To not allow LO (7yo) to watch TV during the school week...?

[Sugarbeach]

...even after she's finished her homework and reading?

What is everyone else's policy on TV watching during the week days?

Fair enough Sugarbeach

I almost always have the tv on here, i like the background noise. They might sit and watch it for a bit or play out or go on their ds's or play with their toys in their room. TBH as long as homework is done and they eat their tea/get in the bath when told i'm not fussed. Even if they watched it from getting in until tea/bath time its only 2.5 hours worth.

When i was at school, I came home from school and watched children's telly - it was on from 3.30 til about 6. The programs got progressively "older" in their target audience as they went on. Then saturday morning there was children's telly - now its pretty much 24/7 and i actually think a ban on TV in the week is a good thing. If not a ban, a restriction. I don't do this myself as my DP (the tosser) will put the TV on if he walks in the room and it is off , whereas if i don't turn the TV on DD wont ask for it. I feel she watches too much TV, she is an only child but will still occupy herself if there is no telly on, if its on i find she is far happier without it on, even if she wants it on, if that makes sense.

Everyone needs a bit of time to chill out. Perfectly OK I would say as long as you practise what you preach and you don't watch any during the week.

I don't see a problem with watching the tv as long as everything else is done.

YABU

School is a long an tiring day for kids, the should be allowed some down time. It doesn't always have to be homework and imaginative play.

I used to come home, watch kids tv until 5 when my much older bro watched home and away and neighbours until 6. I used to watch with him. Potentially not age appropriate but very nice for a little sister to have a cuddle with her big brother for an hour! Then music practice for 20 mins, then tea, then homework.

I can't actually remember what I did after homework. Probably drew for a bit or hung out with my parents before bath and bed.

In junior school that was 3 nights a week as I had activities 2 nights. Suppose we didn't really have much homework then.

In secondary school I had things on probably 3 or 4 nights a week depending on the sports season.

Watching 2h of TV a night didn't do me any harm; straight As at a level, 1st class degree, plenty of friends, good job. Unfortunately my working hours don't allow for much (any!) TV in the evenings now, but I'm quite partial to vegging out in front of come-dine-with-me for a few h on a Sunday!

Ugh typo-tastic!

I wouldn't ban it altogether during the week but I do agree that it should be off while doing homework/reading.

I think it's a bit mean to ban tv after school , they've worked hard all day at school and deserve a bit of relaxing time. Most of us have a tv fix in the evening after a hard day looking after the kids or at work.

In my house the tv never goes on in the morning before nursery now school, I think that's a bad habit to get into, but once we're home he can catch up with his programmes while I make tea. After tea it's bath, bed and story anyway before I catch up on my programmes.

whois we used to video Neighbours - on a VCR! Happy days

My DD is much younger so I'm not speaking from experience (she is 18mths and doesn't watch any tv at the minute). But I think at 7 I wouldn't ban it unless there was a specific issue that banning it temporarily might help fix. However I do like the idea of watching a specific programme (and switching tv off when it ends) with her and discussing it together. Doesn't have to be educational but just something that gets her thinking and developing ideas and opinions. I like to think i wouldn't use the tv as something to keep her occupied when I need to be busy with something. Naive maybe?! I hate the tv trap that DP and I often fall into and that's channel surfing all night as there's nothing on we want to watch and all you talk about is how crap tv is! I'd also encourage the listening of radio, audio books etc for passive entertainment that doesn't involve a screen.