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Original poster

Teens - tv in bedroom or not?

33 replies

Canshopwillshop · 22/03/2019 11:26

Just a quick canvas of opinion on whether to let 14 year old DD and 12 year old DS have tv’s in their bedrooms? DH and I have never had one but it seems to be the norm for so many teens.

At the moment DD watches Riverdale etc on her phone in her room (only early evening - phone out of room at bedtime) so I’m wondering if she might as well have a tv to watch it on instead. However she still likes to come down and spend time as a fami,y watching Netflix/films etc so I don’t want to jeopardise that. Also worried about the effects on sleep quality etc.

What are people’s thoughts?

OP posts:
AdamNichol · 22/03/2019 11:47

I'm a 1980s only child. I had a TV and Sega in my room from about age 11. Didn't harm family time.

gamerwidow · 22/03/2019 11:51

Dd(8) has had a tv in her room since she was 6. She practically never watches it because she prefers to be the same room as me and she knows she isn’t allowed it on at night.
If you’re letting her watch tv anyway albeit on her phone why not let her have the tv to make it more pleasant. She’ll still want to be with you to watch films and stuff because most kids whatever their age like to be with their parents sometimes.

FannyFifer · 22/03/2019 11:53

Absolutely, teenagers do not want to hang out & watch same tv shows as their parents.

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Original poster
Canshopwillshop · 22/03/2019 12:38

@Fannyfifer - but she does at the moment. We are watching the Madeleine McCann documentary together and a couple of other Netflix series - I don’t want to lose that connection.

OP posts:
Titsywoo · 22/03/2019 12:40

Dd14 has one in her room but she rarely watches it except when she has friends over to stay. It's useful for that and when she is ill. She still watches stuff with us.

babysharkah · 22/03/2019 13:29

I wouldn't bother, most of them seem to watch on laptop or iPad?

ThunderStorms · 22/03/2019 13:30

No screens in bedrooms.

Theknacktoflying · 22/03/2019 13:45

Just no. No phones, no computers, ipads, laptops in the bedroom.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 22/03/2019 13:58

No, there's plenty of research showing that screens in bedrooms have negative impact on sleep for anyone, teenagers or not.

BlueMerchant · 22/03/2019 14:06

My DC under 10s have TV's in their rooms.
We switch off and (remove the remote) when its bedtime.

Farmerswifey12 · 22/03/2019 14:08

Yes tv in room, but not right before bed

havingtochangeusernameagain · 22/03/2019 15:35

Not. But it's a bit moot these days, with tablets and laptops and smartphones.

Stormyday · 22/03/2019 15:37

My teenage and tween dc haven’t watched tv for years. They do have a small laptop they use in their rooms but give to me for charging over night.

MarshaBradyo · 22/03/2019 15:39

Nope. But he does have his own laptop for homework and games (mostly)

SleepingSloth · 22/03/2019 15:59

My kids have both have TVs in their rooms for years. We've never had any issues.

Talk about the importance of keeping family time and any expectations you have with your kids before you get the TVs and I'm sure it will all work out.

Dillydallyingthrough · 22/03/2019 16:14

My DD 15 doesn't have a TV in her room- we both like to watch documentaries on Netflix and I like that she spends time sat with with me. I know most her friends have them but I do notice a difference that although they are not always in their bedroom they are a lot more than my DD. I have nieces the same age who when I facetime seem to be sat in their bedrooms with the TV on regardless of the time, although their parents always say they don't use it.

In addition to this my DD tends to read for an hour before bed (phones, laptop's downstairs) which I don't want to jeopardise. There is a lot of info on screens affecting sleep, which I think is really important when they are teens.

Although tbf she wanted one when she was younger but doesn't seem to be bothered now.

Dillydallyingthrough · 22/03/2019 16:16

Also agree with no screens in bedrooms as PP - although that seems strict I think it's important to know what your DC are watching/browsing

Original poster
Canshopwillshop · 22/03/2019 18:00

Thanks everyone. Think I’m going to hold off for a while longer and let things carry on as they are. I haven’t had any major campaigning from DD so think she is ok with the situation at the moment.

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 22/03/2019 18:17

No there are loads of studies about it affecting both sleep and academic attainment. Not in a month of Sunday’s

MarshaBradyo · 22/03/2019 18:30

If you ban screens in their room where do they do computer based homework, do they chat to their friends on social media and do they play any games?

Just interested
Is it in a family room or specific room

MarshaBradyo · 22/03/2019 18:30

Or maybe they do none of that stuff

thefirst48 · 22/03/2019 18:34

I couldn't imagine not having a tv in my bedroom as a teenager. Do their friends have TVs in their rooms? Once mine become teenagers they most likely will have a tv in their room.

BackforGood · 22/03/2019 18:35

What I've learned over the years (have 3 dc, 2 now in their 20s) is that different dc react totally differently.
I was totally against it when dc1 was little - he has an addictive personality and not much regard for rules. In later years though, both dcs2 and 3 had TV in their room,s and rarely watched it - just useful once every few weeks for the odd film. Both have put them out some time ago though - all my dc only watch TV things through their laptops now anyway, so TV is a bit superfluous.

goldengummybear · 22/03/2019 18:35

Dc2 would regulate fine but dc3 wouldn't and he'd get salty if I had different rules for them. Dc3 would love to fall asleep watching TV but that's obviously not a good habit to get into.

They have phones and laptops and there's 2 TVs in the house which they are welcome to use. The ps4 is downstairs and shared between the kids.

goldengummybear · 22/03/2019 18:46

If the room is small then a laptop or tablet can be better from a maximizing space point of view.