Parenting

This Mom Found a Brilliant Way to Break Her Toddler's TV 'Addiction' & It's Going Viral

ParentingPublished Dec 13, 2017
By Jordyn Smith
featured-img-of-post-209362

For parents, screen time can be both a lifesaver and the bane of our existence. When you're trying to quickly prepare dinner, the TV can provide the perfect distraction to keep kids out of your hair. But when your kid is waking you up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday demanding to watch Micky Mouse Club House, it becomes a problem. While trying to drastically cut her toddler's screen time, this mom may have stumbled upon the perfect solution. 

angelogiampiccolo/Shutterstock
These stories are based on posts found on Reddit. Reddit is a user-generated social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website where registered members submit content to the site and can up- or down-vote the content. The accuracy and authenticity of each story cannot be confirmed by our staff.
In a viral Reddit post, the mom claims her 2-year-old had become a "TV addict."-placeholder
In a viral Reddit post, the mom claims her 2-year-old had become a "TV addict."

In a viral Reddit post, the mom claims her 2-year-old had become a "TV addict."

She says she began using TV to keep him occupied early in the morning, and things escalated from there. Soon, the little boy was begging to watch TV constantly and dissolving into meltdowns whenever his mom refused. The mom shares that she was determined to cut her son's screen time. "Every day I would say 'tomorrow morning, no more TV,'" she wrote in her post. But the prospect of dealing with constant tantrums was too exhausting, causing her to fold every time. 

Her luck changed when the television remote started "getting lost." After a while of looking, the 2-year-old gave up and went about his day. This went on for multiple days, with the little boy becoming a little upset before finding something else to occupy him every time. 

More from CafeMom: The 1 Big Reason Kids' Social Skills Are Regressing

The mom says the change in her son has been amazing. "I thought without TV he would be constantly clingy but it seems to be the opposite, he explores the flat, plays with the cat and his toys. We didn't need it after all!"

The revelation astonished many parents in the Reddit thread.

Honestly, we were pretty floored too.

Surprisingly, some shared that they did similar things to curb their kids' TV addictions.-placeholder
Surprisingly, some shared that they did similar things to curb their kids' TV addictions.

Surprisingly, some shared that they did similar things to curb their kids' TV addictions.

Some parents got away with simply "having toys around" to distract their kids from their favorite shows.

Others had to get a little more creative.-placeholder
Others had to get a little more creative.

Others had to get a little more creative.

This parent decided to start telling her kid that the cartoons needed to have nap time, in efforts to keep screen time to a minimum.

There were even parents in the thread who stressed that it's alright for kids to enjoy TV sometimes.-placeholder
There were even parents in the thread who stressed that it's alright for kids to enjoy TV sometimes.

There were even parents in the thread who stressed that it's alright for kids to enjoy TV sometimes.

Especially if it gives parents a little bit of peace and quiet every now and then. "Sometimes we just have to let them watch TV, that's OK," said one parent. "We need to take our time."

The next time your kid gets a little too swept up in Daniel Tiger, you'll know exactly what to do.

More from CafeMom: Thanks for Nothing, Daniel Tiger -- You've Taught My Kids to Be Ridiculous

Just hide the remote, put a few toys in front of him or her, or suggest that the cartoons need a little break. You shouldn't feel guilty for having to get a little dramatic to make sure your kid's brain doesn't turn into mush.

technologytvtoddlers
Cafemom Logo
This is motherhood #nofilter

AboutTermsContactPrivacyPRIVACY SETTINGSSUBMIT A STORY
© 2024 WILD SKY MEDIA.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA
| FAMILY & PARENTING
CAFEMOMMAMÁSLATINAS
LITTLETHINGSMOM.COM
This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol: BMTM.