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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

TV in 3 year old's bedroom

118 replies

bingobingo · 02/03/2015 20:55

My friend has brought her 3 year old a TV to have in his bedroom as a present. I think this is terrible! AIBU?

OP posts:
dragdownthemoon · 04/03/2015 16:32

I was never allowed a tv in my room a a kid, and as a result I spent as much time as was humanly possible at friends houses after school from the age of about 7 so I could sit in their rooms (with them) and watch TV :) my mum always used to ask me why I never wanted to invite anyone over to our house...! I suppose this doesn't quite relate to a 3yr old though!

insanityscratching · 04/03/2015 16:56

There is a TV in dd's room, there has been one in there since she was a toddler because there was one in there before she was. It's now used to play the wii. I was always the one who determined what and when she watched. As it turned out she never really got into watching TV and even now at 12 the only programmes she watches are Bake Off and For the Love of Dogs.
I'm sure having a TV in the room won't send your friend's child on the road to rack and ruin and think you are a bit mean to post slating your friend's choices.

Canshopwillshop · 04/03/2015 18:03

Mrsdevere - well done on having kids who do exactly what you say when you say it. I just know that having a tv in their room would lead to my kids wanting to push for just one more programme and make them switch from reading in bed at night to wanting to watch tv instead. I would eventually win the battle obviously but it's not one I want to voluntarily invite.

MrsDeVere · 04/03/2015 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bingobingo · 04/03/2015 19:13

What is wrong with judging people/things? If you don't you will end up with no principles whatsoever. I think it's important to work out what's good/bad for our kids and discuss why to get ideas.

If I'm completely honest I do think it's a shame for kids to have a TV in their room because I imagine it teaches them to read less. I'm willing to have my mind changed, and obviously I don't really care how any other posters are parenting, but I do care if my friend's child ends up reading less because of his TV.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2015 19:18

Children with TVs in their rooms never read a book, ever. Sad

insanityscratching · 04/03/2015 19:28

bingo dd could read at age three, the TV in her room didn't stop her, she still reads 10 times more than she watches TV. You have no idea how much or how little the child will watch the TV. FWIW my ds who loves watching TV and hardly ever reads is almost at the end of his Masters.

lessthanBeau · 04/03/2015 19:31

I get the rolling eyes from my sil about TV in DDs room, dn is not allowed one, both age 6, dd had hers since about 4, she watches in a morning when she wakes up and Friday/ Saturday movie nights. however dn has her iPad in her room on which she watches Netflix , so what's the difference?

lessthanBeau · 04/03/2015 19:40

I'd also add that kids will read or not read depends on if they are readers or not, I've always had a TV in my room as have my kids, and I'm an avid reader, as is my dd1 , ds1 is not a reader at all, didn't stop him getting a first in his physics masters degree,(sorry stealth boast there proud mum)

EveDallas · 04/03/2015 19:41

Ha!

We have a TV in the living room, the playroom, the kitchen, our bedroom and DDs bedroom.

DD has been free-reading since Reception, and gets through a book a night most nights. DH and I read more than we speak to each other Grin.

(As for Judging being a good thing - well maybe you need to read more yourself. Because really, no, it's not)

TerryTheGreenHorse · 04/03/2015 19:52

YANBU it's a proven fact of science that watching your telly upstairs rather than downstairs rots your brain.

Canshopwillshop · 04/03/2015 20:09

Mrs devere - not being snarky or making things up (or saying anyone is a shit parent by the way!!). I said it would cause arguments in my house and you said why would it cause arguments, what's the big deal? That suggests that your kids don't argue with you when it comes to watching tv in their bedroom. My kids certainly would and I don't want stressy bedtimes.

MistressDeeCee · 05/03/2015 17:39

3 years old & a TV in bedroom already? How sociable.

keepsmiling2015 · 05/03/2015 17:47

Yabu

TerryTheGreenHorse · 05/03/2015 21:12

Yes that's right, because obviously when you have a tv in your room you never leave again! Grin

Kiwiinkits · 05/03/2015 22:54

I think it's terrible too, OP. And chavtastic

lescec · 30/04/2015 01:15

Why would a 3 yo need their own tele? So their parents can watch Jeremy Kyle without being bothered by them, obviously. Or so the child can play DS games without annoying their parents.

It's bad idea, don't do it until much older. And don't think it can be until they are older, say exam age, then it goes. It will never go. Removing a TV from a child's room is harder than removing Putin from a country he has "helped". Don't expect them to remain as obedient for ever either.

Chunkymonkey79 · 30/04/2015 07:37

Oh FGS, what does it actually matter?

They won't die of tv.

They won't get actual square eyes.

They won't be damaged in any way by having the option to watch the odd program or movie in their own room.

We are in 2015 not 1960.

As long as it's use is monitored, and it isn't used all day and night I really don't see the issue.

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