do u talk to your kids about the behaviours you want and dont want?

[LimeSlice]

when a child is asking why why why what what what all day for every single little things probably because they are bored and its just driving you nutes its not learning or inquisitiveness its just boredeom and exhausting,
but you are in a home that doesnt allow dvds

what do you do ?!

Umm... answer their questions. How old is the child?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I tend to find out why DS wants to know why. It's usually boredom. We can do an investigation around his "why". Let him find out "why" by himself. Liebling doesn't really do "why?" though, he started it so I would give him a half-hour degree-level answer and/or run-through of my risk assessment for him. He knows it's a good way of getting my attention!

FWIW, we don't bother with TV most days. Sure it can be useful at 4am when I want to sleep a bit longer. But it's always more hassle than it's worth as DS gets cross if the wrong episode is on the DVD or he won't leave the house when I need to go out. We do a lot more music: either we play the piano, or I play as DS sings along and dances, or we both sing and dance together. Best distraction ever and good exercise for me.

(And yes, this is the child who decided tonight's conversation would be "do we eat..." naming fish, pizza, pasta, chocolate, bananas, apples, bread, water, milk, cheese... poo, wee, a trump, the bin and rubbish. Finding that we can't eat the bin was nearly had him in hysterics.)

[sue1386]

there is a normal level ofchildren asking why and whats that need to be answered and there is a bored level of constnatly asking because they are bored, that is just constnat and nagging and draining. it is not inquisitiveness. different people work differently but i personally find when a dvd is in the background then we still play chat read but at a pace that more easily allows me to also do housework, attend to baby, without a child constnatly asking why what why why why about every single thing just out of boredom. some home have dvds and some dont each parent does what they find best for their family.

[LimeSlice]

Watching DVDs all day when you admit they are bored witless is hardly going to be beneficial to them in the long term.

Charlotte watches DVDs, probably one or two a day, depending on our day and the weather. But if she is bored then it is my job to engage her, find her tings to do and attempt to interact with her -- that is what she is after, my attention, some interaction.
Plonking her in front of a television all day is hardly living up to my responsibilities as a parent - she would be better off in day care all day every day - at least they play there.
The most effective learning tool you have for your children is play, that is how the learn the most, in the most effective manner - what is watching DVDs ALL day going to teach them?
Kids are draining, you need to find effective ways to deal with that that aren't detrimental to their health - and watching television all day is NOT good for kids (there are 5001 studies done on this very topic btw).

Some days you will get your housework done, some days they are more demanding.
Have you tried getting bubs engaged in the chores with you? Charlotte helps me unpack the dishwasher and put the washing on, she loves it, she gets the broom while I vacuum, and has her own spray bottle of water and a cloth to help me 'clean' - she LOVES it, keeps her entertained, gives her something to do, lets me get some housework done, and we are doing it together, which is all they want.

We walk, we go to the park and tire her out, she plays outside - a bucket or water and some cups and tubs is excellent for this, keeps her amused for ages. If she is really bad and I am losing my mind, she has a bath which she loves also.
We read stories together (which will do a hell of a lot more good than DVDs ever will) and sometimes she just needs to understand mummy HAS to do something and amuse herself with her toys.

By teaching them nothing, you are teaching them nothing. Simple.
If it was working sooo well for you, why would you bother asking in two different threads what other people do and how else you can amuse your child?


ETA: You still haven't answered how old the child is either.