Is this a terrible idea - breakfast TV for kids?

[KiplingAngelCake]

Breakfast time is horrible in my house. DCs eat soooo slowly (around 30 mins to nibble cereal or toast) and bicker/fight and generally mess about. I'm tired of shouting/warning/cajoling/offering rewards.

This week we're trying to have one eating breakfast while the other one gets ready and vice versa. It's not going brilliantly either!

Now wondering whether to allow them to have breakfast in front of the TV - as long as there is no fighting and they eat all their breakfast.
Is this a terrible idea?

Instead of aimless TV watching, I'm thinking of Blue Peter on iPlayer or Newsround or something not too mindless (any suggestions?)

Is this a terrible idea? If so, any ideas on how to create a harmonious breakfast time?!! Thanks

My ds watches newsround every morning at breakfast time. He likes the routine of sitting down to eat his breakfast and watching newsround. He likes to eat without me chatting to him. It works well for us.

You could offer them tv once they’ve finished? That might speed things up a bit. My 3 are more likely to go into a stupor in front of the tv and not eat anything at all.

hate hate hate TV on any time prior to about 4 / 5 pm but am aware I'm probably in the minority!

TV after breakfast chez nous.

They need to be dressed and ready to go before eating - dressed, hair brushed, shoes on, bags and coats found and lunches made and packed.

Then they can have a leisurely breakfast - if they run out of time to finish eating, at least they are ready to head out the door.

Maybe they aren't hungry when they first wake up?

I don't like screens in the morning - it causes no end of dawdling. They are allowed to play or read after getting fully ready, but they tend to mess about when my back is turned.

Ive discovered that mine eat a hell of a lot better when they have CBeebies on for half an hour in the morning. They let me brush their hair, they are polite...when we don't put it on (maybe 1/2 mornings a week), it's because we have a little more time to play with. I think starting the day with newsround is excellent idea.

I cannot stand the ridiculous uproar on here over TV being a terrible demon. In real life I see no down side to a bit of tv when it makes sense. Mine have both watched a relatively large amount of tv, both spoken early with fantastic vocab, both love being out and about and other indoor activities too, both bright and communicative and more than fine.

Do whatever works for your family and try not to worry about judgement from others.

When ds was younger his morning routine was built around CBeebies times!

Now he uses the clock on breakfast tv as part of his routine!

My dc always watch tv in the mornings whilst eating their breakfast...are we not meant to be doing this?! It never occurred to me that it was a bad thing

The best stuff is on in the morning. Class Dismissed on CBBC is one of my favourites. Or sometimes we watch Everybody Loves Raymond over on Channel Four. Raymond has only ever been showed in the morning slot. It's very funny. My 10 year old really enjoys it.

Thanks all - will give it a whirl. Don't love the idea of them watching TV in the morning because I think it may make them even more lethargic and encourage more dawdling.
Like the idea of getting everything ready beforehand and then having breakfast (hopefully they will be a bit more hungry) with TV. Fingers crossed.

Yes meant to say, we only go downstairs for breakfast after washed dressed etc and ready to scoot out the door when We need to be out of there?

Yup. DS goes to school breakfast club. Gets up, has milk with either me or DW (depending on who's on drop-off that day). Watches Nick Toons and gets dressed whilst I finish getting ready. Timed it so that end of Horrid Henry means shoes on and out the door.

My daughter watches CBeebies for 5 mins each morning while having her hair done. She hates having it brushed and this makes life easier.