Should I limit my 13 yr old dd's TV watching - or just leave it?

[lavand]

Hi
My dd is really addicted to TV at the moment and it's the same stuff - repeats of Wizards of Waverley Place and Teen Disney stuff. It's driving me insane. I have told her she watches too much TV but she says she is bored. I try to encourage her to do something else and sometimes just turn off the tv. But of course she is at a sensitive age and I wonder whether she is just tired etc. Does anyone else limit their teens tv watching during the day? I am trying not to cause a huge arguement!
Thanks S x

[mumsamilitant]

Hi Lavand. My son is also 13 and watches repeats of these quite a lot. How much are you saying seems to be too much? I dont really restrict viewing time as he goes through phases, like we all do I guess. For a while it was PS3, Facebook etc.

To be honest she could be watching a lot worse these days!!!!

[ChrissyHynde]

I would let it go. In a couple of weeks she'll be on to something else ie pc games, wii, facebook and that will drive you equally mad!!!!

[inkyfingers]

I've been lax about TV watching I think with mine. If it's a phase, fine and she moves on to something else. But it might become a habit and then she'll be at a loss to know what to do if you say she's had enough. An hour after school to wind down if she's tired is fine.

You could suggest alternatives instead of just telling her to switch off ... ummm tries to think of something - cooking something (not just peeling carrots), hobby?? homework, playing out?

She could to choose two progs and then plan on doing something else afterwards.

Friends round to watch something together is much nicer than just vegging on her own and they'll probably chat all the way through anyway.

With summer hols coming up, mine will be on TV and Xbox a lot, but a variety of things to be done, bike ride, shopping trip will be suggested in the Inky household - including chores

[mo3d]

My 13 year old would watch the progs you mentioned all day every day if I let her. She gets completely lost in the TV, which I don't like.

My pet hate is when she's got up early at the weekend and watched a few hours before I've even got up. Then, if I ask a question, she replies in a rude way cause she's lost in the TV. So normally when I come down, the TV goes off. She's used to me doing that now and will cook cakes or read instead.

[lavand]

Hi
Thanks for the replies. She does go through phases of it, but lately she could just watch it all day if I let her. I suppose it could be worse. I will keep on suggesting alternatives to her. At least she knows that she watches it too much.

It can be frustrating though if you want to do something like a bike ride as a family but by the time they (I have a 14 yr old boy to) get themselves sorted it's well into the afternoon at weekends and holidays!

I don't want to nag them too much though. Thanks for the ideas and I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel like this.

[WillIEverBeASizeTen]

My DS (13) watches these particular programmes too, although not all the time, are they really bad?

[lavand]

Hi
No they are not 'bad' it's just that she sits there like a zombie through repeats of them, and could sit there all afternoon if I let her.

I'm going to chill about it and suggest other things to do and just turn it off if it looks like it's going to be on all day.