Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to let DD have a tv in her bedroom?

137 replies

sashangel · 23/04/2015 11:48

My DD is 6. She has started the going to friends for tea. Her friend came to our house for tea yesterday and asked if they could put the tv on in her room. She said that she didn't have one and her friend looked gobsmacked. She told her that she had always had one and watches in bed on a night to go to sleep. She has now asked for a tv in her room.
AIBU not to let her have one with very strict limits on times she can watch?

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 23/04/2015 12:06

YANBU. Not in my DS's room until after A-Levels. Anti-social and a distraction from schoolwork.

EastMidsMummy · 23/04/2015 12:09

You are not being unreasonable. At all.

Dowser · 23/04/2015 12:10

There's some dreadful stuff that comes blaring out of tv's now. Let her enjoy her childhood.

You can't even enjoy a music video without all sorts of stuff shoved in your face. I watched the Robbie Williams/ Nicole Kidman something stupid with my grandson

Toe curlingly embarrassing.

And what child needs the atrocities of war blasted into their bedroom?

VelvetRose · 23/04/2015 12:12

Most of the 6 and 7 year olds I teach have TVs in their rooms. I was really surprised to find that!

I have never allowed Dd to have one in her room and she's 12 now. Last year we put one in our room so that there could be the option for people to watch different things and we never use it!

VacantExpression · 23/04/2015 12:12

No TV's in bedrooms here either, DS (6) has mentioned it before but I've just said thems the rules and chance to watch the bloody thing would be nice

mamalovebird · 23/04/2015 12:25

My 5 year old DS does have a TV in his room but it is only wired up to a DVD player as I don't think he needs TV channels on there and I'd worry about what he might stumble across flicking through channels.

He loves watching films but 22 month old DD kept hassling him or messing with the player in the living so we put an old telly from the loft in his room so he can watch his films undisturbed. When his friends come over we make it dark and give them popcorn for a makeshift cinema experience.

Maybe my DS is an exception to the rule but it's never hindered his ability to fall asleep.

AuntyMag10 · 23/04/2015 12:25

Yanbu, you are the parent. You are considering this because another 6yo looked gobsmacked?

NeedABumChange · 23/04/2015 12:29

YANBU.
No one should have a tv in the bedroom unless they are on long term bedrest. There is no need it ruins sleep associations in children. And a lot of them are very sneaky about turning it back on after parents think it is off at night. And I have no idea why adults want them, I can think of much better things to do in bed than watch tv!

youngestisapyscho · 23/04/2015 12:30

My DDs have a Tv in their rooms, only for watching DVDs, and only when I say. Not at bedtimes.

LisaD1 · 23/04/2015 12:33

YANBU, no tv's in any bedrooms here either, girls are 15 and 7. Eldest will watch things on Ipad/phone in eves if she really wants to, youngest has no screen time at all for an hour before bed (she woke every single night with night terrors and this has stopped completely since we banned the screens!) Youngest is allowed to watch Ipad in bed weekend mornings while we have a cuddle.

specialsubject · 23/04/2015 12:36

no, end of. Just because others are poor parents doesn't mean you need to sink down.

apart from poor sleep hygiene and semi-porn on all the music channels, if she wakes up after 1130 she can see the real porn.

confusedofengland · 23/04/2015 13:17

My DS1 is also 6. In his bedroom he only has his bed, wardrobe, drawers, a sofa bed & a few books & soft toys. Right next door to his bedroom is a large playroom (converted double bedroom) which he shares with DS2 (4) & DS3 (1). They have 95% of their toys & books in there. They also have a small, old TV/DVD player, which was given to us buy DSIL. This is not connected to the aerial or internet. The boys can ask to watch a DVD on it occasionally (once/twice a week). They also have a karaoke machine/stereo, which DH will put on for DS1 if there is a football match on that he wants to listen to.

