Tv in child`s room, good idea?

kabie

I really don't see the tv as an evil mind bender: depends what you watch. Bedtime stories and a tv aren't mutually exclusive; just because it's there doesn't mean it's on.
As for the ADHD thing surely that's either misdiagnosis or parents with an ADHD kid using the TV as a tool. Seeing as ADHD is a neurological difference rather than something you catch the TV couldn't be causing it unless you believe that TV somehow changes peoples neurology. Having said that it seems that physical activity can lessen problematic symtoms for an ADHD kid so if they're locked up inside and have a tv babysitter in preference to being active then it's not a good idea.
As many people have said it depends how much it's on and what they watch.

Poppy9

Just curious but a lot of parents here have said that their kids have TV's, PS2, DVDs, PCs in their bedrooms but are too busy out and about to use them. Therefore what is the point of having them in their bedroom? This is a moneysaving site so we shouldn't be buying things we don't need.:D

It will be a shame if other kids feel the need to bully my daughter when she is in senior school for not having the above in her bedroom. I think it says more about the kids though than my DD and I hope she will be able to see them for what they are. She is in a minority amongst school friends in having an electronic entertainment free zone (apart from her CD player) bedroom and no she can't chat to them about BB but she knows why she doesn't have them in her room and accepts the situation at the moment. She doesn't get any stick from her friends.

moggins

I can't see why there is such an extreme reaction or perhaps that is just me? Surely it's everything in moderation? I must have two of the skinniest kids in England so as for tv making them fat They both do plenty of exercise, DS is always out in the park with his friends, does cycle club, scouts etc. DD loves dance, bedtime stories and baking with Mummy. It's hardly as if all they do is watch tv. DD (4) has a reading age 3 years ahead of her actual age. Thanks to Dora she now speaks some Spanish, which we've encouraged and I'm teaching her German.

In complete opposition to this DS has just been told that languages will no longer be taught in his school, surely with living in the EU it is this kind of thing we should be protesting about rather than where the telly is situated in the house?

Ted_Hutchinson

lil_me wrote:

My son has Autism and ADHD, was diagnosed well before he got a TV in his bedroom. ADHD is a medical condition, not something caused by television. Like I said when this research was done I was never asked to complete any report on how many televisions we have and where.

This thread was about TV's in kids bedrooms.

This inevitably means unsupervised use of the TV when parents think the child is asleep or when they themselves are asleep. Any parent who trusts totally the honesty of their child regarding the use of the TV is probably going to be disappointed. I used to be a teacher and I know what programmes children were able to describe to me they had watched without their parents knowledge.

I think totally unsupervised TV for children is not proper parenting.

For a child with autistic spectrum disorders spending many hours alone with a TV, will do nothing to improve their social skills.

If this pattern of many hours unsupervised TV watching was present pre-autism diagnosis how can you be certain one thing didn't, in combination with other enviromental and dietary factors, lead to the other?

I appreciate the parent who shuts their child up alone with just a TV for company maybe themselves has a problem with social skills but it is a fact that children who spend a significant amount of time one their own with just a TV to relate to will fail to develop the same social and language skills of children who spend most of their time relating to other children and adults.

Of course there are a multiplicity of other factors which go into the development of any medical condition.

For a brain to develop and mature normally we know that the omega 3 DHA needs to be present in significant amounts. We know that mothers are often vitamin d and omega 3 deficient as the SunSmart policy encourages people to avoid the sun and diets generally only provide half the omega 3 desirable. Formula milk doesn't help as that also has little or no omega 3. Children with a deficiency of both omega 3 and vitamin d will be more likely to have immature imperfectly developed brains, given further opportunity to spend time alone in their bedrooms with an unsupervised TV, rather than outside in the sunshine relating with other children, will only exacerbate their problems.

The fact that you refuse to accept the evidence that unsupervised TV viewing tends to produce children with lower attention thresholds, increased tendency to violence, increasing tendency to eat the wrong things and failing to exercise their bodies fully, doesn't invalidate the research.

Prudent

Paulina_Fortune wrote:

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.

There are also strong links between too much television viewing (especially away from adults) and poor language skills.

Just seen Ted's post and can only endorse it whole heartedly. I am a learning support teacher and have seen too many children failing to develop proper langauge and social skills because of too much tv or computer games. Put a limit on 'square screen' time.

Toon

My daughter has a TV/DVD/Video in her room. She's 6. She doesn't watch it that much and does not have an ariel. Don't see the harm in it as long as she doesn't watch it every day.

lil_me

For a child with autistic spectrum disorders spending many hours alone with a TV, will do nothing to improve their social skills.

