Parenting: How do I distract my kids without using screens?
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This episode of 'Parenting on Moncrieff' addresses three pressing parenting challenges with practical, empathetic advice from Joanna Fortune. First, a parent struggling to balance late evening work with young children at home seeks non-screen distractions. Fortune suggests creative, play-based activities like collaborative Lego builds or book-based creative tasks, while acknowledging that screen time may be necessary—offering scavenger hunts to make it more engaging. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and avoiding burnout. Second, a mother describes her daughter being persistently targeted by a classmate through physical aggression and humiliation, leading to behavioral regression at home. Fortune validates the child's distress, advises naming the unacceptable behavior at home, and encourages teaching emotional literacy and friendship boundaries. She urges escalating concerns to school authorities with specific evidence, especially as the situation continues beyond the classroom. Third, a parent of a two-and-a-half-year-old only child expresses guilt over not having more children and worries about frequent tantrums where the child demands one parent leave. Fortune reassures that tantrums are developmentally normal, not linked to being an only child, and suggests using gentle but firm boundaries, repair after meltdowns, and reading books like 'Barbara Throws a Wobbler' to build emotional vocabulary. The episode concludes with a strong emphasis on emotional regulation, age-appropriate limits, and self-compassion for parents.
Use open-ended, creative play (like Lego builds or story-based tasks) to distract kids without screens during work hours.
When screen time is unavoidable, use structured activities like scavenger hunts to keep kids engaged and present.
Name and address behavioral shifts at home as unacceptable—especially when they stem from external stress—using empathy and clear boundaries.
Teach children to recognize 'safe friends' versus 'hurtful friends' to build emotional resilience and self-worth.
Escalate persistent bullying to school authorities with specific evidence, not just general concerns.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Balancing Work and Kids: Non-Screen Distractions
“If you're doing that, have some... pre-prepared scavenger hunt lists. A clock, a plate, a table, a bed, you know something kind of niche like an aeroplane or that mightn't be there and they have a little list each and they watch whatever you put on for them and they have to tick off the list when they see the items.”
Addressing Bullying and Emotional Fallout at Home
“You have to explicitly name the behavior that your daughter is doing at home as unacceptable. This will not be tolerated. You are not allowed to behave like this.”
Tantrums and Boundaries in Toddlers: The Only Child Myth
“There is no evidence of this. It is old wives tales and just people not staying in their lane that talk to you about, oh, if he does sibling, it'd be. No, it would be different for sure. But you still have this tantrums.”
Building Resilience and Emotional Vocabulary
Joanna recommends using picture books like 'Barbara Throws a Wobbler' to help toddlers understand and process emotions. She emphasizes the importance of repair after meltdowns, outdoor activity, and consistent boundary-setting to support healthy development.
“You have to explicitly name the behavior that your daughter is doing at home as unacceptable. This will not be tolerated. You are not allowed to behave like this.”
“If you're doing that, have some... pre-prepared scavenger hunt lists. A clock, a plate, a table, a bed, you know something kind of niche like an aeroplane or that mightn't be there and they have a little list each and they watch whatever you put on for them and they have to tick off the list when they see the items.”
“This is not a teenage like behaviour shift. It's a child acting out and acting out because of what they're putting up with.”
Host
Guest
Joanna Fortune
person
Sean Moncrieff
person
Newstalk
media
Scavenger Hunt
other
Barbara Throws a Wobbler
book
Daycare
other
Lego
product
Senior Infants
other
Nadia Shireen
person
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