No TV before school?!

I mean they can’t make you. But if they're mentioning it, that means there’s an issue and they’ve noticed. Take from that whatever you want really.

(personally no screens for us in the mornings or before bed but my kids were never good at regulating after television time and still aren’t great at it now. So it wouldn’t have helped us anyway)

Worrying about small children’s brains. What a bunch of bastards 🙄

Mine (6 and 9) have the TV on, and they do very well at school (and their teachers praise their behaviour). They don't always watch it either; my eldest might read instead, and my youngest gets up to all sorts.

I can absolutely see that it could be an issue for some kids, so I don't think it's a bad idea for school to suggest it to parents with have children that struggle in the morning.

I am curious.
Do you personally ever watch TV? Do you sit down and watch specific programmes at a specific time?
Why is that any different to watching a 10 minute programme before school (because that's the time it's on)?

If it takes 5mins then why 2hours between waking and leaving?

I’ve just banned all screens other than a Disney movie once a weekend because it just sends my 5 year old wild. Squirming, dysregulated, rude and snappy to us. So frankly not surprised school have asked this

“I have issues with a lot of school rules in the school and I don't really appreciate them telling what parents should do un their own house”.

It’s just advice. They’re not actually going to police what you do. Sadly there is such poor parenting in many households across the country that they do actually need the school to give some recommendations, such as not allowing phones in bedrooms overnight or tv in the mornings. It may not have occurred to some parents that it can affect how children perform at school, so it’s useful for the school to give this advice for those who would otherwise not have been aware.

I don't think it's the school's place to dictate what happens at home.

I really think it depends on your family dynamics – how early you get up, how your children react to screentime, what sort of things you're watching etc. We get up at around 6-6.30am and chill out with the TV on for a bit, usually a Disney film or Cbeebies... Then we move through to the kitchen for breakfast and everyone gets ready. I don't feel it had any impact on my kids behaviour. That said, we sit in the playroom and they're often playing with their toys with the TV on in the background, and they're not phased by screens in general (they get bored of the iPad in about 10 mins).

They aren't telling the parents what to do, they are providing advice.

We had no tv before school as a child over 40 yrs ago. I’d try and see how it goes, maybe a story to listen to or music instead?

We never put TV on before school they wouldn't want to move if we did, personally for us it wouldn't work prefer them to get up get ready eat and school

My kids are now at the end of secondary school and they’ve never watched tv before school. Why would you want them distracted in the morning when they should be getting ready?

We don't either as tbh I don't have time and it never crossed my mind to put it on

I can't see how youve time to watch TV before getting to school.

TV goes on for 20 mins before we leave so I can plait their hair (to prevent nits I do French plaited pigtails for both of them)

With a bike ride to school and then non screen time at breakfast club, I don't see the harm.

It's none of their fucking business, just who do they think they are. Watch it or don't - it's your child, your choice and your decision.

We're one of those wierd families that don't actually have a TV in the living room. We have one TV in DSs room with a dvd player hooked up that we watch a family movie on once a week if that. DS doesn't have a tablet or anything but does watch a program on one of our phones sometimes while we make dinner to chill out. Or sometimes on a weekend morning when we want him to have a little less get up and go so early. So yeah, I can see why it's not ideal before school.

@hoohaal you’re not the only one I do the same.

Why am I the only person that allows TV before school on this thread?!

Unfortunately I do let them watch TV before school. They are quite close in age and it kind of enabled me to get all of their lunches etc ready for school/nursery. It’s not something that’s ever crossed my mind tbh. I didn’t realise it was potentially an issue with school!

Yes you're being unreasonable (and stupid).

Why not give them a book, a task - anything but sticking them in front of a screen!!!

I'm pretty anti screen time but we do allow a screen while doing hair when everything is done. Walk to school and breakfast club gives plenty of time to switch back into school mode.

We have no tv or screens at all in the morning, never have. Your child can find something else to do can't they??

I just can’t get too excited about this. No screens until they are fully dressed and ready to go, but if they have a few spare minutes I don’t mind really. It’s not like they go straight from screen to the class room. They have a 20 minute walk. I might feel differently if I was bundling them in the car for a 10 minute drive.

I can’t remember a time ever ( and my kids are secondary now) where we’ve put the tv on in the morning? It never would have even entered my mind to do so!!

I don’t allow tv before school. Puts DS in the wrong frame of mind for learning, and impossible to get him motivated to do teeth/ inhalers/ get shoes on, and always ends up with a row. I take the schools point tbh.