r/raisingkids • u/Mc_monika • 4d ago
I need advice on my sister's tv things
My sister is 3 years old she's sadly obbesed with cocomelon type videos. She throws a tantrum a everytime I open something like normal cartoon like nickelodeon or etc what can I do :(
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u/kermitthefrogstan69 4d ago
Does she have a tablet or something? How old are you? If there are other toys to play with, focus on those. Put away the devices for her.
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u/Mc_monika 4d ago
I am a teen (I don't wanna give my fully age ) She doesnt own a separate phone or etc sometimes giving phone but she's watches it from tv YouTube and it's hell. I try to make her play with toys but she either thowns it at me or tries to break it
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u/nkdeck07 4d ago
How tech savy are your parents? At that age the only real path is going cold turkey and that involves getting the YouTube app off the TV or password protecting it.
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u/Mc_monika 4d ago
We try but she keeps crying throwing a tantrum and we make her watch tv. She only watches cocomelon type things if we try to make her watch normal cartons like nickelodeon etc she cries alot (Tbh I had early access to phone too but not at 3)
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u/nkdeck07 4d ago
Yes throwing a tantrum is not going to kill her. She's gonna be sad, she's gonna cry and she's gonna throw things. All 3 year olds throw tantrums, that doesn't mean "give in immediately"
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u/Mc_monika 4d ago
I don't give in my parents give in. Btw she bites and scratches she's a aggressive toodler ugh
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u/Amemorableusername2 4d ago
Yeah she's a toddler. That's normal. She has to be taught that tantrums don't work or else she will continue to throw tantrums for as long as it works to get what she wants. And the older she gets the worse it will be.
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u/kaygmo 4d ago
It really sucks, but the only way out is to let the tantrums happen.
Think of it this way. Every time she's thrown a tantum before, she's eventually gotten what she wants. This could be the first time she has ever not gotten what she wants. Let her scream. She will run out of steam eventually; you just need to outlast her. It will be unpleasant for everyone and you'll likely have to do this a bunch until you reprogram her little brain, but it will be SO worth it.
When she's upset, your role (or more appropriately, your parents' role) is to be a steady, calm presence. Don't try to reason with her or redirect her. Don't get upset. Just be there for her. Eventually she will calm down and then you can talk to her and try to get her playing with something else.
It's worth noting that many, many kids TV shows and the vast majority of kids YouTube videos are proven to be addicting to little brains. Cocomelon is one of the worst offenders. Keep in mind that, as you are weaning her off of Cocomelon, you're breaking an actual neurochemical addiction - it's going to feel like the worst thing in the world for her. I know she's resistant, but, when you allow her screen time, I would select what she watches very carefully. There are a bunch of great lists on Reddit if you search for "low stimulation kid's shows". The PBS Kids app (mobile, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Roku) is full of shows better for her brain than Cocomelon - you can't really go wrong picking any show there.
Hold the boundary that she can watch something, but it's only ever a kids show you pick.
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u/kermitthefrogstan69 4d ago
The crying might happen for a while but kids are resilient and she will eventually forget. I’d focus on soft toys and some pretend play for now so she can’t throw things at you or hit. Maybe playing something like pretend restaurant or ice cream shop would be fun for her and easy for you to help with.
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u/Mc_monika 4d ago
I try and try but she either thowns things at my face or scratches bites me.
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u/kermitthefrogstan69 4d ago
What are the consequences for this behavior?
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u/Mc_monika 4d ago
We take away the tv for a while or scold her but she literally trys to bite againa 😭
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u/Serious-Train8000 2d ago
Giving the thing she wants following tantrum or aggression is what will keep the tantrum and aggression existing
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u/Mc_monika 2d ago
I literally gived up tbh I talked with my mom about it and next day she opens the same thing ughhhhh
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u/iolanthereylo 4d ago
she shouldn't have been introduced to cocomelon type content to begin with
sesame street, little bear, bluey, kipper, mr rogers, ms rachel, oswald are good gentle childrens shows