Does your toddler or preschooler want the TV on constantly even if they aren’t watching it? Or maybe they just want to sit and watch TV all day and don’t actually play?
I’ve been there. Here’s how we got around the need for the TV to be on all the time.
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Why Do Kids Want the TV on All the Time?
Well, it’s probably the same reason I do. It’s just what I’m used to. Even if I don’t want to watch it, it just feels wrong if the TV is dark.
It’s kind of like a security blanket or a nightlight. We’re used to the light and the sound.
You can just say no and leave the TV off. That is an option. But I found it’s much easier to compromise.
The trick to getting kids to actually play while the TV is on is to find something they don’t want to pay attention to.
Otherwise you end up with your 4 year old just holding her PJ Masks toys while she watches PJ Masks.
Put Music on Your TV
The easiest way to keep your preschooler or child from watching the TV is to just put music on.
Sure, we could just put the music on the Echo Dot, but she wants the TV on. So I use the Spotify app on my Firestick to play the music out of the TV speakers and so the screen lights up.
We pay for Spotify Premium so I’m not sure if you can do that with the free version.
You could also use Amazon Music Unlimited.
What type of songs should you put on? That’s up to you and your kid.
You could put on general kids music like the Wiggles or nursery rhyme songs. Or just their favorite popular songs (edited of course.) You could even try putting on classical music.
Toot is very into Sia currently, but she also enjoys kid songs like the Daddy Finger song and Baby Shark.
Try Audiobooks or Podcasts on The TV
Another option is to play an audiobook or podcast through your TV.
We can play Audible on our Fire Stick. So sometimes I’ll put on the Harry Potter audiobooks. She doesn’t really pay attention to it but it’s nice to listen to and isn’t completely age inappropriate.
There are also podcasts for kids that are short stories. Some even have music and sound effects.
Stories Podcast and Storynory are our favorites.
You can use apps on a smart TV to play them. We use Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn to listen to podcasts on the TV.
Use Your Own Background Show
What show do you put on as background noise while you’re doing something? Is it The Office? Friends?
If it’s relatively acceptable for your child to watch it, put it on.
We’ve been watching The Office on repeat since I was pregnant with Toot. She knows Michael Scott, Pam, Jim, and Dwight. She’s so used to their voices and the theme song. She literally grew up with it.
She has no interest in actually watching the show because she doesn’t get the jokes, and she doesn’t care to even try to.
But she does like the familiarity of the voices of Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson.
Just make sure there’s nothing on it that would scare them and the content isn’t too mature. There is one Halloween episode I make sure to skip if she’s in the room. (The one where Gabe makes an uncomfortably scary video for the party.)
Ambient Rooms or ASMR Rooms
I recently found ASMR rooms on YouTube for myself for when I’m reading. Again, because I can’t NOT have the TV on. I turn on an ambient room for the light and quiet sounds.
Most of the ones I’ve found are very specific like the Harry Potter common rooms. But there are some generic ones like ocean waves or meadows.
Most are at least an hour long with some being 8 or 10 hours long. They are usually looped. Some will just be quiet noises that go with the scene, and some will have gentle music to accompany it.
Just search for Ambient Room or ASMR room on YouTube. You’ll find a bunch.
What do you put on your TV in the background while your child is playing?
Let me know in the comments below if you have any other ideas for compromising on TV in the background while playing.
Or do you just say no to TV? How do you get your kid to accept the TV being off?
Julie says
I am not used to this but my husband says when the TV is on that’s how you know someone is home. That changed when we stopped cable though haha.