https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 30 May 2026 15:24:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542149 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:32:36 +0000 littlebug 2542149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: Same - I can't use time, unless I'm setting a timer. But yes, they work for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542145 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:27:45 +0000 Foodnerd81 2542145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They used to help with things like leaving the park, but lately she asks me to set the timer on my phone (fine) then as soon as the alarm goes off, she starts yelling and crying, before I even tell her we are leaving. So, not really working so well for us at this point.<br /> Shows we pretty much always have to watch the entire thing, or be leaving for something super fun. Turning it off in the middle is a surefire way to have a tantrum so I never put it on unless she can watch the entire half hour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542125 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:08:35 +0000 catomd00 2542125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD doesn't have any concept of time, so I usually give a limit that she understands (e.g., you may watch 2 more nursery rhymes). It's hit or miss depending on her mood, I mostly do it out of respect to her, not to necessarily make it an easier transition. What I find more effective is giving her the choice of how to end screen time - would you like to turn the Tv off or should mommy do it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542119 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:02:14 +0000 Jess1483 2542119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've definitely seen this with some kids, but warnings are important to my son. I also include the phrase "in two minutes, it will be time to go, and when I say time to go, you'll say 'ok'." It works 99% of the time, and he just says okay and does it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542014 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:40:19 +0000 808love 2542014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 minute warnings are great for LO! The tv is a little more difficult. Better to let them watch a whole show and then shut off when there is closure or don't start it in the first place. Getting interrupted mid-plot is just wrong! If it is on the computer and I reassure her and show her I will pause it and let her get back to the same spot, she is good with that. But just turning it off mid show with a warning is just not a nice sight to see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2542008 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:39:15 +0000 yoursilverlining 2542008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warnings work well with us, but I try to make them ones LO will understand, since “2 minutes” means really nothing to her. She has nothing concrete to tie that time concept to at this point.</p> <p>We use the end of show rule like many previous posters, or “at the commercial break” if it’s something like commercials. </p> <p>If she is playing with my phone on the way in to school, I tell her when we turn onto the campus for my work/her school and remind her to wrap up because she will be giving me my phone back shortly.</p> <p>With other things we count down or I give a concrete count-based warning, i.e., three more times on the slide and then we are leaving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541957 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:06:47 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2541957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: I wanna say that when I wake up too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541924 Thu, 05 May 2016 09:25:11 +0000 MamaCate 2541924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: at that age we did more understandable limits, so instead of time we would say at the park "it's almost time to go. 5 more pushes on the swing and then we will leave. Let's count." That worked well and sounds similar to what you described. Also at 4, LO1 still says bye bye to the water to get out of the tub! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541917 Thu, 05 May 2016 09:08:04 +0000 LBee 2541917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: I definitely think it's age thing - they have no concept of time. We do the "bye bye" thing as well. Although now he's caught on and if he doesn't feel like giving up what we are saying goodbye to he will say "Bye Mama!" and give me a kiss. Stinker.</p> <p>I like the idea of setting hard limits like "5 more minutes and then we are done." I even do it with myself. I think with TV / screen time, natural endings (such as the end of a show) are easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541908 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:53:12 +0000 looch 2541908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell my son things that are more tangible, such as finishing watching this video, one more round, etc.</p> <p>Time based warning and timers don't work for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541892 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:43:40 +0000 twodoghouse 2541892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have tried doing this and it has made no difference. My kids might be too young? They have no concept of two or five minutes so I guess it just doesn't sink in. What helps us with transitions is saying bye bye to things. They are really into this and it works amazing for us. So if I'm turning off the tv, it's bye bye show. Time to stop brushing teeth (which is a battle because they love it) bye bye tooth brush. Bye bye bath toys, bye bye books at the library, bye bye rocks outside, bye bye bikes. It's the only way I get two 2 year olds to do anything in public without a fight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541883 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:33:52 +0000 Maysprout 2541883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They're effective for us, my kids like knowing the plan. I glanced over the study and it seemed like they said that almost all the parents gave a warning of some kind but kids were less upset when the show ended then when parents interrupted and turned it off in the middle of a show. That seems a bit different of a question than are warnings effective, and do kids transition better if they reach a good stopping point in an activity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541871 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:22:31 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2541871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We definitely have to use warnings. I also use the line "would you like to put it away or should I" which shifts the control back to him and almost always works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541860 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:12:56 +0000 Truth Bombs 2541860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warnings are great for my kid. Though I feel like the word "warning" has a negative connotation. It's really more like a "head's up" so she's not surprised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541848 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:02:19 +0000 erinbaderin 2541848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It works really well for my son - if we just do something without a warning he freaks out. With tv we do the same as Lamariniere - the end of the episode. But telling him he has one minute has worked so well that he now tells us he needs one minute all the time - apparently at daycare last week they woke him up from his nap and he put up a finger, said "I need one minute!" and rolled over and closed his eyes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541846 Thu, 05 May 2016 07:59:13 +0000 Mamaof2 2541846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warnings work very well for my kids - If I just shut off the TV or said "Its time to go" there would be tantrums </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541844 Thu, 05 May 2016 07:58:17 +0000 Charm54 2541844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I set a timer for 2 minutes and when she hears the bell she is really good at transitioning to whatever we need to do. I'm amazed how well it works haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541843 Thu, 05 May 2016 07:57:51 +0000 lamariniere 2541843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warnings seem to be positive for us. I don't usually give a 2 minute warning for screen time but more like, when this episode is over, you have to turn it off. They rarely put up a fight about it. </p> <p>I also give warnings at the park, 5 more minutes, 2 more minutes, and that usually seems to work well too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-minute-warnings-not-effective-for-kids#post-2541835 Thu, 05 May 2016 07:52:18 +0000 Anagram 2541835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/05/two-minute-warnings-make-turning-off-the-tv-harder/?&#038;moduleDetail=section-news-2&#038;action=click&#038;contentCollection=Health&#038;region=Footer&#038;module=MoreInSection&#038;version=WhatsNext&#038;contentID=WhatsNext&#038;pgtype=Blogs" rel="nofollow">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/05/two-minute-warnings-make-turning-off-the-tv-harder/?&#038;moduleDetail=section-news-2&#038;action=click&#038;contentCollection=Health&#038;region=Footer&#038;module=MoreInSection&#038;version=WhatsNext&#038;contentID=WhatsNext&#038;pgtype=Blogs</a></p> <p>This is an interesting read about a new study where 2 minute warnings actually make transitions harder for kiddos to turn off screen time (and other activities). I've always found this to be true for my oldest, and always thought she was an outlier--but maybe she's pretty typical in that 2 or 5 minute warnings make transitions harder for her.</p> <p>How are your kids? If you use warnings now, does this article make you more likely to try NOT giving a warning? </p>