This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
As lockdown drags on, many parents are struggling to keep their little ones entertained without resorting to endless screen time. But one mum has come up with a genius solution to reduce her toddler's screen time, and it's been a game-changer.
According to a post on a popular parenting forum, the mum was fed up of her 2.5-year-old son constantly asking to watch TV or movies throughout the day. She decided to take drastic action and hide the TV from view by hanging curtains over it.
"I couldn’t STAND to have my son asking to watch TV / movies not only first thing in the AM, but also throughout the day," she explained. "Tantrums. Begging. I hated it. So, I put up curtains to hide it for, out of sight, out of mind - except for the late evenings here and there that we watch it."
And it seems to have worked a treat. The mum reported that her son has started to play more and watch less, even when the TV is eventually uncovered. "This weekend he mostly asked to go outside & go to the yard, and even when we DID watch TV, he played with his toys instead of staring at the screen!! YAY!!"
Other parents on the forum were quick to share their own tips and tricks for reducing screen time, including hiding the TV behind a blanket or using a projector that can be easily turned off.
