Improvement in toddler’s behaviour after stopping TV

Yes!! My friend had banned her kids from screens and they were so much calmer and happier. My son was obsessed with watching things on my iPad as we didn’t have a TV, but it was at the point where he would not do anything else, and all day every day he would ask for the iPad and scream!! He wouldn’t play, wasn’t happy, would stand silent and still when he watched it… I tried limiting it first but this didn’t really work as he still cried for it all the time - finally decided to take the plunge and ban screens completely and omg the improvement is unbelievable, he’s like a totally different child! So much easier to handle, plays independently, chats and laughs all day, doesn’t ask for snacks so much, totally changed our lives tbh

100%. No screens make sooo much difference. No screens reduce tantrums and then your child actually engages with their toys and surroundings much better

My daughter has always had minimal screen time (10 mins a day while doing hair only, 30mins show when sick/listless or needing to extend a wake window) and she does have minimal tantrums, nothing like the trickiness I've read about on here. I can't give a before and after as it's always kids temperament as well, I'm sure there are highly emotional/sensitive kids who don't have screen time that still struggle. It's not a guarantee but it won't hurt.

@Helen I agree, I’ve also seen kids who are fine and will play while they watch something, but I think it is worth trying to remove screens is your child is having lots of tantrums because it does help for some

It’s worth trying since too much of anything can become a problem, but also don’t be too hard on yourself if zero screens is just not possible for you. Obviously no screen means more engagement with you, which is great for your kid but not always possible for everyone. I say this as a full time working single mum. My kid gets lots of time with toys, outdoor play and engaging with me and others readings books etc, which is ideal, but also an hour or two of screentime most days, and that really helps make it possible for me to do housework, cooking and other tasks. Nobody’s perfect but we all do the best we can. I found that an hour or two of screentime is fine as long as he’s also getting exercise and engagement with me and others too.

I would say if you’re looking to cut screens go to an environment that supports that - just to initially break that habit. The park, soft play, local library, play groups/ stay and plays etc. it’s easy to give in when you’re home and just want a break yourself. We only do tv at the weekend - an episode of paw patrol - and otherwise it’s no screens apart from if my husband has some sport on. Unless she’s ill my daughter will quite happily play by herself for long periods of time.

As Helen, we keep screen time to a minimum, we just started doing 20-30 mins of TV at the weekend when I'm alone with him all day and we do video calls with our families abroad. And while he doesn't always like the word no, and he can get upset particularly when tired or hungry, we don't really get a lot of tantrums or they pass pretty quickly. So can't speak of a change, but my nephew really changed for the better (more calm and able to focus more and play independently) when they restricted his tablet time (he's 5).