Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Living without TV

104 replies

biggestbloopers · 27/12/2021 19:06

Just posting this as our TV has broken and I'm considering not replacing it but I'm curious to see whether there are any other families out there without TV and how you find it?

We're a pretty low screen time family (young primary school aged DC) and I quite like the idea of using this as an opportunity to go without it properly. I'm conscious that I don't want the kids to feel left out at school, so was planning on doing it as a trial for a bit to see how it goes. However, the few people I've mentioned it to think we're mad, but surely we can't be the only ones to try it?

OP posts:
Helpstopthepain · 28/12/2021 16:47

I don’t watch tv and have no interest! although it does mean I’m unable to join in some work conversations it’s the same as when someone hasn’t read the same book or been to the same place.

soberfabulous · 28/12/2021 16:57

Mine also broke 14 years ago and never replaced it, it is absolutely life changing.

I don't feel I've missed out on anything. I read so much more now (130 books and counting so far this year) and have so much time.

Me and DH sit and chat in the evenings with some relaxing music on low and it's really lovely. I find it quite jarring when I visit other people's houses and the tv is blaring out or the doom and gloom news is constantly on.

I have Netflix on the iPad for DD so she has kids shows (she's 8.)

Try it for a while and see how you go!

PuppyMonkey · 28/12/2021 17:03

I bet none of those 130 books you read this year were as good as Succession sober.Grin

Inextremis · 28/12/2021 17:07

We don't have a telly (we don't have children, either), and haven't had for about 10 years. We watch some things on Netflix or Prime - but not a lot, binge-watching series, mostly. Over Christmas we've been in a friend's house that has a telly, and I hate it! Advert after advert after advert - so repetetive and they interrupt the immersion in the programme. Next week, the telly'll go off and stay off!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 28/12/2021 17:09

I can’t stand TV on constantly as background noise, prefer radio or Spotify. I would miss tv on the odd occasion though to catch up with stuff.

onlychildhamster · 28/12/2021 17:11

Whenever I watch TV in hotel rooms, I get really bored and usually fall asleep. Might be useful as a sleep aid but I don't have any space in the bedroom for a telly!

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:13

I'd happily live without it. In fact we only have Netflix and Disney.
I grew up without a TV so the lack of it doesn't bother me. I'd be thrilled to get rid of it but Dh won't.

It's a waste of life, Dh fritters away hours and hours glassily staring at it, watching stuff he's watched dozens of times before. What a waste of time

DressingPafe · 28/12/2021 17:16

I have a tv but no aerial so just have Netflix etc on it to stream. I certainly don’t miss “regular” tv but it’s nice to be able to watch something on a decent size screen when I want to. I maybe only watch 6hrs of tv a week on average but wouldn’t want that option taken away. Having a tv doesn’t mean it needs to be switched on!

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:17

And while I can't join in conversations about what has been going on in love island I don't really care as I'm not interested 😂

PuppyMonkey · 28/12/2021 17:18

Yeah Daphne, he could be doing something worthwhile like going on MN like you. Wink

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:20

Over Christmas we've been in a friend's house that has a telly, and I hate it! Advert after advert after advert - so repetetive and they interrupt the immersion in the programme

Plus nobody talks to each other as soon as it's on and you get shushed in favour of some rubbish on the tv. Really pisses me off.

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:20

@PuppyMonkey

Yeah Daphne, he could be doing something worthwhile like going on MN like you. Wink
I'm cooking the dinner and making bread while MNetting
DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:22

However in an acknowledgment that MNetting is taking up an unhealthy amount of my time my New Years resolution is to stop coming on here so I need to get my fix before the 31st 😂

sarah13xx · 28/12/2021 17:22

I absolutely couldn’t go without altogether but I have a baby and I really hate that he looks at it when it’s on. I’m a teacher and have noticed a lot of the misbehaviour at school seems to stem from too much screen time at home. Obviously if you are instantly entertained and have any game or programme at your fingertips at home you’re then not going to be interested in what a teacher has to say, no matter how engaging they try to make it. I’m going to aim not to show my baby any baby/kids tv until he’s at least 3 as when I was at uni that’s when they said screen time can damage children’s brains before. I think nowadays though it seems to just be such a given that people put YouTube on for babies that are only weeks old, it’s crazy. Somehow I managed to grow up without one or only with the most basic big box that had 5 channels 😂 I’m now a much more patient person as a result, I’d say it’s the same with all adults. Although even now having a phone etc I feel I’m too addicted to it. I think if you can do it and want to then go for it, even just for a short while

gamerchick · 28/12/2021 17:24

We have TVs as we're all gamers. Wee don't have TV Tv with channels though. Streaming and the likes of iPlayer etc built in are there if we want to watch something.

If you don't want to replace it then dont. Especially if you won't miss it.

RampantIvy · 28/12/2021 17:25

The only time we have put the TV on when we had friends round was to watch the Euros cup final. Normally we don't have the TV on if we have company unless we all want to watch something specific.

We don't watch TV so much as watch specific programmes (usually ones we have recorded). Then the TV goes off.

FindingMeno · 28/12/2021 17:27

I only rarely watch TV and never live TV, but I like the fact the 'big screen' is there on the occasions I do watch it.

Holothane · 28/12/2021 17:29

I could live with-it the channels in fact rate;y watch live tv now myself but my blu rays and dvds no I’m actually thinking of putting stuff on Ipad and doing it that way as well.

Holothane · 28/12/2021 17:29

Sorry meant to say without tv channels unless medical surgery or history documentary’s.

southlondoner02 · 28/12/2021 17:30

We could definitely have lived without tv when DD was younger, but I think she would feel a bit left out as she gets older (now 11). There's lots of talk at school about various programmes and she likes to be part of it eg they have discussed in class who they like on Strictly, including the teacher.

I think this probably increased during the lockdowns when there are less other activities to do. We don't have any extra channels (Netflix etc) and find we have enough to watch without though

gogohm · 28/12/2021 17:32

At one point I didn't watch much live but watch iPlayer instead. Since covid watch lots more as started watching dramas mostly bbc.

You can certainly live without one but do you want to??? I spend less money now we stay in watching tv too, eg on a Sunday night, a bonus

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:32

@biggestbloopers

Why don't you give it a try for 2 days, see how you get on. Then just see on a day to day basis if you can manage another day. A bit like giving up cigarettes...

AlfonsoTheGoat · 28/12/2021 17:33

@RampantIvy

How many people who don't own a TV watch nothing at all on any devices?
I watch films on YouTube and Amazon Prime on my laptop.
RampantIvy · 28/12/2021 17:36

What do people do in the evenings at this time of year?

I read, mumsnet, do online quizzes, play online scrabble, Spider solitaire and Sudoku, but I have absolutely no interest in crafting activities or doing jigsaw puzzles, and DH hates any kind of board games, card games etc.

gogohm · 28/12/2021 17:37

@biggestbloopers

Should add our tv has an off button! Didn't watch any tv from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day and yesterday we only put on the Jon Richardson programme and out of 10 cats because dsd wanted it on (had music on beforehand since getting back from Christmas celebrations earlier that day) not turned it in yet