This is kind of joking and kind of not 
At 16 months my daughter spends most of her time trying to pull stunts that will undoubtedly cause panic and mayhem should she accomplish her goals. I can't leave her alone in a room for more than several minutes and even that is risky...unless I put Sesame Street on. I know, I know. It is not targeted for kiddos that young. But she loves it and I can do and fold all of the laundry in the almost hour break it gives me.
We both work outside the home, so we can't rely on nap times to get stuff done and after bedtime would be ideal if I wasn't dead on my feet by then.
Seriously, if you don't allow screen time, what do you do with an active LO while you do chores?
You might also enjoy...
-
I don't get much done until after bedtime.
-
Kudos to you, @autumnlove: for getting anything done after 7pm- I feel like a zombie by then!
-
I would try not to stress about tv time. An hour a day is not going to hurt your daughter. I think when it starts hurting children is when they dont do anything else BUT watch tv is when its troublesome. Get the break you need
-
We don't have TV, but there are occasional videos on the iPad for really desperate moments. I let DS "help" with laundry and other chores. If I'm cooking, I'll sit him in his high chair and let him play with play-doh. Otherwise, he just runs around the house while I try to get things done.
-
We let Chloe watch TV, but it doesn't really hold her attention span. It's honestly more so because she's really starting to pick up on everything around her and repeat things, and we'd rather she repeat something from doc McStuffins than, say, Dexter!
I still get a lot done because she plays with her toys. I le her help me fold laundry. It takes 3x as long but it still gets done!
-
We don't do much screen time (zero for our 18 month old) but we still get stuff done. I think they learn to be self-sufficient because they have to, so last night while we were cooking for a party, the girls were playing Legos an had an elaborate story to go along with it.
Right now I'm making pioneer woman French toast (yum) and the girls are making heir version in the play kitchen. It works because it has to work. We've never had another option.
-
Our kids love to build with MegaBlox and MagnaTiles... they've bought us many hours of solace during the day!
-
there are some really good ideas here!
Maybe I just need to ramp up the effort to find toys that engage my LO. She plays with stuff, but briefly, and then she off trying to nose bomb off the couch! -
No tv here at 21 months and it has never been an issue. LO helps me a lot when I am doing chores. He puts clothes in the washer and hits the start button, he sometimes helps pour things in bowls and stir or plays with playdough a the counter while I am cooking. The learning tower helps keep him very engaged in the kitchen. Otherwise he does independent play a lot. I don't feel like he needs tv for entertainment at all. Our initial goal was two years with no tv or screen time but now we plan to go much much longer. I actually feel like it would be harder to limit screen time to a certain amount of time than for him to simply not have any as an option. Now, at some point he will obviously get exposure outside the home, but we will have to let him know that it was a special opportunity while visiting a friend, but that we don't watch tv or play iPad games at home.
-
I think it is easier when there are 2 kids. The first kid just demands attention (at least in my experience and in my friends/sister's experience). My 15.5 month old whines like crazy after 5-10 mins of alone time. I hate to say it but I do try to ignore him, sometimes he will go play alone but often times will just tug on my leg until I pay attention. He has plenty of interesting toys he just wants me to play with them with him. He walks well and can access most of what he wants...except most of the time lately, he just wants ME. I don't get much done unless he is napping or after bed. I let him watch Bubble Guppies 2-3x a week and it holds his attention for a good 15 mins. I should add that I try to incorporate him into what I'm doing (laundry, cooking, dishes) but even then his attention span is pretty limited.
-
Sounds like you need more childproofing in your living space. I know that I can leave my toddler alone in the living room, and that she'll be safe. She really can't do anything more than make a mess of the toys she has in there, and there are specifically few, so that it isn't ever that messy. I rotate them often to keep her interest. Also, she's just used to me doing chores while she's awake. I made sure to teach her from an early age that I do not just take care of her - I also take care of our house.
-
I'm pretty comfortable leaving DD (15 months) alone to play by herself so I can get things done. She's good at entertaining herself with toys, pulling all the bibs out of the drawer, or just making a mess in general. I don't really worry about her hurting herself. I've never really used tv as a distraction, partly because it doesn't keep her attention. I probably giver her her snack cup with puffs or Cheerios to quiet her down too often though!
-
@Mrs. Jump Rope: by "help you" fold laundry, you mean you fold it, then she comes along and shakes everything so it's no longer folded?
-
@mediagirl: yup haha or she puts everything in the basket for me but it comes unfolded
-
LO refused to watch TV until she was about 20 months. I would just have her in the room with me that I was working in or wait until DH got home so he could watch her.
-
We don't really have tv on that much at all (my DS watched none til 2) but I still struggle to get anything done! My LO is 13 months and sounds like a kindred spirit to yours... She tends to just rampage through the house pulling stuff out, climbs onto things, gets into everything. I find it hard to engage her with games or helping me do chores.
Um, so that probably wasn't much help, but I do know how you feel! I am way too tuckered after bedtime to do much more than then get the lunches etc done for the next day.
-
We give LO lots of tasks. He has just started to be willing to play independently, though for a while now (he's almost 2.5) we've trusted him to not kill himself if we leave him alone for a few minutes (for example, I'll run down to the basement and put stuff in the laundry while he's eating breakfast in the kitchen). But when he wants to be with us and we need to occupy him, it helps to say "ok, your job while I do [X] is to do [Y]." So, while DH mows the lawn, LO gets a bucket of water and a watering can and is told to water the plants. If I'm putting away clean dishes, there are a few things that he can put away himself in certain drawers, so he does that. Throwing things in teh trash is generally always a good one.
-
@mrs.cookie: I TRULY appreciate all of the helpful replies and tips, but your post soothed my tired mama soul this morning
Thanks for commiserating!
-
@sarac: good point regarding baby proofing. I have resisted gates and pens and whatnot, but now that she is climbing on furniture (and immediately falling off) I need to do something to block her from the more dangerous pieces.
-
@lizzywiz: aw shucks
I really hear you on the tired mama soul. Honestly some days I wonder if P is a changeling. Panic and mayhem are seriously where it's at! And trust me, if she'd sit still, I'd be turning that tv on!! You should not feel guilty if that's what you need to do for some sanity!!
-
@lizzywiz: aw shucks
I really hear you on the tired mama soul. Honestly some days I wonder if P is a changeling. Panic and mayhem are seriously where it's at! You may have seen last week I posted a plea for help on dealing with her insane climbing antics..
And trust me, if she'd sit still, I'd be turning that tv on!! You should not feel guilty if that's what you need to do for some sanity!! -
I baby wear. He gets to participate in watching what I'm doing. So now if you hand him a cloth, he will wipe the coffee table down, while I pick up things.
-
I hear ya mama!!
I end up letting J watch about an hour-long Signing Time video each day (he LOVES them) or Laurie Berkner music videos. During which time I can:
A. go to the bathroom alone.
B. Make dinner
C. Hellobee/Facebook
D. Do my homework
E. in a small burst of energetic "freedom" - do all four simultaneously.For real though- I've had to let go of any associated guilt with TV time. I know I hate when people say "well I did x when I was a kid and I turned out fine" but the fact of the matter is yes, for the most part, our children will be ok. In fact, since I only let him watch the signing time videos - he LOVES using all his sign language! It has aided our communication. And eased my stress. Totally anecdotal evidence there, but hey, I'll take what I can get!
I work PT but I'm also in school. The only time he doesn't watch TV is weekends when we have more "field trips" and mommy/daddy time. But when I'm home on my off days, there is TV. And guess what? I'm ok with that.
Thanks for commiserating!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
23 comments