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TV in child’s bedroom???

145 replies

Hsolley0904 · 11/01/2025 19:10

Just wondering if anyone lets their children have a TV in their room, and if so what age?

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Glasgow1996 · 16/01/2025 14:31

PlayedOurFavouriteSong · 11/01/2025 20:59

Bedrooms are for whatever you want them to be.

Yup ur right! Lol

pooballs · 14/01/2025 22:44

Rumors1 · 12/01/2025 09:38

Absolutely not for her, she is the worst and would be on her phone half the night if she had it in her bedroom.

Will the rule continue once she’s 18?

TangerineClementine · 12/01/2025 09:39

I have three teens, no one has a TV in their bedroom (including me and DH).

Rumors1 · 12/01/2025 09:38

pooballs · 11/01/2025 22:56

Surely not for a 17-year-old??

Absolutely not for her, she is the worst and would be on her phone half the night if she had it in her bedroom.

sweetpickle2 · 12/01/2025 08:50

I think nowadays is very different to when most people on here had TVs in their rooms as kids- now you can set a TV up to be internet apps only (no aerial/terrestrial TV, just Netflix etc) and it would be very easy to only have certain apps and turn off the internet after a set time if you didn’t want kids watching inappropriate things/late into the night.

Eldermillenialyogi · 12/01/2025 08:49

We have a young child and I'd think at least 12 but then I know a lot of kids have their own iPads younger than this so can access everything anyway

TwirlyPineapple · 12/01/2025 08:46

I know a lot of people who are snobby about TVs in the bedroom, but their teens have phones and tablets so it's not really any different. I'd argue a TV was better actually, as what you can access on an online device is far worse than a TV.

Our son is only 3, so he barely spends any time in his room. I'd consider it when he's a teenager, although we're fortunate enough to have a playroom/den so would probably put it in there instead.

Elasticatedtrousers · 12/01/2025 08:42

No devices/screens at all in my kids rooms. Nope, not at all.

EndorsingPRActice · 12/01/2025 08:42

I got TVs for the kids when they were in 6th form. Pleased I did, gives everyone a little more space. But wouldn't for younger children, I liked family time and the kids were quite happy and didn't request their own TVs.

UsernameMcUsername · 12/01/2025 08:39

Nope - I have no devices in bedrooms rule. They're 10 and 13

Fetburzswefg · 12/01/2025 08:01

We don’t have TVs in any of the bedrooms in our house, but my children are too young anyway so my stance might evolve once they’re teenagers. If I felt they could be responsible about what they watched and when I might allow it, but I would be worried about it interfering with sleep etc.

BogRollBOGOF · 12/01/2025 07:59

DS2 has a large computer monitor. Technically he could use TV functions such as iPlayer through it. It's not orientated that he'd lie in bed watching it, and parental controls mean he can't use it after a set time anyway.

After outgrowing CBeebies at about 6-7, there was very little on TV to get his interest for years. In the past year, he's begun to enjoy some series like The Apprentice, Traitors, Race Across the World and Gladiators with me. Plus really getting into Horrible Histories.

DS1 is only interested in Prof Brian Cox documentaries. The actual TV in the room where he hangs out is rarely used.

Most younger generations are watching less TV, and there's not much family/ multi-generational content on mainstream TV channels. I'm in no rush for them to have TVs in their rooms at 11/14; all it would really do is increase opportunities for unsuitable content after bedtime.

SanDiegoZoo · 11/01/2025 23:56

We’ve never had TVs in bedrooms growing up and neither does my DD.

Had it briefly with my ex and after ~6 months we both agreed it sucked. My DP wants one but to be fair, I guess he games so it’s different. He can do it while we’re in the living room.

CorsicaDreaming · 11/01/2025 23:50

No I wouldn't. Hard enough to police all the various screens. We keep all screens out of DS bedroom.

sarahsarahsarahsar · 11/01/2025 23:36

Nope.
One TV in the house, never occurred to me to have one in my own room let alone the kids'!

RaininSummer · 11/01/2025 23:24

Mine never had tvs in the bedroom. None of us do as adults either.

Oneanonymouspost · 11/01/2025 22:59

Rather embarrassing but my not quite 2 year old has one in his room! Let me explain. It was our room before we reshuffled and it was on the wall so we didn’t move it as couldn’t be arsed plastering right away but he obviously wasn’t using it. However it’s come in very handy. His room is the only room in the house that is 100% safe and baby proofed as in, floor bed, some toys and nothing else, no furniture etc (he has a dressing room attached that he can’t access) and a baby gate across the exit. I occasionally stick him in there with an episode of paw patrol while I jump in the shower and watch him on the monitor, it’s actually great so no plans to remove it yet.

Im sure parents of other 20 month olds will understand the frustration of trying to shower/doing a poo etc without worrying that your toddler will dive off the dining table head first!

pooballs · 11/01/2025 22:56

Rumors1 · 11/01/2025 21:42

Mine are 13, 15 and 17 and no screens at all in bedroom including phones.
We have one tv in the living room and have to agree on what to watch.

Surely not for a 17-year-old??

pooballs · 11/01/2025 22:54

DS 13 likes to play on his Xbox so it makes sense for him to have a TV in his bedroom
rather than have it connected up in our living room.

We don’t have additional rooms for TV though. I know some parents who make a point of ‘no TV in their kids bedrooms!’ but have the extra space to have an extra living room or spare bedroom with a TV and console 🤷‍♀️

2chocolateoranges · 11/01/2025 22:44

I personally wouldn’t have a tv in a bedroom for children or adults. Bough mil did buy the children one for their room(against my wishes) it lasted a few months and we only used it for dvds at the weekend.

now my children are young adults and watch films etc on Netflix using their laptops or iPads.

Mumof1andacat · 11/01/2025 22:44

From 10 yrs old when we decorated his room. I had 1 in my bedroom from about 6, and I'm 40. I have turned out a normal person with a job, qualifications, and interests.

EconomyClassRockstar · 11/01/2025 22:42

I think it depends on how much space you have. We had one in our eldest son's bedroom when he was about 10 so he could watch something other than CBeebies which was on on the main tv. As our kids got older, we had a bigger house and then didn't need tvs in their rooms. Although, DH and I still have one today. DH likes watching the news while he gets ready for work.

But ultimately, it doesn't make you a better parent whatever way you go. It's just a bloody tv!

LondonLawyer · 11/01/2025 22:41

Never, here. No TVs in bedrooms (including ours) and no unsupervised internet access for children, it's living room only. No phones or unsupervised computer/tablet access for 10 yr old.

TerrysNeapolitan · 11/01/2025 22:37

This has been interesting reading. I was born in 1972 (Now 52) and I had a B&W tv in bedroom at a very young again remember watching Tenko and Bridge on the River Kwai on it. We only had 3 channels and I remember Channel 4 launching. Had a colour TV later and was addicted to brookside. Now I never watch TV at all. Just radio and YT. Has TV gone out of fashion? I have never watched for years now, it has been an interesting read....

thomasinacat · 11/01/2025 22:17

Nope, no TV, phones or computers in bedrooms. Kids need a break from all the tech, and it's not good wind down just before sleep.

I had a TV in my room as a tween & teen and like PPs, yes watched unsuitable stuff, and there's much more unsuitable stuff now on terrestrial TV.

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