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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:
DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:40

How many people who don't own a TV watch nothing at all on any devices?
Every 6 months I have a screen free week/fortnight. I sew, play the piano, write letters, read, do projects I don't usually make time for. I always find it very refreshing and wish I could keep it up permanently. But DH and DD would hate no screens so I get sucked in again.

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 28/12/2021 17:42

Indeed I think January may be a candidate for the next screen free time, might try the whole month as I need to knuckle down for an exam

Moonface123 · 28/12/2021 17:53

l havent had a tv for eight years now, boys were 7 and 11, l live on a big hill,the wind blew the ariel off the roof and l just never got round to replacing it.
Tv is just a habit, l have never missed it and neither have my sons, infact a relative brought us a smart tv two to three years ago, and we put it up but we never watched it, we are so out of the habit, we sat there looking at all the programmes and nothing appealed. My sons do have netflix.
l just love the house quiet, without the rabble of tv, l am never bored,.l was never that bothered about it. In the summer l am out working on my garden until almost dark,.l love it and in winter l practice my self care, crafts, exercise, reading, l also meet up with friends. To be honest l can' t see myself ever buying a tv again. I am happily single and l know if l were to meet someone l would be bored stiff if he insisted on watching tv.

Siepie · 28/12/2021 17:54

We don't have a TV, but do stream on laptops. We definitely spend less time watching than when we had a TV. Before we would often just switch the TV on almost automatically when sitting in the living room, whether or not we were especially interested in what was on. Now screens are only on if we've made a decision to have a film night as a family/couple. I prefer not having the actual TV, but I don't think I'd want to live without streaming at all.

deadlanguage · 28/12/2021 18:27

We're going into our third year with no tv and don't miss it. We don't have DC though. We do have Netflix but I basically just use that for on the commute and we don't usually watch it of an evening.

NotTheOriginalFeargalSharkey · 28/12/2021 19:12

Kids broke mine at the start of the first lock down.
Still not working....
Nobody is bothered.
We all prefer to listen to music. Cos, ipods radio or Spotify.
This could be due to us being an adhd family and not wanting to sit and stare at a box for hours at a time.

sausagerole · 28/12/2021 19:16

We didn't have one for about 5 years, then had one for about 6 months before it got nicked in the burglary 2 years ago Grin we decided not to replace it

We love not having one. We have an old laptop the kids use to watch TV. We watch sooo much less because it's a bit more effort to set it up (tho kids do watch alot) and the living room is so much nicer without the TV staring out at us waiting to go on. I honestly would be happy if we never had one again.

Heruka · 28/12/2021 19:19

We only just got a tv about 6mo ago and kids are 3 and 5. We hadn’t had one for 5yrs or so before kids but would use laptop to watch films or specific programmes we wanted to see. When kids came they could watch specific programmes on laptop when we chose. I can’t remember how we decided to get one, I think lockdown and we started a weekly movie night ritual and it felt daft all crammed round a wee laptop. Same when bigger kids friends would be round and they were all huddled round. I think the main thing for me is not having a culture of it ever being on in the background, we’d just never do that. But I still need programmes to get shit done, I think your suggestion about being more creative at those times may just make life harder! Life without tv is generally easy though imo.

Kezzie200 · 28/12/2021 19:21

I could easily live without a TV. Its one 9f the most important household things for my husband! So our house needs one.

Everything on its rubbish tho!

Original poster
biggestbloopers · 28/12/2021 19:33

Thanks for the mix of opinions. I do appreciate it comes across as a bit extreme, which is why I hesitated and thought it might be worth hearing from other people that have grown up in families with a similar approach.

The no (or at least maybe limited) streaming part of it is partly a result of the fact that it feels like streaming would be pretty pointless when you're watching on a tiny screen. The kids are young and don't have tablets or anything anyway, and I agree streaming individually onto devices would be less sociable than sitting together round a tv. We have a laptop, so could potentially stream a film on that at a weekend or something together.

I guess I was wondering what it would have been like to have no tv pre-streaming. Just intrigued by a bit of a lifestyle change. I'm wondering whether as some have mentioned it would stop that drain of time that seems to happen and just shake things up a bit. I know I can put limits on myself, but like many people, I find they slip after a bit. @oftenbaffled DH is totally on board with giving it a try but I take your points on board!

OP posts:
Crimpnwave · 28/12/2021 19:36

I dont have a TV and have never had one since I moved out of my parents at 18. I am a big reader and prefer to read books so that is how I spend my free time. I have a 3 year old who sometimes watches a few videos on the phone but I definitely dont fell lile having a TV would make things easier or would be better.

User48751490 · 28/12/2021 20:33

The two are not mutually exclusive. You can enjoy occasionally viewing a TV programme for educational purposes with your DC. I am thinking of Universe on the BBC for example. Sitting together and watching this together with older children can generate conversation. TV does have its merits.

You can have a TV in your home, and also enjoy playing board games/card games. We were busy over Christmas playing Hero Quest. Fantastic board game.

tinseleverywhere2021 · 28/12/2021 20:35

TV viewing doesn't have to be educational though does it??

