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Original poster

Does your child have a telly in their room?

74 replies

Dorobie · 05/09/2020 10:10

Just looking for opinions either way, and you reasons behind your choice? How old is your child?

My 11yr old is asking for one btw!

OP posts:
mumofftwo · 05/09/2020 12:31

Yes both off my two have and they are 5 and 4 but they don't use it all the time

lillylemons · 05/09/2020 12:34

dd 13 did have one in her room but she never used it. so when the tv broke in the front room we put her tv in there.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 05/09/2020 12:40

Nope. They never had TVs in their rooms and neither did we.

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11 year olds
PineappleUpsideDownCake · 05/09/2020 12:44

Nope. Dont agree with tv at bedtime so dont allow screens in there in the evening. Sometimes one with watch something on a screen on their bed in the afternoon but its not a regular thing.

It amuses me that some people who say "oh no" to tvs in rooms do in face have the equivalent by the child watching you tube/iplayer channels on their phone/tablet/laptop/pc or gaming on their room.

afromom · 05/09/2020 12:50

Both of ours do (DS16 & DSD14) and have done since they were each around 8. Neither really use them for tv ever. DSD comes downstairs still to watch with us and DS only ever uses his for Xbox, or watching movies if friends come round. It's always been like that to be honest. Although I wish they would use them more as both spend hours watching you tube/Netflix/etc on their tiny phone screens, which drives me mad and is so bad for their eyes!

beautifulmonument · 05/09/2020 12:52

Yes DS14 got our old one this year when we got a new one. We only have the 2 TVs in the house. He needs somewhere to play playstation and hang out away from us. He's got a laptop and iPhone so the TV is the least of my worries.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/09/2020 12:55

Nope. Mine are late teens and never asked for one. Isn’t it a bit old hat now though when you can watch almost anything on phones or laptops?

PleasantVille · 05/09/2020 12:55

No televisions in room here but there's no reason for that to stop your DC having them.

Make a decision that works for your family, why does it matter what anyone else does?

mamalovebird · 05/09/2020 13:03

Mine do. DS (11) has only had his tv connected to Sky this year (previously could only watch dvds). DD (7) can only watch dvds. Been a godsend during lockdown, but before that, they only really used them on weekends, they are just handy to have if the need arises.

I don't see a problem if used responsibly. You just take the controllers away - mine don't kick up a fuss when I say they've had enough time. Sometimes it's just nice for them to relax in their own space and watch a movie.

Camomila · 05/09/2020 13:21

No, they are 4 and 7m.
We don't have one in our bedroom either.

OhMsBeliever · 05/09/2020 13:23

No. I told them when they could buy their own tv then they could have one in their room. Oldest is 21 and uses a tablet and phone to watch stuff on, and has a Switch, so doesn't see a need to buy one.

The others are teens now and have phones, and are quite happy to watch to stuff on them, or watch the only tv downstairs. They're not hugely into games consoles, they share a switch between 4 of them (the oldest bought his own one)

They still spend a lot of time in their bedroom, but then so did I as a teen. Listening to the radio or music on cassettes. The olden days. Grin

devildeepbluesea · 05/09/2020 13:24

Not yet but I'm tempted. I have a spare one in the garage and I'm sick to the back teet h of watching iCarly, The Next Step etc. I just want to watch Pointless once in a while!

I think it'll be going up in the next few months. She's 7.

OhMsBeliever · 05/09/2020 15:23

Then watch Pointless! If I want to watch something then I'll bloody watch it. What with being an adult.

Mine watch things they like but I equally watch stuff I like, I certainly don't miss out and let them decide all the time.

Holothane · 05/09/2020 15:28

Once I got married I had tv I another room I grew up bored watching what others wanted now as an adult if we’re not watching something together I watch blu rays or dvds in bedroom the odd medical document ary. Sometimes a tv programme but that’s getting rarer now now.

MazDazzle · 05/09/2020 15:41

No.

They are 4, 9 and 12.

We generally don’t allow screens in their bedrooms either. If they want to watch/play something on a screen, then it’s downstairs only. That way it’s easier for me to keep an eye on their screen time and what they’re watching.

However, during lockdown my eldest liked to FaceTime her friends, so we allowed her to do it from her room for a bit more privacy.

When it’s bedtime and the option is lights out read, they all choose to read.

It works for us.

I’m a teacher in a secondary school and kids falling asleep on the desk is an almost daily occurrence and they admit that once their parents are asleep they play their consoles.

Hibbetyhob · 05/09/2020 15:46

Nope and they never will.

I am very anti TV in bedrooms.

Pipandmum · 05/09/2020 15:46

No. We have one TV in the living room. My daughter and I watch it in the evening, usually a couple of episodes of whatever box set we are in to. (Downton Abbey and ER currently). Occasionaly we all watch a movie together. My son rarely watches tv. Both watch youtube, my daughter likes to watch Asian series on it.

Theelderscrolls · 05/09/2020 15:50

No, mine has a tablet which she is allowed to use in her room. I take it away at bedtime though.

TillyTheTiger · 05/09/2020 15:53

No. Only one TV in the house, and they only watch that at weekends. But my kids are young so no doubt we'll have some battles to come once they are closer to their teens!

Floralnomad · 05/09/2020 15:57

Ours had TVs in their rooms from about 6/7 , also games consoles and DVD players and they barely used the TVs although ds did use his for his console when he was in his teens . Neither of mine were particularly interested in TV .

passthemustard · 05/09/2020 16:01

I have 4 DCs none of them have TVs in their rooms. They all have a laptop/iPad/PC or other means of watching Netflix in their rooms though. We also have 2 x living rooms with large TVs and I have one in my room so they can always find somewhere to watch something if they want to.

Bluntness100 · 05/09/2020 16:04

No, mine never did, and neither do or did we. However we always have had a second living room we use as a games room so there is a tv in there with an x box, play station etc. So if someone wanted to watch a different program or play a game they could go in there. Generally we all sat in the same room though when watching tv and decided what to watch together.

I don’t really get the whole laying in bed watching telly thing though to be honest.

MarshaBradyo · 05/09/2020 16:06

No, none of us do

But 15 yr old has pc for homework and we watch Netflix etc on a laptop if we want to

IDidntChoseThePondLife · 05/09/2020 16:06

No. dD is 13 and she watches stuff on her laptop with headphones In the living room. No phone or devices in bedroom normally, but she’s never really wanted to. During lockdown she watched Netflix up in her room during the day sometimes.

Mrsemcgregor · 05/09/2020 16:12

Yes (8&11 share a room) but no arial socket so no live tv. They have a Chromecast which means they can watch Disney+ and a DVD player. They use it all of once a week, on a Saturday when they have “movie night” with popcorn before bed. During the week they don’t leave the community garden behind our flat where all their friends are!

TVs in bedrooms aren’t unhealthy unless you lack discipline.

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