To think that no, I don't want to watch cbeebies all day

[Writerwannabe83]

I have a DS who has just turned 11 months old and he has very limited interest in the TV unless he's climbing up it or banging his toys against it.

I will very frequently have the TV on in the background when I'm playing with DS but this is mainly so I can catch up on my recorded programmes by half listening to them as it's rare I actually get the chance to properly sit down and watch them.

Sometimes though, if DS is happily entertaining himself with his books or toys I will settle on the sofa and watch TV with a cup of tea for twenty minutes.

I have never seen a problem with any of this.

However, on three occasions now I have had friends visit (without children) and whilst they are here I obviously have the TV volume down but it's still showing a recorded programme that I'm semi-watching as I like background noise plus it means I can still take occasional peeks at the screen to follow the storyline.

During their visits, when I left the room to get them a drink or go the loo or something I returned to the living room to see they had put cbeebies on and turned the volume up so that "DS could hear it"

I can only assume that on all of these occasions they thought that if the TV was on in the background then it should be on a channel that is designed for children.

I wouldn't mind so much if I returned to find cbeebies on but that DS was engrossed in it, but he never ever is. He's paying no notice to it whatsoever.

It really annoys me, their assumption that DS wants to watch cbeebies or that I'm doing him some kind of disservice by it not being on.

I also think it's pretty rude to change someone's TV channel when they leave the room

The only time DS really watches the TV is when I'm watching The Chase

I know cbeebies is likely to be a Godsend as DS gets older but do I really have to have it on all day just because I have a child??!!

It drives me mad!!

I may start hiding the TV remote when these specific friends visit

[emkana]

Tbh I would find it rude if people I visit had the tv on - turn it off! I would not have been happy when my children were that young to have adult tv playing in the background.

[BloodyDogHairs]

Turn the tv off when you have visitors.....and put the remote out of slight.

[StarlingMurmuration]

I would assume, since they're childless, that they have no idea how to entertain your son and put cbeebies on in the terrified hope it'll keep him occupied until you return. At least, that's how I felt when left alone with friends' children before I had DS.

[CalleighDoodle]

Is this a reverse? Surely you know yabu? And rude! You have people around but are watching the tv with one eye?!

[googoodolly]

YABU to have the TV on when people pop over for coffee - it's rude!

[Wineandrosesagain]

It's pretty rude to have the tv on whilst you have visitors, and taking peeks at it to follow a storyline?? How odd.

[onepieceoflollipop]

You take "occasional peeks to follow the story line"!?
I think this is rude. either invite people to watch a programme with you, or turn off and enjoy their company.

[Yangsun]

As the pps say I think it's incredibly rude tohave the TV on when you have guests (unless they're staying for a week). It is also a bit rude of them to change the channel too, I can only think they didn't know why you would have the TV on for you given that they had come to visit you. The rest of the time I agree with you that you are fine to have your own TV programmes on in the background.

[MotherOfInsomniacToddlers]

I'd find it a bit rude you having the tv on and having a sneak peak at the story line while id come to visit you. Maybe they have changed the channel to cbeebies because they have got fed up of you watching tv when they are visiting or they are assuming that you aren't watching it because you have guests.......

[MissDuke]

I must admit the tv on in the background is one of my pet hates. I am training to be a midwife, and am amazed at home many people don't turn the tv down (or better still off) when we go in - sometimes I am literally shouting to be heard. I never have the tv on in the background at home as I really dislike it, so am really conscious of it. Turn the telly off!

[Ineedacleaningfairy]

It's rude to have the tv on when you have visitors unless they are coming over specifically to watch a film. I don't like my baby to be around adult tv as quite often there is shouting/aggression which even though my baby doesn't understand the story line (he's 3 months old) he would pick up on the negative emotions.

[BsshBosh]

YABU. Why on earth would you have the TV on at all when friends are visiting? I had a friend like this and it just felt rude (unless we were birth actively watching a programme together).

