How can I get my toddler to read instead of watch videos all the time?
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I used to leave my 3 year old in the care of my sister when I went to work. Unfortunately, she liked to plop him down in front of her iPad watching YouTube videos. ![]() |
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Answers (9)

This is also my concern. Although my 3-year-old does not watch on an iPad or a cellphone, watching Youtube on a TV still needs to be regulated right. I guess we cannot force them to stop watching videos, if they still see us, parents, doing the same thing. They will definitely resist these new rules for sure!
A few weeks back, my daughter cannot take her eyes off her cellphone or IPAD. But we have to slowly take it away in preparation for her homeschooling. I don't think it can be of help if we are to take the gadgets abruptly. So what we did was to keep the gadgets and make her busy with her toys. We even bought some wooden toys that were of her interest so she won't be looking for her gadgets. I think that if we are to take away anything from a toddler, we must make sure to replace it with something that will catch her attention and will make her busy.
By next week, we will slowly limit her screen time on the TV. I know it will work because we have done it so far with the mobile phone and IPAD with ease.


Definitely go for the real books over the kindle ones. For toddlers, they love all things interactive so books that have lift up flaps like 'Spot' are always popular for those reluctant readers. You might like to consider taking your child to the local library and making it a fun, regular outing together. That way you can immerse them in new books and make the whole thing an enjoyable experience. Play groups and kindergyms are other great ways to entertain toddlers away from a screen and get out and explore the world together :)


I'm sorry if this is just echo-ing all of the other answers but my first thought is, keep reading and iPad time separate. Don't have them read on a screen. Find actual books, keep them around and make sure you set aside a dedicated reading time. Even if you are the one doing the reading, it's so important. I am so sensitive to this topic, as my son has too much screen time. Thankfully he likes to read so if I make him shut off his screen, he's fine jumping into a book. But that took some time to implement. There are so many great books for kids of all ages at your local library and, also, look around your neighborhood for Little Free Libraries. Those are great places to find books for your kids.


Similar to everyone else ! I leave hard copy colourful books around the house in boxes close to the TV area and dining area so that when we are around these areas, my kids naturally gravitate to find a book (when the TV and screens are off). Plus modelling reading myself to them, even if there is not a lot of time to do this, at least picking up a book in front of the kids and showing interest myself in reading can also pique their interest.


I think it’s a challenge faced by every mother these days. Our children grow up watching different types of screens – television, tablets, cell phones etc. No wonder, they find moving, shining and singing objects more attractive than silent and static books.
They enjoy screen more because we all model it in front of them. They find books not that attractive, because they hardly observe us enjoying reading. We should read books to our kids from very early age so they learn to enjoy it.
I tried to bring few changes in our family routine to incorporate more reading. Some of these might be of help for you. We have a box in the living room, everyone has to leave the electronic gadget in that box while we sit together. When my kids were younger, we used to read story books together in the evening. We used well illustrated picture stories so children could take turn in reading stories/pictures.
You can even have a home library and your kids can chose which story they want to read on a specific evening. My kids loved dressing up like characters of their favorite story characters on weekends when we used to have role play activities.
I think for younger children having a physical book to touch, feel, turn pages and read can be more effective in developing reading habit. You might consider using paper books and then move gradually to kindle.