We have a TV, Sky box & Wii downstairs & watch these as a family for a couple of hours per day. DS also does not have his own tablet but he & DS2 are allowed a go on mine when they remember to ask (hardly ever, last time was on holiday at the beginning of the month!)

sparkysparkysparky · 23/04/2015 13:19

nope. no tv in the bedroom for any of us.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 23/04/2015 13:29

My kids won't ever get TVs permanently in their rooms but 9 yo is allowed the portable one with DVD Player when she has sleep over friends staying (only possible Friday or Saturday nights or school holidays). It's removed after the sleepover (it's in the way in the middle of the floor anyway).

We aim to set the basement up as a place for the kids to hang out with friends in a couple of years - will have a TV and sofas - but the 3 kids will only have the one TV between them (and of course use of the one in the lounge).

We don't have a TV in our room either - nobody needs one in the room they sleep in. Mind you it's easy for us as none of my kids friends have TVS in their rooms either.

youngestisapyscho · 23/04/2015 13:50

"We don't have a TV in our room either - nobody needs one in the room they sleep in"

But there is nothing better than laying in bed on a Sunday morning watching TV! I snuggled under the duvet this week and watched Poldark and Ordinary Lies on catch up... and my daughter brought me up a cup of coffee and toast!

ApocalypseThen · 23/04/2015 13:55

It's a no from me, too. Very unhealthy. If kids need to wind down before sleeping, books are appropriate. We don't have a telly in any room other than the sitting room and that's not going to change.

You need to keep an eye on kid's watching habits and be prepared to step in to change channel/discuss issues as appropriate. Also, all members of a family watching stuff in different rooms is not family life (as I know it).

Andrewofgg · 23/04/2015 14:07

And incidentally: that a friend has Sky at home is no reason why you should. There is enough on terrestrial and Freeview.

meowth · 23/04/2015 14:22

they can't show porn on tv unless you pay for it.

I've always had a TV in my room but that's because I've always needed sound to get to sleep. disney DVDs when I was younger. but maybe I may have been about 8 or 9 so quite a bit older. I've always had a radio/sound soother before that though.

sparkysparkysparky · 23/04/2015 14:36

If anyone needs sound to get to sleep can a recommend an ipod or similar set to run (for me) 45 mins. Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter sends me nicely to sleep. Something easy.
Screens are not conducive to sleep.
I stick one earplug in so I can hear dd if she calls (still programmed for that).

meowth · 23/04/2015 15:01

^ I'd completely prefer that if thats what DP did, I swear to god. When I have the telly on, it's on 9 volume unless I'm watching a film. When there is children around, it's 9 volume. I need an iPod again, and a docking station. I love listening to soothing sounds. when I'm with DP, I have to wear earplugs and an ye mask! bright telly :(

meowth · 23/04/2015 15:01

eye* mask.

SweetAndFullOfGrace · 23/04/2015 15:05

TVs will never be in bedrooms in my house. I'm undecided on other screens but they will probably be removed at bed time as well when DD gets to that age. Bed is for sleep.

Micah · 23/04/2015 15:06

Andrew, it's not just porn I don't want my kids watching.

Violence, murder, horror films. Hospital reality shows can be very upsetting- dc1 once watched an ambulance one at 7pm by accident (I was working and dp was trying to settle refluxy baby, and had left her in front of the TV for 10 minutes). They showed a traumatic twin birth which upset her greatly. Even stuff like eastenders sometimes. So no TV after 7, unless they watch with sh or I, and we know it's ok- the gadget show, bgt etc...

SunnyBaudelaire · 23/04/2015 15:07

that is right, there is all kinds of stuff you do not want your LOs watching...I remember once mine saw a vile show where a guy drilled his arm through a plaster cast....upset them for ages.

Theycallmemellowjello · 23/04/2015 15:10

Eek I don't even have a TV in the house! Expecting there to be battles when ds is old enough but I hope if wouldn't be swayed by the opinions if his little friends...