 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:35:49 +0000 honeybear 2346528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you need more preschool-like structure. I know it can be hard to have a 2yo and no other source of "entertainment" than you, especially if you feel stuck inside. But rather than buying a preschool curriculum (or making your own from other sources like Pinterest), I would think about starting a project/hobby/creative endeavor (or a few of them!) that you can do with your child. </p> <p>In my experience, little children want to do whatever you want to do, and it's fine--probably even preferable--if it's not specifically aimed at toddlers/preschoolers. They rise to the challenge. Incidentally, my husband and I have applied this general philosophy to pretty much everything, with generally good results (insofar as I can judge from my current vantage point of having a 5yo). I usually read him a book that I wanted to read (during playtime/nursing/drifting off for a nap; we read picture books at other times); we listened to music that we like; when we started watching movies, they were documentaries and classic films that my husband and I wanted to see, etc. And we did activities that weren't necessarily targeted at little children (nature walks, museum visits, lectures/demonstrations, farmer's markets, etc.), but that I knew he could generally handle, even if he didn't always understand everything that was going on. </p> <p>A few projects I had to modify a bit to let him in on. For example, I'm not particularly crafty, but I do like to paint wooden Christmas ornaments in December, so I had LO help with that. (The results were shipped to adoring grandparents.) I also rather enjoy putting together Lego sets once and a while, so when he was between 2 and 3 and no longer putting anything in his mouth, I bought the space shuttle and assembled it while he watched. I sort of doubted he would be interested in watching me do something, but he loved it and asked to work on it every day. He helped with some of the bigger pieces and then played with it when it was done. We still do complicated sets together, but they're an expensive habit, so we don't always have one going on. We also took lots of walks, regardless of the weather (ours is hot and humid in the summer and everyone hides inside during the middle of the day), and did little things like identify birds, butterflies and plants. I checked out bird/butterfly/plant guidebooks from the library and we looked things up as we went. We still do this! :) </p> <p>I also think it's okay for children to have some time during the day when they have to figure out what to do on their own. My son's free time is much, much longer now, but it's okay to let a 2yo figure out how to occupy him/herself for a few minutes or longer, if they'll tolerate it.</p> <p>And when all else fails, it's always a good idea to have an impromptu dance party. ;) Instant mood-lifter for everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346497 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:58:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2346497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Oxana: yeah, the walkability of living in the city is what I'm going to miss most, since we will probably move to the burbs in the next year or so. We also do have a car- just one but dh almost never needs t for work so I have it when needed, just prefer to walk. Being home with no car and nowhere to walk has to be really really hard. Any way you can switch off with the car, drop him off at work or he car pools or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346491 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:51:03 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 2346491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Oxana: I'm also a SAHM and my husband and I share a car as well, so I don't have a car Monday-Thursday. He is able to work from home on Fridays, so I'm able to go to my MOPS group, errands, play dates, etc on Fridays. </p> <p>My DD is 21 months and we go to the park almost every day. I've made several mom friends just from going to the park a lot to increase chances of meeting someone, lol. We do play dates a lot at my house and they will sometimes pick me and DD up and we'll go to story time or something. I know a few people from church in my area too, so that helps. </p> <p>Staying at home without a car is so hard! Admittedly, we watch 1 show in the afternoon while waiting for my husband to get home because I'm over it by that point, lol. We watch Signing Time on Netflix which my DD loves and it's actually pretty interactive and educational. We sit together and to the signs together so at least it's interactive and not passive screen time. </p> <p>I'd definitely look and see if there's any mom groups or groups at the library. Grab people's numbers when you can so you can ask them for play dates later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346488 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:37:23 +0000 looch 2346488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Oxana: I did something similar, I decided to get the NAMC program for 3-6 year olds.</p> <p><a href="http://www.montessoritraining.net/diploma-programs/early-childhood-3-6/curriculum-samples" rel="nofollow">http://www.montessoritraining.net/diploma-programs/early-childhood-3-6/curriculum-samples</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346486 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:32:09 +0000 Oxana 2346486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Yep, no TV until after LO goes to bed. Although, I am guilty of looking at my phone while LO plays. A lot. </p> <p>Thanks for posting your routine! I always find other people's schedules fascinating.