...to turn the TV off when babysitting......

[Tw1nkle]

I'm abaout to babysit for a friend who constantly has the TV on. Her 2 boys are pretty much glued to it all day!!!
I have to babysit them for a while (an afternoon).
AIBU to turn the TV off?
Should I tell her I'll be turning it off, or just turn it off!!!
I'm prepared to deal with whingy boys - but should I???

I would turn it off just because background TV drives me mad and I can't concentrate on anything. I would tell her in advance, so she can warn the boys. You'll have to be prepared to actively engage the boys yourself though!

Of course you can turn it off and do something else fun with them instead. No need to mention it to the mum as playing with the kids is a perfectly reasonable think to do with them. If you mention it to her it is almost an implied criticism of her parenting. Hope you all have fun!

Nah - leave it on. It's not your family. If they watch telly all the time there isn't much you can do about it and an afternoon of deprivation will make zero impact on them - other than making your life harder.

Why don't you take them out? Park with a football or something. That way it's a non-issue.

I hate the tv being on all the time too

No I wouldn't

You're babysitting for an afternoon, not giving a parenting class.

If that's what the kids are used to, it'll probably make them more 'aware' Mum has gone.

Are you just doing it to make a worthy 'point'? Odd behaviour if so.

Either turn it off because you don't want it on or because you're going to do something with the children. You sound terribly pleased with yourself. Are you?

I've babysat them before, and just left it on.....it's what the boys are used too - and who am I change that?

I'm asking because I would really like to turn it off, and do something more engaging with them - play games etc, but just wondered what everyone else thought - pretty mixed feedback really!!!

I might turn it off for a while, then put it back on - so it's half and half!!

I echo what Lying said. Why not just leave it on?

It does sound like your trying to make a point, when really it's none of your business.

Well you might have got a different reaction had your last post been your first. Your first one sounded unbearably smug.

I very much doubt the children are addicted to the TV, no need to turn it back on at all if you're going to be doing something nice with them.

Do you think they can't function without it?

What I find odd is that you're actually asking at all?

When I babysit, I either play with the kids or I don't.

Either way it's a non event IYSWIM? If they want to play with you then I'm sure they won't even notice whether the TV is on or off.

Strange question. Why not just go around and say "children would you like to do x y or z" and they said "z" and you say "great" and switch the telly off and do it.

No big deal.

Personally I'm not fussed about tellys being on.

I don't think their mum is going to mind if you switch the TV off for an hour to play with them