If this pattern of many hours unsupervised TV watching was present pre-autism diagnosis how can you be certain one thing didn't, in combination with other enviromental and dietary factors, lead to the other?

Because unsupervise television viewing wasn't present pre diagnosis as I said. Before he was diagnosed he wateched very little television. In fact he ignored it most of the time. I also would not class his viewing unsupervised now, he is only in his room when I am upstairs, he only has his collection of DVDs (mainly documantaries) and no aerial so can't watch anything else and I have to put them in for him. He uses it very rarely, mainly when I am upstairs sorting laundry etc as he can not be left unsupervised. As for communication, it improved when he started watching television.

But you also said about envirmental and diet factors so you obviously read a lot of articles, unfortunately I don't believe any had an impact on my sons life. My other son doesn't have ASD/ADHD and was brought up with the same boundries and lifestyle. Not willing to get into this arguement with someone on the internet who has limited knowledge on the subject sorry.

I agree with limiting viewing time, my children have had 40 minutes television time today. I am very strict with them and myself on both television and internet time as I believe too much internet can make people very lazy and agressive, especially online. I also don't see why the children should have rules imposed if we aren't willing to lead by a positive example.

I do agree with some research in that certain behaviours change because of too much television and internet, but I don't believe medical conditions are caused by this.

Sweet_Pea_2

My daughters are 7 and 10 and have TVs (with aerials) videos and DVD's in their rooms. It has never been an issue. They have had them probably for a couple of years. The TVs were given to us, the videos also, they had the DVD's as Christmas/Birthday pressies.
Neither of them ever switch them on during the day, the only time they ever request to watch anything is when they go to bed. They are not allowed to watch during a school night except Friday and Saturday as long as they are in bed at a reasonable time and then they watch a film of their own, not what is actually on the TV at the time.
They actually watch very little TV, they never come home from school and switch the TV on - they are too busy playing outside or doing the various clubs that they go to. The TV is usually switched on by OH when he arrives home from work! We have never made an issue of TV, if they want to watch it they can, (as long as it is suitable viewing for their ages) so they are so used to it the novelty has worn off. They have not watched any TV at all today.
If it became an issue I would do something about it, I definitely would not like them having their own TV's dividing us as a family, but neither of them fancy the idea of sitting upstairs on their own watching something. Quite often at bedtime they may be allowed to watch a DVD but would rather read a book or listen to a story tape instead.
I can quite categorically state that having TVs in their rooms has not turned them into couch potatoes ( quite the reverse, they have shedloads of energy, and do loads of sporting/dancing/team activities) they are not fat, and they haven't turned violent either!
Now dont get me started on internet useage because thats the bug bear in our house, it does cause problems. We only have one family computer which is downstairs in a visible place so we can see what they are doing. My oldest daughter does spend more time on it than I would like and does get up earlier than us to use it too, and it does cause arguments bectween her and her sister. OUr solution to this one is to switch it off. DD1 gets 30 mins maximum a day during the week only if she has done her homework, and OH has disconnected it at night so she cant come down early in the morning and use it either. Needless to say her request for a laptop in her room for her birthday has been turned down.
I think its all a matter of common sense and knowing your own children. Its amazing how many of my daughters friends are allowed to watch only a very small amount of TV, its very regimented by their parents. So they come to play at our house and the first thing they do is switch on the TV! DD's are saying "come on this is boring- lets go and play outside instead!" Exactly the same with "junk" food and trips to McDonalds. I think by banning or severly restricting something you increase its appeal. I use the "most things in moderation" with my two and find it works OK for us.

lil_me

No I don't make a big issue of it, just suggest doing something else instead, usually works. I refuse to get into battles with them over things like that as it makes it a novelty. Also don't use it as a reward.

Poppy9

It's so much more fun to watch TV (be it a programme or DVD film) with others. Take tonight we all did the Dr Who walk to the kitchen after watching the programme:D. I really can't understand the need for TV's in kids bedrooms.

We are not into limiting the amount of TV watched as it's never been an issue. However I do believe in controlling the content of programmes watch by my child. I cannot do this if she is watching alone (or with friends) in her room. Ted is right children will push boundaries just because they can. The remote control makes it easy for them to flick channels when they hear your footsteps. I know my DD thinks she can get away with things in her room because she is out of sight. Fortunately I have a good sense of smell and know when she is doing a painting with my nail varnishes!!