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Original poster

For thinking it's ok for DC to watch TV before school

189 replies

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 23/05/2024 08:31

If they're completely ready to walk out of the door.
We just got a TV in the lounge yesterday, and DH has gone a bit huffy about them watching it this morning.

Just want to check if I'm being unreasonable because DH has a tendency to be a bit of a party-pooper and I'm not sure if that is colouring my judgement and I'm unwisely pushing back against that.

Do your DC watch TV before school?

OP posts:
CoodleMoodle · 23/05/2024 09:10

Mine are allowed to watch TV or their tablets as long as they've got up and dressed for school without a fuss. They know that if they don't, then there's no screens. And they also know that if they don't turn it off when I say it's time, it doesn't go back on the next day. That also goes for Saturdays as we have to be out early for swimming. Sundays IDGAF what they do as long as they're not whinging!

Mine are 10 and 5.

Neeemo · 23/05/2024 09:10

I'm a lone parent. My son gets to watch 30 mins of tv whilst I get ready in the mornings. He also has to get dressed whilst the tv is on. Takes a lot of the pressure off. He watches some when we get home too. He's healthy, does e clubs a week, very athletic, has friends and play dates, very active and would choose the playground over tv any day. I think the issue is when children watch tv all morning, then all afternoon when they get home from school, and do nothing else.

SnapdragonToadflax · 23/05/2024 09:10

We allow screens before school as long as he's getting ready - if he stops it goes off. It's a good motivator. Also useful to keep him still while we do various things he still needs help with.

Possibly as he gets older this will change and it'll become 'No screens until you're ready'.

InheritedClock · 23/05/2024 09:09

No. To be honest, I’m really surprised so many people do.

WhatNoRaisins · 23/05/2024 09:08

I can see how it might cause a problem for some kids with distraction or them not wanting to leave but if it's not causing any problems I don't see how it's any worse than TV at other times of the day.

redskydarknight · 23/05/2024 09:08

bluetopazlove · 23/05/2024 08:58

I've never met a child that has caused a drama about switching off the tele to go to school yet .

You haven't met my children then. The house rule was that you could watch TV once fully ready (including shoes on and bags packed; the only thing left to do was put on a coat) and if you kicked up a fuss about turning it off when it was time to go , then the privilege would be removed.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 23/05/2024 09:06

We used to have the morning cbeebies shows on after breakfast.
It was time to go when a particular show ended.
If we were late, it's simple - "shows over - we need to run".

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/05/2024 09:05

No.

Ifyoucouldreadmymindlove · 23/05/2024 09:03

It’s the only time my kids watches tv. So I think it’s fine.

Bazinga007 · 23/05/2024 09:03

We.dont have the TV on in the morning, but it may be a good idea as our girls just loitor in the hallway and kitchen getting in the way.

YellowHairband · 23/05/2024 09:01

We do tv before school but only once DD is totally ready. Realistically this ends up being about 5 mins.

Chickenuggetsticks · 23/05/2024 09:01

We just don’t have time, always seem to be running 5 minutes late, plus there would be a fight over turning it off when it’s time to go.

Peaceandquiet9276 · 23/05/2024 09:01

bluetopazlove · 23/05/2024 08:58

I've never met a child that has caused a drama about switching off the tele to go to school yet .

Maybe time will tell but my 4 year old knows we have to leave for nursery school and makes no fuss when it’s turned off.

bluetopazlove · 23/05/2024 08:58

I've never met a child that has caused a drama about switching off the tele to go to school yet .

Sauvignonblanket · 23/05/2024 08:57

No chance

Changed18 · 23/05/2024 08:57

In the early years of primary school they could have the tv on once ready to leave the house - including shoes. Used to help them be ready earlier. Both secondary now - no one has had the tv on for years. Stopped well before the end of primary.

BogRollBOGOF · 23/05/2024 08:56

We timed getting ready around CBeebies. Breakfast at the end of Octonauts Grin

My DCs are ND (not that I knew that then) so it was very helpful to have time and focus chunked up like that.

DS1 would still happily watch Octonauts before school if he could, but secondary school is earlier and further away.

Treesaleaving · 23/05/2024 08:55

Gosh, the TV is used to distract from the ipad or the switch, both of which live in my bedroom overnight as DC were caught waking at half 5 and getting a good 2 hours of youtube in then creating hell at having to come off it.
If your DH requests no TV but the routine is working, he can do breakfast if he knows so much.
I like it because it has the little clock and we all know just how long we have.

iworkinauni · 23/05/2024 08:55

It's on most mornings here.
But only when completely ready to walk out the door, and it gets turned off at the same time every day. Any fuss about turning it off means we can't watch it before school.

minipie · 23/05/2024 08:54

Nope never in our house but we have to leave by 8am latest so there isn’t spare time anyway

Even if they were ready early I wouldn’t want it going on as there might be arguments about turning it off when it’s time to go “but it just got to a good bit” “but it’s nearly finished” etc

Growlybear83 · 23/05/2024 08:53

My daughter never asked to watch tv before school and I wouldn't have allowed it anyway. We always had the radio on while getting ready so I could listen to the news.

Needmorelego · 23/05/2024 08:52

We used to use Milkshake on Channel 5 as a timing method.
Although it was a pain in the bum when they changed the schedule around 😂

Fallingforwards · 23/05/2024 08:48

The other rule was if they made a fuss when it was time to leave for school then the next day there was no TV. It only happened once or twice. Now they do genuinely just turn it off when it’s time to go. No drama.

FrenchandSaunders · 23/05/2024 08:48

Have you not had a TV before then?

elizabethdraper · 23/05/2024 08:48

It would never even enter my head to turn on the TV in the morning,
So an absolute no in our house.

We listen to to the radio and chat about the news/sport and take part in the morning quizs.

this morning we had a little dance and sing along with that song"shut up and dance with me"