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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Plasma screened mounted on playroom wall

91 replies

northstrandee · 19/03/2014 17:42

To think that my SIL and her husband are utterly crass and stupid to mount a big plasma screen on the wall of their newly built playroom (about ten steps from the living room where there already is a big TV) so that their 20 month and 7 month old children can watch 'their favourite cartoons'.

House is full of noisy toys with flashing lights etc so surely to let children under 2 have non-stop access to a TV is unnecessary and irresponsible.

This has been annoying me for ages because my DS (10 months) sometimes plays there and when I pick him up they say 'Oh, he just loves looking at Peppa Pig.

He's a baby, it's just moving images and noise to him. ARRRRRRHHGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

OP posts:

Nocomet · 19/03/2014 23:38

More than 30 minutes to cook safely for under threes I can understand, but strict limits for modern DCs over 9 when the get bored of toys is about as realistic as Gove discussing a policy with an actual teacher.

merrymouse · 20/03/2014 06:39

but strict limits for modern DCs over 9 when the get bored of toys is about as realistic as Gove discussing a policy with an actual teacher.

I don't know your DCs, but with my children, (and DS, 10, in particular would sit in front of a screen for a very, very long time given the chance), I have found the most effective way to help him not be bored is to go cold turkey on screens for a while.

Also, whenever he complains about boredom, I remind him that his great great grandfather was working in a mine at 11. He is always impressed by this and vows to work harder at school runs away before I can complete the story.

formerbabe · 20/03/2014 07:23

Oh dear...I have a TV in the playroom but my dc rarely watch it...it helps to keep the peace and sometimes they like to chill in there with a film/popcorn.

Yabu

LouiseSmith · 20/03/2014 07:28

YABU - my DS has a telly in his room he's 4. He will occasionally watch it while playing. There house, there rules x

Franny1977 · 20/03/2014 07:38

YABU I'm not sure why it bothers you. Obviously you should choose not to have massive plasma in your own gargantuan playroom but otherwise let them at it.

Is there a little bit of house envy going on?

whyyougottabe · 20/03/2014 07:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlewhitebag · 20/03/2014 07:45

I have no doubt BoffinMum that there is loads of research into the effects of watching TV on children's development. However anecdotal information is also good as a balance.

If a child is stuck in front of a TV 24/7 and is never spoken to or played with or stimulated in any other way then there will be a massive negative impact on that child's development. But for most children this is not the case.

formerbabe · 20/03/2014 07:47

Op..you say there living room is ten steps away with a TV...to me, that's a good idea. If mum/dad want to watch something they can without kids nagging them to put on cbeebies instead.

Aeroflotgirl · 20/03/2014 07:58

Yabvvu sounds fab, I want that playroom. Though dcs won't be in there for long, constantly in and out. They don't sit for long.

SoleSource · 20/03/2014 08:21

Two televisions?

pictish · 20/03/2014 08:27

Well...seeing as it's their house and their kids, it's up to them isn't it?
It doesn't affect you in the least, so I'm not sure why you're posting about it.
Different strokes and all that.

BoffinMum · 20/03/2014 08:43

Sorry, that's bollocks, little white bag. Two naice girls in your house do not balance tens of thousands of children internationally in properly constructed research studies.

I am secretly thinking you're the one who needs to go and do a degree if you think that's balance. Or is it that you are one of those people who can't admit they are wrong?

candycoatedwaterdrops · 20/03/2014 08:47

Let me guess, your son is your PFB and you don't like your ILs very much?

I think YABU especially given you drop your 10 month old off at a house with 2 other children under 2, it must be incredibly stressful to look after 3 babies!

TheBody · 20/03/2014 08:50

do they know you think they are 'crass and stupid' as they look after your baby for you?

BoffinMum · 20/03/2014 08:50

You'll be saying 'what do experts know? I don't trust experts!' next. Or 'scientists always contradict each other', I bet.

Letting your DDs watch telly as small toddlers was the equivalent of mushing up a Mars bar in their milk. It wouldn't have given them type 2 diabetes on the spot, but it just ain't something attentive parents should be doing routinely.

littlewhitebag · 20/03/2014 11:02

Haha boffin I have two degrees already and a number of PG qualifications. I am also a SW and see the negative effects of children placed in front of the TV for long periods.

I am 100% agreed that too much TV can have a terrible impact on a child's development. What i disagree about is that having a TV in a kids playroom so they can watch cartoons is a bad thing.

Children can, and do, watch a lot amount of TV but as long at they are also sufficiently stimulated as well then it is unlikely to have long lasting effects. So i suppose what i am pointing out is that my children (and many others i know) watched a lot of TV as tots and have not been adversely affected in their development. I was just offering anecdotal information.

FWIW I have never mashed up Mars bars in their milk!

JennyBendy · 20/03/2014 11:16

She had 2 under 2. I wouldn't judge her if the playroom had a mini bar.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/03/2014 11:24

Dont see a problem tbh.

Doesn't mean it's on all day and it can be used for games and stuff when they are older.

Really don't know what the fuss is about. Two small kids, sometimes ya need five mins peace for a coffee or to cook.

pictish · 20/03/2014 11:54

"Letting your DDs watch telly as small toddlers was the equivalent of mushing up a Mars bar in their milk. It wouldn't have given them type 2 diabetes on the spot, but it just ain't something attentive parents should be doing routinely."

Quite tempted to send that one along to Sanctimommy.

frumpet · 20/03/2014 12:14

We have a large tv wall mounted and Ds2 loves watching it , but not as much as digging in the back garden with the dog , i guess it depends if they get to do other stuff or if they sit for hours on end like zombies ?

ShadowOfTheDay · 20/03/2014 12:20

playroom?!?!?! I live in a different world....

I would have thought the purpose of a "playroom" was to play....

are they allowed a ball? with an expensive tv on the wall that could be interesting... or have I misunderstood the purpose of a PLAYroom......

adeucalione · 20/03/2014 12:42

Did they go out to specifically buy a giant tv for the playroom, or did they buy a new one for their living room and move the old one to the playroom?

All four of my DC had tvs in their bedrooms from about 8 because they inherited them from family members who were upgrading.

It's about how you use it, surely? If they cuddle up and watch Peppa Pig twice a day I can't see the problem. If it's permanently blaring away in the background, big problem.

And some of the research isn't that convincing. If you drill into the detail it is obvious that those parents most likely to allow their toddlers unfettered access to a tv are making a myriad of other parenting errors too, all contributing to any negative behavioural or cognitive issues.

LayMeDown · 20/03/2014 12:43

Well I think if my SIL was good enough to mind my 10 month old for me along with her own two babies, the only thing I would to saying about her is how wonderful she is.
If I had such strong feeling about my pfb being allowed to watch Peppe Pig while there I wouldn't leave him there anymore or I would stay with him.
Are you that bothered that you'll give up the free childcare?

gamerchick · 20/03/2014 12:45

Playroom or not.. no balls in the house full stop.

jenniferturkington · 20/03/2014 12:48

Yanbu in your views, I totally agree (and my dcs do watch tv). But you would be unreasonable to say anything.

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