It could be fun, entertaining or just used to while away an hour/occupy the kids for an hour.

Botanica · 28/12/2021 20:40

I haven't had a TV for over 15 years and don't miss it at all. I also have a nearly two year old who has never watched it either.
We do plenty of other things instead - talking as a couple/family, spending longer over our meals, art, craft, music, books.
I still get my news fix through my iPhone and do occasionally watch FB or YouTube short clips via the phone but we've adapted our lives to be better without it and I'm sure the lack of screen time has been a real positive on my daughter's development from such a young age.

RampantIvy · 28/12/2021 21:21

I'm beginning to feel morally inferior for daring to enjoy watching TV Blush

Angliski · 28/12/2021 21:24

Haven’t had a tv since 2004. Get lots more done as a result. Have a 2 year okd now. We still watch stuff via Netflix etc on laptop
Or via projector onto wall for movie nights but it just makes you more conscious of when and what.

Elphame · 28/12/2021 21:31

@RampantIvy

How many people who don't own a TV watch nothing at all on any devices?
Me!

When I'm forced to watch any TV ( visiting elderly parents) I know I'm really not missing anything that matters to me

Daisiesandsweetpeas · 28/12/2021 21:38

Personally, I could probably live without a TV. Rarely watch it. Sometimes stream things or watch YouTube, but doubt I'd much TV all that much.

DH loves it, however. Loves his films, TV shows, sports and gaming. TV is important to him for chilling out in the evening. I prefer reading or audiobooks.

User48751490 · 28/12/2021 22:04

@RampantIvy

I'm beginning to feel morally inferior for daring to enjoy watching TV Blush
How dare you enjoy watching TV. Crime of the century!😂

It doesn't necessarily have to be educational, but there's so many purposes to view TV. Educational, or to just chill out.

Kotatsu · 29/12/2021 07:32

I’m a teacher and have noticed a lot of the misbehaviour at school seems to stem from too much screen time at home.

I think it's more likely from a lack of boundaries and the screen time is just an example of that.

My kids have unlimited screen time, in fact they're generally dual screening (switch and ipad etc.), and every school report is good, and they are known as well-behaved kids. The difference is that that unlimited screen time is contingent on them being reasonable. If I tell them it's dinner time or bed time, the ipad goes down, they finish what they're doing on the computer in a reasonable amount of time, and they come without fuss or the ipads are removed (I've very rarely had to do this as once or twice was enough). When it's time to get dressed for school, they do it, or the ipads are handed in until they're ready. Now I realise I'm lucky to have kids who can moderate themselves, but screen time != unlimited behaviour. They've had access to ipads their whole life, they're just like colouring books or toy cars to the kids - another tool/facility to use.

The other thing is the studies were children plonked in front of the TV, watching what was presented in a fixed position. This is a world away from a child exploring their interests (we may not agree, but minecraft is an interest) wherever the fancy takes them (DS2 had a fondness for planking between the freezer and the dining table for a while, or upside down on the settee). It's a world away from passively watching TV as we did when kids.

Tumbleweed101 · 29/12/2021 07:44

I got our first TV a couple months ago. We haven’t had one in over 20 years, in part as there is no aerial in this house. I got one as I found I was watching more and more films on the laptop. Have to admit we have spent more time together since having it, watching films together rather than on our separate laptops. I’ve quite enjoyed the novelty of having one. However it is perfectly possible to live tv free and happily!

Missey85 · 29/12/2021 08:12

I couldn't do it I live alone and the silence would drive me crazy! As much as I love books sometimes its good to lose yourself in mindless tv

BogRollBOGOF · 29/12/2021 09:00

If I could only have one or the other, I'd go for radio over TV. I don't watch a huge amount myself, but I find it very useful to put you tube exercise videos on to have large and at a comfortable angle.

My DCs like youtube on the TV and while it might sometimes often make me want to rip my ear drums out, it's also very handy for monitoring what they watch, far easier than on the tablets. It also makes it easier to chat about their interests and I've played things like minecraft and bloons with them as a result of it.

TV-free in the 90s was "weird". 4 then 5 channels for most people meant there was more shared culture over watching live. Now there are too many streaming services so that's less of an interest.

TBH I don't think you're really TV-free if you do just watch on other devices, and the big screen is more sociable for sharing watching and healthier for necks/ posture than bending over a small screen.

Boundaries matter most with children rather than screen size. Admittedly 2 years of varying Covid restrictions, particularly a winter lockdown dented a lot of ours. I've got the added complication of an autistic, dyspraxic, dyslexic child who finds screen time the most accessible way to zone out and decompress, and to fill his brains in areas of niche knowledge that are hard to find in easily accessible books and appealing as mainstream conversation.

TV/ screen time is not inherently a bad thing, it's what you do with it that matters.

Oblomov21 · 29/12/2021 09:03

"be more creative"? Why Don't you just start doing that anyway?

SmallGreenStripes · 29/12/2021 09:04

We had no tv from when the dcs were born till the oldest was 9. Was fine. We have one now though (12) and they watch too much!