[stardusty5]

I do not think that Yabu. I always have the tv on when people are round, with volume low and not watching it. I hate silences and think it makes it less formal. All of my friends and relatives do this too.

I also do jot think that yabu for watching grown up tv when your child is playing. Maybe not The Walking Dead or something but I doubt Location Location will poison many young minds

[Writerwannabe83]

Do people seriously have the TV off when visitors are over?????

I turn it off if we have something important to discuss but if it's just a friend popping in for a visit I don't turn it off. I visit people all the time, friends and family and the TV is always on. I would feel very awkward in a silent room

Maybe the TV issue with visitors should have been an AIBU on it's own

I'm genuinely surprised that so many people switch their TV off whenever somebody comes round

[Schmoop]

yanbu
My ds is nearly 1 and unless a catchy jingle comes on couldn't give a hoot about the TV. His exception used to be The Chase too, the red and blue colours and constant little jingles got his attention. I draw the line at putting Jeremy Kyle on but watching the odd quiz show isn't going to scar him for life.
I don't think it's rude to have the TV on when you have guests either although I normally stick a music channel on and have it on low as a bit of background

[Annarose2014]

I'm genuinely suprised that you would find it awkwardly silent without it on!

If you're really stuck put on a CD - but not switching off the telly is awful.

"I want your company but do you mind if I don't give you my divided attention? I want to catch up on Wolf Hall whilst you're nattering on"

[crazylady12]

So when people come round we supposed to turn the tv off I never have even if it's the health visitor.

[GetSober]

I agree with PP in afraid - while I don't judge others on the subject (their house, their rules) I always insist on switching off the TV when we have visitors. Partly because I feel it's only polite that if you have invited people round, you give them your full attention. I also like background noise, but would put music on rather than the TV.

The other reason is that DS1 is a telly addict and if it remains on, the chances of him actually playing with visiting friends (even if he's begged for them to come over) are near zero!

I agree with others, I would imagine your visitors may feel that if you leave the TV on while they are there, it's fair game to use it to try and help entertain your DS when you are out of the room.

[cariadlet]

They were rude to switch the television over without asking. You were rude to have it on when you have visitors. I can understand people having a music channel on quietly in the background - that's no different to having the radio or a cd on. But to have a recorded programme on so that you can catch up on it while still trying to have a conversation is awful.

But television on in the background is one of my pet hates anyway - especially when children are around. It doesn't do their listening skills, concentration or language development any good at all.

Far better to have the tv off most of the time and play with children. Maybe sit down together and watch a few programmes on cbeebies when toddlers are old enough to be interested. When my daughter was that age I used to watch 1 or 2 of my programmes when I sat down for a cuppa (mostly during her naps), and save the rest for when she'd gone to bed. When children are that young you still get the evening to yourself.

[littlesupersparks]

Agree with the others - I would never have the tv on when visitors are there. I will switch it on to children's tv if the kids are tired/fractious but would never 'sneak a peek' at or watch tv myself!

[CupidStuntSurvivor]

Depends on the guest.

When my mum is over, I don't shut off the TV. And she frequently turns it up or over. But it's my mum and we're both comfortable doing our own thing. And I'm not actually watching the TV while she's there, because she's there and it would be rude.

But...if it's an acquaintance or health visitor, that kind of thing, the TV goes off.

The only exception is when someone turns up unannounced...It's a pet hate of mine and very few people can do it without me being irked. So the TV stays on.

[RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime]

How can you keep up with a storyline while talking to a friend? Don't they mind that you're not really listening to them, or keep breaking off the conversation to watch the TV?

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

The absolute most annoying state a TV or radio can be in, is turned on but with the volume turned down to very quiet but not mute.

Have thing thing turned on but at a volume everyone can hear, or turn it off.

It's a pet hate of mine to have background noise at a volume you can't here properly. I don't care what channel, but on or off woman, otherwise it's like fingernails down a blackboard or a dripping tap...

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

*hear not here