If you don't let your toddler aged child watch tv or heavily restrict their viewing and you are a SAHM what do you do with them all day?

Everyday we go for a walk, color, play outside, play with blocks, etc... We do activites every day, but with her attention span she's only entertained for 5 minutes with any given activity.

The TV is on pretty much from the time we get up till we go to bed and she zones out easily. She'll sit there for an entire show and not move. I figure she'll be fine if she watches a show here and there so I can vacuum, mop, etc, but it's getting excessive. I'd turn the TV off, but I'll admit I use it as a babysitter.

So, yeah... I need ideas!

You know, in a perfect world, a SAHM would be able to constantly provide activities for their kids that stimulate the mind and keep kids busy, and still be able to cook and clean the whole house.

In the real world, we all know that's not gonna happen. lol
Sometimes, you do what you have to do to get things done...if that means letting her veg out in front of the TV for an hour while you get things done, I doubt that she'll be that affected by it in the long run.
The TV in my house is always on...I try to do things with DD, but there are days where she'd just rather not be bothered by me and my 'creative ideas'..she just wants to be left alone, like we do sometimes.

If it works for you, keep doing it...you don't have to feel guilty about the way you do things because it's not the 'right' way by someone else's standards.

Hmm I don't really have any ideas. My kids TV is on all day but they don't really pay attention to it. They are always playing or doing something else with me, so I've never had to worry about it.

I havent had to deal with toddler ages in a LONG time... LOL But soon I will again.
I HATE little ones in front of the TV. Especially just regular tv (cartoons that dont teach, loud obnoxious shows...etc).

A toddler is more understandable than if someone where to put a BABY, literally newborn to 12 months old in front of the tv. :nutts :duh

I hope you get some ideas soon. It would be good to hear them.

try educational programs for her that are geared for kids. also maybe let her "help" you clean so she's not in front of the tv

oh.. I wanted to add that Sprout is what I have on the TV all day.

When I watched some 3 year olds, their mom didnt want the TV on for more than an hour a day, so I had to improvise. Since I was the Nanny, I did light housework as well as take care of the kids, so what I would do, was hand them a dusting rag and we would make a game of dusting. Or, while I cleaned the kitchen or what not, I would turn on their fav CD (strawberry shortcake and some other weird guy CD) and they would dance around the living room. But I think they were used to not having the TV on, so I dont know if that makes a difference. With Ellie (I know she is a baby) But we only turn the cartoons like Dora, Little/baby Einstein, backyardigans, or sprouts on (those are the only ones she pays attention too) and its usually when we are trying to clean up and just her toys dont intertain her. But those shows tend to teach more.

Well I'm selective when it comes to the shows she can watch. Little Einsteins, Wonder Pets, Dora, Diego, Sesame Street, Mr. Rodgers, Blues Clues- so it's mostly educational stuff. I just feel bad because sometimes it's for a couple hours on end. I just am having a creative block and can't come up with age appropriate activities. She's barely 2 so gluing, scissors, etc. are out... I'm still open to ideas if anyone has them!! :)

Well I'm selective when it comes to the shows she can watch. Little Einsteins, Wonder Pets, Dora, Diego, Sesame Street, Mr. Rodgers, Blues Clues- so it's mostly educational stuff. I just feel bad because sometimes it's for a couple hours on end. I just am having a creative block and can't come up with age appropriate activities. She's barely 2 so gluing, scissors, etc. are out... I'm still open to ideas if anyone has them!! :)


coloring.. finger painting... blocks... play dough.

actually you can still use glue just buy it in the stick form. I used to buy those creative sisscors, like for scrap booking and just let my little one go to town. She looooved to cut paper like no tomorrow. I just made sure they were put out of reach when we were done. Stickers are also good. buying a bunch of stickers and letting her make "art".

DD watches Noggin or Sprout a lot of the day. We keep the TV on all day, but most of the time she's playing instead of sitting on the couch glued to the TV.

I wouldn't feel bad if you're doing other things with her, like taking her to the park a couple times a week and such.

Our tv is on all day (DS turns it on if I turn it off) but it's not being watched all day. I get DS to help me clean. He definitely gets in my way, and things take twice as long, but he loves it and at least it's getting done.

There aren't many "creative" things you can do with a 1-2 yr old, so I know how you feel :lol

There is no way I'm getting finger paints, crayons, scissors, etc and giving them to a 15 month old who likes to "draw" with his bottle on my couch. :refuse

Our tv is always on but not always being watched lol The kids will turn on the tv in one of the rooms and just come and go when they get bored with whatever they were doing. I just try to be selective with what they are allowed to watch.

I totally know how you feel, but I got a ton of great ideas from all the speech therapy and stuff Riley has been getting.

-Creative play (cooking in the kitchen, making forts, etc.)
-Help around the house (help load the laundry, pass you the dishes, let em help push the vaccuum, etc)
-Reading together
-Singing together
-Playgroups/playdates

I also joined the gym just so that he could get some interaction with other children and different toys. $10 a month daycare, can't beat that!

The therapists also suggest that instead of making them play something you want to play, to observe them and then go play together with whatever they are doing. They also suggest having the kid "clean up" after each activity before moving on to the next one. Obviously this isn't always possible, but it helps teach the child to finish one activity before moving to the next, and they may eventually play longer at one time.

I totally know how you feel though, Riley won't play with anything (besides his Little People and or books) for more than about 5 minutes. It is exhausting! But we are seeing changes, so we're going with it!

I totally know how you feel, but I got a ton of great ideas from all the speech therapy and stuff Riley has been getting.

-Creative play (cooking in the kitchen, making forts, etc.)
-Help around the house (help load the laundry, pass you the dishes, let em help push the vaccuum, etc)
-Reading together
-Singing together
-Playgroups/playdates

I also joined the gym just so that he could get some interaction with other children and different toys. $10 a month daycare, can't beat that!

The therapists also suggest that instead of making them play something you want to play, to observe them and then go play together with whatever they are doing. They also suggest having the kid "clean up" after each activity before moving on to the next one. Obviously this isn't always possible, but it helps teach the child to finish one activity before moving to the next, and they may eventually play longer at one time.

I totally know how you feel though, Riley won't play with anything (besides his Little People and or books) for more than about 5 minutes. It is exhausting! But we are seeing changes, so we're going with it!


Good suggestions! I hadn't thought of making forts, but I bet my son would love that type of play. :)

I totally know how you feel, but I got a ton of great ideas from all the speech therapy and stuff Riley has been getting.

-Creative play (cooking in the kitchen, making forts, etc.)
-Help around the house (help load the laundry, pass you the dishes, let em help push the vaccuum, etc)
-Reading together
-Singing together
-Playgroups/playdates

I also joined the gym just so that he could get some interaction with other children and different toys. $10 a month daycare, can't beat that!

The therapists also suggest that instead of making them play something you want to play, to observe them and then go play together with whatever they are doing. They also suggest having the kid "clean up" after each activity before moving on to the next one. Obviously this isn't always possible, but it helps teach the child to finish one activity before moving to the next, and they may eventually play longer at one time.

I totally know how you feel though, Riley won't play with anything (besides his Little People and or books) for more than about 5 minutes. It is exhausting! But we are seeing changes, so we're going with it!


Those are some GREAT suggestions! Everything is so simple... It's like... why didn't I think of that :lol I think tomorrow I'm going to challenge myself to see how long we can go without turning the TV on. If nothing else maybe I'll wear her out so she'll take a nice looong nap :)