Forbid totally or allow under supervision

DS has worked out how to open the DVD player, put a disk in and close it again. Consequentually some of his Wiggles DVD's are scratched and freeze up. I have started taking him away from the DVD player as soon as I see him going up to it saying "we don't play with the DVD, lets go read a book" (or whatever comes to mind). I said to DH last night that I was doing this & he said we should let him put a DVD in under supervision if he's going to watch something, because once the show starts he doesn't push the button. I don't think that'd work, and to get him to stop it we have to keep taking him away and not allow him to touch the DVD player.

What has worked for others?

Thanks for your help.

how old is your DS?
If he is a bit older and can be guided I would say supervision but if he is too young to understand maybe he will still scratch them? so prob best to wait til he is older.

I refuse to let either of my girls to use the dvd player. They choose a dvd and I set it up and turn it on for them. Too many dvds were getting scratched and I found it easiest to just avoid the issue altogether by banning their handling of the equipment. It does sometimes annoy me that I have to drop everything to put a dvd on for them when they are both capable of doing it themselves but its not worth the expense of replacing endless discs and the crying that goes on when a favourite dvd doesn't work anymore. I don't know if I've helped you make a decision either way but that's my reasoning for the refusal.

grab a parental lock from JB. :)

I have copied the originals of our DVD's and put the copies in the covers. My DS is 5 now though and is pretty good, but DD who has jsut turned 3 is still a bit reckless. so if one gets scratched beyond playing, I copy the original again instead of replacing if it is an absolute favourite!

We do the exact same as SamiH, copy the original & then he can use the copy to his hearts content.

You have to remember too guys, scratched dvd's being put into your player are damaging the laser. So its not really good to give the lil ones their own copies as it could take time off the life of the DVD player itself.

Just a friendly warning :)

I don't let Ash touch at all, cause I didn't want to confuse her that one time she is allowed to put in and then next time not allowed.

Thanks ladies. DH said he'll copy DS's DVD's when he gets around to it. Last night DS asked for me to put the DVD in, so maybe he's got the message that he's not to touch (but I doubt it - he loves pressing buttons)

no way is she allowed to go near the tv or dvd player... she has to ask and then i set it up for her... in our house watching dvd's is not a help-yourself-thing, its a treat... for me its important to teach her that she can't always have what she wants (otherwise she'd be glued to the tv 24/7, she loves it).

also i teach her that some things are for mummy only, and she's not to touch, and some things are for daddy only (the new plasma) and she is not to touch.... she understands and generally listens.