</p> <p>@brownepiano: The balance bike is a neat idea! I'll have to look into that.</p> <p>We just moved to a new area for DH's job, so we haven't had a chance to make local friends yet. It's a smallish town, so there aren't any mom groups (that I'm aware of). It seems like the most popular way to meet new people here is at church, but we're not religious. I'll have to look into events at the library and see if we can make some connections there!</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: It must be so cool to be able to walk so many places! I wish more American towns were pedestrian friendly.</p> <p>@Charm54: Great idea, thanks! I'll definitely try to remember to do this more often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346475 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:06:45 +0000 Charm54 2346475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find having music on in the background helps make a long day go by a little quicker </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346474 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:06:45 +0000 Foodnerd81 2346474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO watches a half hour show in the morning so I can get ready, but for the rest of the morning the tv is usually off. Otherwise our day looks a lot like @Mae:'s. Get up, play, breakfast, get ready (she watches 30 minutes of TV), get her dressed, go out for the morning. We have some kind of activity pretty much every morning, whether it's an actual class or play date, or children's museum or park, or just errands. We never stay in all morning unless the weather is awful or she is sick- otherwise we both go crazy. Then it's lunch, nap. </p> <p>After nap it varies, usually we meet local friends at a park until dinner, then play and bedtime. We live in the city so walk to the park now. </p> <p>It's definitely going to be a lot harder this winter! And sometimes she does get more TV after nap if I need more downtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346472 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:04:38 +0000 brownepiano 2346472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 20 months and we are very strict about no screens. He cooks with me a lot and does all the chores with me. I don't bother doing them during nap time because I know he likes them. To get his energy out we got him a balance bike that he rides around the house. To be fair, I'm not sure what I'd do without a car and the chance to get him outside for a break. Can you have friends come to you for some variety? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346467 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 06:56:12 +0000 Mae 2346467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So does that mean you don't get to watch tv either? lol. My don't turn on tv for my LO but I do watch netflix (she doesn't care/doesn't pay any attention to it so far at 1.5). I don't watch it a LOT at this point but usually like 2 shows/day. Our routine: </p> <p>wakeup<br /> breakfast<br /> downstairs free play with toys<br /> change into clothes for the day, snack in the car on the way to run errands or go to a park to play or an indoor play space or i'm not above just wandering around target for half an hour to get us out of the house<br /> home and play for like 30 min<br /> make and eat lunch<br /> usually a show (for me) between lunch and nap time while we are still sitting on the floor playing<br /> nap<br /> up and snack<br /> errands or chores (laundry, clean kitchen, vacuum, etc)<br /> play until daddy gets home (sometimes another show in here if we didn't have many errands/chores to do)<br /> dad takes LO while i fix dinner, eat dinner<br /> hang out for an 30 min-hour after dinner</p> <p>ETA: I am also worried about winter since we go out so much now. I think I'm going to ask for a membership to the local science center for christmas. And I might enroll LO in gymboree and/or get a membership to a play cafe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-stay-sane-without-screens#post-2346457 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 06:00:06 +0000 Oxana 2346457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a lot of different reasons, it's important to DH and I not to expose LO to television or computer screens. She's almost two years old now, and although we stand by that decision, it's becoming harder for me to manage LO while we're stuck home without a car and DH is at work. It's going to be a loooong winter.</p> <p>For those of you don't let your LO watch television or play with iPads, how do you stay sane? We read books, stack blocks, and go for walks when we can (although the weather is going to interfere with that pretty soon). She "helps" me clean some of the time. But I can definitely see why the temptation is so great to turn on a show or hand her an iPad.</p> <p>The only solution I've come up with is to structure our day a little more. I'm thinking about buying her the <a href="http://www.timberdoodle.com/Preschool_Timberdoodle_Homeschool_Curriculum_p/999-preschool.htm">Timberdoodle Preschool Curriculum</a> (complete kit, for ages 2 -3) for her upcoming second birthday, not because I want to push her academically, but because the activities would help fill the space in our mornings. Organizing Pinteresty things to do on my own is not my forte.</p> <p>What tips and tricks do you use to keep your toddler entertained when playing outside or running errands is not an option? </p>