No TV before school?!

It all depends on each household’s routine, time constraints and kids.
We had the telly on . It didn’t affect DD’s behaviour, we were always on time (with a bit spare most mornings) and our mornings are slowish, relaxed and chill (even now she’s a teenager). We walked to school, then she had an hour at breakfast club. It worked for us(and still does) so there was never any need to change it.

Some kids are awake super early.

@Shelllendyouhertoothbrushtoo

yes of course before they could read, you need to get them used to looking at pages, though mine weren’t at school until they were reading really, dc1 could read before school started

I never allowed screens before school, I don’t understand how people even have time to be honest. Mine barely had time to finish breakfast before we had to leave

Depends on the games they play.

Congratulations. Even before they could read?

Yes! Never had tv even when 5am was wake up time - we took turns every morning! Good time to connect and snuggle on sofa with books. I do think many British people put their kids to bed very early (7 is an obsession!) because they want an evening to themselves so then of course kids wake up very early too as 12 hours sleep isn’t achievable for most kids.

Yeah totally get that. I was mostly responding about TV as that’s what OP asked.

Honestly everyone is different, screens turns ours into little sods, not so much the TV but definitely the iPad so we reduced it right down. We made mistakes early on with meal times when we needed them to sit for a long time (cruise) and it took ages to get out of so now it’s severely reduced. No judgement here for anyone else but it definitely does impact some children’s concentration/attention span negatively.

Reading through the replies I there’s such a mix. There are some particularly smug ones.

I think it’s a bit like food - it’s all about balance.

Really?? 10 minutes?? Can you share the research that 10 mins of TV is that horrendous

Mine are the opposite, will not eat if the TV is on, too much of a distraction. They’re all different!

Yeah my youngest wakes up typically at 5.45 each day - we watch tv in the mornings. But they will also play, especially the oldest one. We don’t have to leave until 8.30 so would be a long old morning with no tv

Am i being unreasonable to ignore this advice?
You do what you want but personally I never 'allowed ' tvs untill after tea and homework, never mind before school.

The tv was never switched on and that was the kids normal. I didnt want the noise or distraction as it was mad enough getting g the lads ready and through the door.

I wasnt being a smug parent or anything, probably just subconsciously mirroring what happened when I was a child.
Now as adults the 'children' mimick their childhood ( in more ways than one!) They don't have the tv on when getting ready gor work and only turn it on to watch a specific programme and then turn it off once they leave the room for a while.

Both of my children play video games before school! And I have no issues with behaviour, getting them off the screens when needed or getting to school on time. They're both up 2 hours before we need to leave for school anyway. Both achieving really well at school. If it had an effect on their behaviour or learning then I'd think again but they're happy and doing well so it's fine.

Yes this, I watched many a Disney film at 4am with my kids when they were 1-2 years old!

Families need to do what works best for them. My autistic DD needed screen time to regulate her before school. She had a set routine and had to watch 30 minutes between breakfast and leaving for school or she would have a meltdown. She still managed to get Greater Depth in all her SATS.

Mine has T.V while he eats his breakfast (not allowed to be YouTube). If he was playing games/toys he would never eat breakfast, he's not allowed to play until it's eaten.

I sort of understand this with very young children (although personally no we didn't/don't do that). But this thread is about primary school aged children who are well capable of playing quietly on their own in their bedroom/looking at books/drawing whatever else.

Although to be fair only one of mine is in primary school and they've never been a super early riser. Most of the time we have to wake them up on school days. But if they do wake very early now and then they usually just occupy themselves in their room until they hear someone else wake up.

”My kids watch an hour of TV before school and are all in the gifted and talented program.”

🤣

Same here

Are you only interested in how it affects them academically?

I’m sure playing games on the bus doesn’t affect their learning much, but it sure as hell affects thei socialising, as if theyre playing games they’re not talking.

I’ve banned phone use while we’re in the car for this reason.

Ours get up at 6am, 5.45 at the earliest and tend to play in their rooms, usually making the marble run or playing their Tonies for 30-45 mins. We used to have it on but it made them like zombies and grumpy so stopped! Made such a difference!

Interesting that’s not what the professional educators are saying though…

No, if my kids ever got up early they had to read books.