What mainstream things do you NOT allow your children to do?

Tenyearstogo

katieclampet wrote: »

Can I ask what's wrong with giving children weak tea? Mine all had a cup of tea from about 9 months old (in their own little cup, with a handle and help as needed).

Is this a new thing, (my children are grown up), genuinely interested to know.

katie

Tea inhibits iron absorption so not ideal for children. I'm in the everything in moderation camp though.

Mojisola

cazziebo wrote: »

We didn't have a TV at all until my DDs were early teens, and that was a gift from an uncle who thought lack of a telly was a form of child abuse! Both DDs were superb readers, and had read 70-80 of the most read book list which was published at the time...

It didn't last. Youngest DD only ever reads Heat magazine and spends every spare moment watching car crash telly. The oldest has encyclopaedic knowledge of every US drama series... They both certainly made up for the lost years! :rotfl:

Could it be because they were denied TV in their earlier years?

Our children watched TV and read books - the dyslexic had books read to him and borrowed audio books from the library. He now has a Kindle that reads to him.

They still read more than they watch TV.

The people who have set rules for kids - did you decide these before the children came along or have they evolved because of things that have happened?

valk_scot

katieclampet wrote: »

Can I ask what's wrong with giving children weak tea? Mine all had a cup of tea from about 9 months old (in their own little cup, with a handle and help as needed).

Is this a new thing, (my children are grown up), genuinely interested to know.

katie

The caffeine. Weak tea still contains a lot of caffeine and I really don't think that's an ideal substance to be feeding a nine month old baby, it's a stimulant after all. Milk and water are the only drinks any baby or small child needs. Even fruit juice is frowned upon nowadays unless very, very diluted (because of teeth), it's better to give fruit as the whole fruit as part of a meal or snack rather than juice. You wouldn't give a nine month old baby coca cola after all (at least I hope not) so why tea?

fluffnutter

Any telly with adverts is a no-no for kids, IMO.

notanewuser

valk_scot wrote: »

The caffeine. Weak tea still contains a lot of caffeine and I really don't think that's an ideal substance to be feeding a nine month old baby, it's a stimulant after all. Milk and water are the only drinks any baby or small child needs. Even fruit juice is frowned upon nowadays unless very, very diluted (because of teeth), it's better to give fruit as the whole fruit as part of a meal or snack rather than juice. You wouldn't give a nine month old baby coca cola after all (at least I hope not) so why tea?

There is such a thing as decaf tea.

DD has sipped our tea (once cooled) since she was little and if I make a cup on the weekend she'll often want her own. But she doesn't drink more than a few mouthfuls so I don't worry. If she was refusing other drinks to have tea I'd be concerned.

shortdog

I'm fairly laid back, it seems. I've banned squash (fresh fruit juice, water or milk only in this house), and my kids aren't allowed on large trampolines. Other than that, everything in moderation, and all the rest of that gubbins.
I have banned a couple of my daughters friends from coming in the house - one as she's a light fingered little brat, one as she was downright mean to my son every time she walked through the door, and the last one mainly because she irritates the living daylights out of me, never has a child made me itch to slap it so much ever, and for no apparant reason, so it's safer for both of us if she stays away!

fluffymuffy

fluffnutter wrote: »

Any telly with adverts is a no-no for kids, IMO.

In our house too. CBBC is the household's favourite channel anyway. Shame it ends at 7 though. Perhaps I could record it all morning in case anyone wants to watch TV after 7.

mummyroysof3

katieclampet wrote: »

Can I ask what's wrong with giving children weak tea? Mine all had a cup of tea from about 9 months old (in their own little cup, with a handle and help as needed).

Is this a new thing, (my children are grown up), genuinely interested to know.

katie

I think tea inhibits the absorption or a vitamin and can't remember which one but after reading about it when my eldest was little I decided not to give them tea. Me and hubby don't drink it anyway

notanewuser

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

I think tea inhibits the absorption or a vitamin and can't remember which one but after reading about it when my eldest was little I decided not to give them tea. Me and hubby don't drink it anyway

It's iron.

Mojisola

fluffnutter wrote: »

Any telly with adverts is a no-no for kids, IMO.

I think children need to be educated about advertising which is all around us even if we avoid the ones on television. I would occasionally talk about the adverts with our children and get them to see how they make the product look better than it is (toys that come to life, etc) and whether what they're saying in the adverts is completely true.