Any tv avoiders, please help

[PetitFilou1]

Ds is getting up at 6am, saying he wants breakfast and then not eating the sodding cereal, just getting down and switching the tv on. When both me and dh need to get up to get to work and get ds and dd to nursery beforehand I don't know how to stop him watching so much tv in the morning. Dh will get out of bed to give him a bowl of cereal but then gets back in bed while I get up (and I can't make him stay up with ds as he is really crap in the mornings). I'm also finding it really hard to occupy him on my days at home with the children. If we're not outside or with other children (he really misses the nursery children when he's away from nursery) he just constantly asks 'can I watch tv' and throws a wobbler when I say no. He has it on for an hour over lunchtime and before his bath but just wants it on all the time. He would sit glued to the damn thing all day if he could. Sometimes I am glad of it for a break but don't want him attached to it. He is bright and has a vivid imagination, just seems easily bored and distracted (like most 3.5 year old boys I guess). Help?

[PetitFilou1]

Colouring holds about as much interest for ds as eating fruit (ie none) sadly. Duplo - he loves plays imaginary games with someone else once it is built but not actually building it (aaargh) Stickers he likes but he would want to do it with you....

[FirenzeandZooey]

I use audio tapes, you can get lots from the library.

Things like a big lump of home made playdough work very well here as well. Or getting in the bath and splashing around for an hour or so during the day rather than at bedtime.

[PetitFilou1]

Franny thanks, I may try the audio tapes idea, you never know...

[PetitFilou1]

Brilliant, thanks, will try it tomorrow.

[Pruners]

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