OK so my son, who is recently two, has become obsessed with Cars. It is the first thing he asks to see when he comes home from preschool and the last thing he wants to play with before bed. At first, I was thrilled b/c this is the first time he's ever been able to entertain himself for more than 10 minutes. I just put the DVD on and then I don't hear a peep from him for 2 hours. Incredible. I got into the habit of getting my chores and personal stuff done during this time. But now, I'm starting to miss the little guy! B/c this is what the weekdsays look like - after pre-sch it's already 5pm. I put in the DVD. He watches until 7. And then it's bathtime/bedtime routine. Despite the reading/playing together after bathtime, I feel like we don't bond anymore! I feel bad not letting him watch it b/c it's like he waits for it all day. lol. But then I wonder if he misses me too b/c for instance, yesterday he seemed kind of sad and my hubby and I were wondering if it's b/c we were talking to each other and not really talking to him (b/c he was watching cars). Am I being silly?
UPDATE: the new question is -- how often should I let him watch???
I've only had one child that wanted to watch a favorite video many times. That was my 20 year old and she had ADHD so bad that I let her watch Charlottes Web until she wore out the VHS video tape and could sit there and say all the words and sing all the songs.
I think you need to ditch the cars routine. If it were me, I'd be doing the chores and personal stuff after he gets to bed most nights. If you aren't seeing him all day, he needs the face time with you and dad before bed.
When is he eating dinner? While he's watching the movie? He really shouldn't be watching tv every night while eating if that's what's going on. Sure, special occiasions are fine for that-we all do that. Dinnertime is really becoming a lost art. That's the time when everyone should be sitting down together and talking and sharing their day.
He's 2. You need to learn now you make the rules and that you shouldn't feel bad for telling him he can't watch a movie.
Let him watch Cars once or twice a week - not every night.
LBC
We first showed Cars to my son when he was around two, he's now 3 and it is his most favorite and only movie he has ever sat through. My husband and I even love it. He would watch it every single day if I let him. Luckily, he takes a nap every afternoon and that's when I get the housework done. We let him watch Cars every couple of weeks and that is plenty because otherwise a 2 hour movie does take away from playtime. I would just stop letting him watch it so often and plan other activities to do with him instead, like just playing outside. He may complain about wanting to watch it at first...but he will soon see how much fun spending time with you is and forget all about it!
Hi SS-
My kids (as little ones) LOVED all of the disney movies...so did I truth be told. I allowed them, after dinner and bath...15 to 20 minutes of whatever movie was 'THE' movie of the week/month...with a special popcorn treat for the 'olders'...Then it was teeth brushing, story time...prayers and bed...
That way they got a movie...and it became part of bedtime ritual...but it was not 'overload'...
Just a thought!
Michele/cat
In our house with our 2 year old Cars is a weekend move because it's too long. I didn't get started letting her watch it every night so it was easier to tell her no and she was okay with it. Although she still asks everyday. I haven't gotten it yet, but my friend has Car Toons which are shorter stories with the Cars characters. She said she got it at Target. Maybe this is a way to get him to watch Cars without watching the whole movie.
When he's watching the movie, he's in a very pleasant but different little world. You do need to bring him back to yours. He doesn't realize what he's missing, but you do.
So turn the TV off after one showing. Then tell him the movie theater is closed for the rest of the week (or half a week). Leave the TV off completely.
Wait until he's older and becomes obsessed with games! This is practice for you. :^)
I agree that maybe you should just not let him watch the whole thing. Try and get him interested in other shows too. Now that he sees the "magic" of TV, he might easily get involved with some other shows. All the shows on Noggin are great, seriously and they are only 20 minutes. I record a ton on our DVR and then when they're over, they're over! My daughter was way into Barney and we had to have long Barney (the DVD) and short Barney (the taped show from PBS). She really only got to watch long Barney on the weekends and short Barney was okay for while I made dinner or whatever.
I think that if he's only watching short spurts (20-30 mins) it's really fine if he watches it every day. If he'd rather watch the whole thing at once then I'd do just a couple times/week. I honestly do think it's fine to watch TV every day you just can't let it get away from you!
oh my gosh that sounds just like my son except for him it is Mickey Mouse Playhouse...he calls the show Toodles, after the character. He wants to watch it all the time. every once in a while, like maybe on a saturday we let him watch in the morning when he wakes up if we are cooking a big breakfast. other than that he watches one episode after nap time and sometimes one before bed.....kids and their shows...he just stares at the screen transfixed like nothing else in the world matters. i dont feel super bad since he has learned some things from watching, but i do get the guilty feeling sometimes.
It's way too much screen time for a two year old, in my opinion. I believe the AAP recommends no TV under age 2, and then a limit of 2 hrs. but seriously, as you yourself have noticed, if he's watching TV he is not doing other more active and important things. I'd cut it way down - save it for weekends or when you really need something to do with him. I have an almost 4 year old who is TV free and has only once watched an entire (Tigger) movie over at a friends. I simply can't justify "plugging her in" even though all my friends think I'm crazy and ask how I get anything done. Well, I don't get anything done, but I do spend my free time with my daughter!!
I realize everyone has their own opinions and for some the movies/TV are a lifesaver.
Good luck!
when i read your subject line, i felt compelled to read it and was already thinking to myself, Cars! know why??? b/c my 2.5 yo is the SAME WAY!!! omg, as soon as we wake up, soon as i cut the t.v. on at ANYTIME he says "watch Cars". i was so happy like you were too, plus i LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie...but yeah, getting tired of it now. so tonight, i just told him, no, we're not watching Cars or Barney, we're watching something we BOTH like. ends up being I Love Lucy, but i can't think of anything else that's appropriate & that i can stand.
that's too funny though that we're both experiencing it. i don't have the best advice, but i just tell him no, we'll watch it later, and we do...but a couple days later and just on/off throughout the day. not two full hours at once, he wouldn't sit still for that anyway. good luck mama. it's kinda nice to finally have a little freedom to do something though. my son recently started playing independently...i find myself sitting here going, "well now what am i supposed to do?!" lol take care! :)
How about in increments, say 30 minutes per day (total). That's really too much screen time for a child so young.
It's very normal at this age that he would want to watch the same movie over and over again. But, two hours is a lot of time every weekday to be spent watching a movie and not interacting with his parents. I would try limiting this movie to weekends and once during the week, maybe. You might have to slowly wean him from this habit.
Next, try getting him interested in a shorter movie! I remember my stepdaughter insisting on watching the same VHS tape (yes, I am old!) every day. Luckily it had about 30 mins of shows taped on it, so it was an OK break for everyone, without taking up too much of the evening.
