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6-year-old asks for TV whenever he cries - is it wise to let him watch TV? (feddit.dk)

submitted 18 hours ago by SpectrumDT@feddit.dk to c/parenting@lemmy.world

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I am M41 and have a son who is M6. I have posted before about how he is quite sensitive and cries a lot.

Whenever he cries, he will ask for TV to calm him down. I am wondering whether it is wise to give him TV. I worry lest he learn that the way to handle unpleasant emotions is to distract yourself from them with (relatively mindless) entertainment. That doesn't sound like a great emotion management habit... but on the other hand, it might be good enough at his age.

For example, today there was a miscommunication with a friend's family. He thought his friend was giving him some toys, which was apparently not what the other kid meant. When my little guy was told that he could not take the toys home, he cried for a while, and it took TV to calm him down.

I would like advice. Is it fine to give him TV when he cries? And what alternatives can you suggest?

Thanks in advance!

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[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I think focusing on different ways to calm down is going to help a lot more here AND set up for success in the future. I put this in another comment, but I utilize the following when my kid gets wound up:

Going for walks

Cuddling and hugs (I always ask if he wants a hug, most of the time he will say yes. If he says no, I move on to another suggestion)

Talking about and identifying our feelings (It looks like you're feeling angry right now. How does it make you feel when XYZ happens? When I feel ____, I like to do _____ to feel better, do you want to try? etc, etc)

Drawing a picture of how we feel

Taking deep breaths (breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth)

All that to say, I'm not a parent that outlaws screen time. As an adult, I will often watch a movie for comfort or something similar. It's certainly one way to help distract, but I don't think it should be the ONLY way.