Tv in child`s room, good idea?

Alikay

Our are 12, 15 and 17 and don't have TV's in their rooms. Neither do DH and I. We've got a big TV in the living room and a tiny flickery portable in the dining room for emergencies (If DD and I need to escape the test cricket or grand prix!)
They have whinged about it in the past (apparently every single other person they know has a telly in their room!), but they know we won't budge. They DO get priority over us if there's something they want to watch -we agreed it's the price we have to pay for being rigid and victorian, but to be honest there's rarely any conflict.

Spendless

My son (6) has a video/dvd combi in room, but also without arial.

Crispy_Ambulance

DH and I have always agreed that our kids would not have a TV in their room - I say until their mid teens, he says never!

I have to admit I don't like the though of them sat up there alone watching telly. I know I could take the aerial out etc. but it makes an already somewhat antisocial activity even more isolating.

The pressure does seem to start earlier and earlier - I was truly shocked when DD started going to friend's houses for tea at the age of 5 and a fair few had TV in their bedroom. Maybe I am just behind the times?:eek:

jockettuk

my 11 yr old has one so she can watch her dvds .. we do watch tv as a family but sometimes she wants to watch a dvd that she so loves over and over and over etc. she asks me if she can watch a dvd/video buti also find that even though we have family time its also nice to have time apart and she can go upstairs and watch a film and we all have quality time apart.

Rikki

Crispy_Ambulance wrote:

DH and I have always agreed that our kids would not have a TV in their room - I say until their mid teens, he says never!

I have to admit I don't like the though of them sat up there alone watching telly. I know I could take the aerial out etc. but it makes an already somewhat antisocial activity even more isolating.

The pressure does seem to start earlier and earlier - I was truly shocked when DD started going to friend's houses for tea at the age of 5 and a fair few had TV in their bedroom. Maybe I am just behind the times?:eek:

My 17 year old doesn't have a tv in his room. Although he could if he wanted.
My 10 year old I would not allow.

Nope I totally agree with you. It is anti social and why pay for electricity for three or more televisions when you are all watching the same program. Sit a discuss the program at the time together. So much more a family.

culpepper

My son had one from age 11. We also gave him a 2nd hand video player and DD,DS and I, would nip upstairs to watch a video when OH was watching his never ending war films .DD got one when she was about 12 I think.
Neither of them watches much at all now. DD prefers documentaries. DS prefers his PC.
Its interesting people should say how bad it is to be watching TV alone though .
Both of my kids (teens)will spend all weekend reading if they have a good book and I dont expect to sit beside them and read too or discuss it with them.

We always turn the TV off for meal times no matter what is on.
I think TV can easily start to be in control of you if you let it and kids will soon get that habit .

wilburpig

We have one family TV, there is always something better to do than watch TV if the option isn't there. My kids are 12, 10 and 3 and I love to watch them playing camps, dressing up, painting, on the floor with the lego out or running around in the garden. There is no joy in sitting staring at the screen and I know that is what they would do if they could.

Paulina_Fortune

Hi,
I would strongly suggest that you resist putting a TV in your child's bedroom for health reasons. Recent research has suggested that watching TV invokes 'mild depression' while viewing.
A bedroom should be reserved for relaxing, sleeping etc. This will be for the best in the long run.
Good luck,
Paulina.

skylight

culpepper wrote:

We always turn the TV off for meal times no matter what is on.
I think TV can easily start to be in control of you if you let it and kids will soon get that habit .

Oh - this really annoys me! We have 2 TV's in the house, DD3/4 in their room (its DD3's TV but they share) its not on that often - they tend to listen to CDs through it rather than watch DVD's. We don't (won't) have one in our bedroom.

The main TV is not allowed on at any mealtimes, but at MIL's house? OMG! Its on from the second they wake up till the second they go to bed - full blast. They can be happy for hours in the garden, but the TV still has to be on - with no-one watching it.

I turned it off once when I went round. SIL went running to MIL when she saw it, saying "MUM! The TV's broke!"

The TV firmly controls that household!

fattyamal

My opinion is a massive NOOOOOOOOO.
Please don't fry your childs' brain!
Too much television screws with your head, believe me. Especially with children. I limit my 3 year-old to a maximum of 30 minutes a day & I try to sit with him to explain/discuss things.
OK, a bit of the discovery channel is educational but your mind literally 'switches off' when watching TV and long-term exposure has been proven to impede/slow your natural thought processes.
(And damn it, I've become a coach potato myself since this world cup began!)

God knows how much of our short lives we waste watching mindless pap on the TV. For some people I know, it is the highlight of their life! Otherwise intelligent human beings will spend hours watching other people live their lives...it's crazy. Read a book, go for a run, play scrabble, TALK to your friends/family! Anything - just smash the TV set, it's the human races only hope...

Seriously, paranoia aside, it is not a good idea. Your child will thank you for it in the long term.