Kid Shows

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LittleSin

LittleSin

I'm going to preface this thread by saying that I don't believe in using the television as a baby sitter. When I moved out of my parents house four years ago I opted to never sign up for cable, believing I'd get more done with out it. I was right.

HOWEVER, I am finding that I am my kids only source of entertainment. I can't even go into the next room to make us both breakfast with out him having a mini-meltdown. What I'm looking for are some nice kid shows that will keep him distracted as I cook lunch or take care of bills or even just go to the bathroom.

Please Dave/Jay/Halforums! Help me out!
 
Dave

Dave

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The reason he acts like this is because he isn't self-reliant or as social as he could be. We had the same issue with our son and took care of this by play dates, play places (cheap like McDonalds or if your mall has a kid's place - things like that) or get him building toys like Duplos for concentration. Certain toys will make him want to play in his imaginary world. Right now he doesn't know HOW to play like this. Getting him around other kids will help him with this.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

Seconded. Our freshly-minted son (three days 'til he turns one!) has ZOMGWAAH moments when he can't see either of us. Making some sort of noise on our way out and continuing it while we're off camera (so to speak) help reassure him that we're still around, we make sure he spends enough time in all the rooms to have some idea of what's around the corner, leave him toys to distract when we have to stay out of contact, and we're trying to get him outside and into society so he starts getting introduced to the idea that the incredibly massive, expansive, unbearably empty space that he inhabits is only 1000sq ft of ranch and barely a speck on Google Earth.

Until he gets that sense of scale, he's still going to think of himself as alone on a lifeboat on a sea of carpet.

--Patrick
 
LittleSin

LittleSin

I know. I've been working on it. I've been going to the gym and they have a drop off day care...ut every time I leave him there to do my work out he has a melt down. I've been persistent in getting him in there..but he cries so loudly that I can hear him on the other side of the gym and after a half hour the day care personelle come out for me, usually ot say he's making himself sick.

I feel so cruel. :( Both to him and the day care folk.

I have been trying though. He's seeing a speech therapist who says he needs that interaction as he's really far behind in the talking thing.

Also, he has lots of toys, blocks and such...he has no interest in any of them. I play with them more then he does. I worry that his surgeries have scarred him for life. :(

Anyways, Lazy Town is a good one. I love that show!
 
Dave

Dave

Staff member
You have to drop off & leave. He'll have a melt-down but he'll get over it. My wife and her mother babied Zach and did things like finished his sentences or simply assumed what he wanted. Consequently, he did not communicate well with those his own age. I know it's hard but you MUST get him socialized with kids his own age or you will be paying for it for years. The biggest problem with your son is that with his physical ailments at birth it was necessary to give him your undivided attention. That was right and proper, but it made it so that this phase of his development is just that much more difficult.

I know it sucks and I'm sorry.
 
M

makare

There are a lot of really good PBS shows. I'm not sure how old he is but sesame street is of course a good stand by. Dora is good. Although hope you love Dora because kids fricking love that show.

Personally I love the Wiggles. I know that kids as little as 1 and 2 like them. Anything with repetition, bright colors and songs will be good.

Im not a parent but I was a daycare person. What I would recommend is, like Dave said, play dates. If you could find someone at the kids play place that would come over and have a few play dates that would be good. When that happens it would be best for both parents to play with the kids all together, maybe even on a couple different instances. Just so the kids can get to know each other and be comfortable with each other while still having you there.. Make sure you go for kids that have personalities that you think your kid will get along with. That is the important thing. If it doesn't work out try a different kid.

Don't beat yourself up about it either. Everyone has those problems and everyone feels like daycare people are judging them. Odds are they arent. I pried plenty of wailing FIVE YEAR OLDS out of the arms of parents in the morning. Believe me they know what's up.
 
Piotyr

Piotyr

PBS Kids or Sprout are generally safe to have on for kids of any age.

The Wiggles and Barney creep me out, though.

My 3-year-old loves things like Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Caillou, though. I also let him watch Disney/Pixar movies, but I'll always watch it with him the first few times we see it, just so I can gauge material (because even if I've seen the movies, I don't remember every thing that happens), and if something scary/questionable comes up I can explain to him how to deal with it. Heck, even something like Snow White gets scary at spots (and yes, my son likes Snow White. Wanna fight about it?).
 
M

makare

Piotyr said:
PBS Kids or Sprout are generally safe to have on for kids of any age.

The Wiggles and Barney creep me out, though.

My 3-year-old loves things like Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Caillou, though. I also let him watch Disney/Pixar movies, but I'll always watch it with him the first few times we see it, just so I can gauge material (because even if I've seen the movies, I don't remember every thing that happens), and if something scary/questionable comes up I can explain to him how to deal with it. Heck, even something like Snow White gets scary at spots (and yes, my son likes Snow White. Wanna fight about it?).
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pfft whatever mang!

Toot, toot. chugga, chugga BIG RED CAR!

the wiggles rock.

 
Dei

Dei

I get pretty traumatized by the Wiggles too. Thankfully, my kids were more Nick Jr, than Disney Channel. Both too much sugar regardless.
 
Officer_Charon

Officer_Charon

I appreciate the preemptive strike on the advice here... I can already tell that we're going to have similar issues with Rhiannon, partly due to the fact that my wife is stuck at home with her all day, and has a little separation anxiety her own self whenever she's out of the room from her. Getting better, though.
 
Dei

Dei

Officer_Charon said:
I appreciate the preemptive strike on the advice here... I can already tell that we're going to have similar issues with Rhiannon, partly due to the fact that my wife is stuck at home with her all day, and has a little separation anxiety her own self whenever she's out of the room from her. Getting better, though.
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See, by the time you have a second kid though, you go from "OH GOD I CAN'T SEE MY KID WHERE IS HE?!" to "MOMMY JUST WANTS A LITTLE MORE SLEEP CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE GO DOWNSTAIRS AND BE LOUD THERE". Of course, my daughter (2nd child)is quite disaster prone, every time I used to let her out of my sight when she was younger she'd find a way to make a huge mess. (Got into an economy size container of Hot Cocoa Mix, spread peanut butter on the walls, dumped my spice rack all over the kitchen, managed to cut her big toe enough to need stitches when she decided she wanted a brownie from the pan on the counter....) Thankfully at 4 and a half she's more or less outgrown the need to be completely destructive, and now makes messes with her toys instead of mine. :p And honestly, since I was a stay at home mom, she was super clingy right up until the age of 3, when she started doing gymnastics that I couldn't go with her to. We had done Mommy and Me before that, so while she didn't like not being able to have me with her, she was so excited about gymnastics that she only sniffled a little bit.
 
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