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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

5 year old and TV in room...

164 replies

Grimbles · 03/11/2017 21:35

Short and sweet!

AIBU to allow 5yr old DS to watch TV in his room when he wakes up at sparrows at the weekend?

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 03/11/2017 21:37

I can't actually conceive of any circumstance where I would allow a TV in the bedroom at age 5.
Sorry!

Lethaldrizzle · 03/11/2017 21:37

I wouldn't put a tv in his room

chipscheeseandgravy · 03/11/2017 21:40

I wouldn’t let them have a tv. Can you not leave a box of quiet toys and books for them in their room.

pinkcardi · 03/11/2017 21:41

I’ve just started allowing my nearly 4yr old to come downstairs to play if she wakes up early at the weekend. The tv is set to kids channels if she wants to turn it on.

No way I would let her have a TV in her room.

RaeCJ82 · 03/11/2017 21:41

I think that’s too young for a kid to have a telly in their room.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 03/11/2017 21:41

My daughter has one she is 5 but it’s only connected to a DVD player no tv channels.We let her watch a dvd in an evening on a fri/sat if she wants.

pinkliquorice · 03/11/2017 21:41

My 4 year old DS has a tv in his room, go ahead if you want there is no rule against it!

pinkliquorice · 03/11/2017 21:42

Why would there be an age limit on a child watching tv or having a tv in their room?

drspouse · 03/11/2017 21:43

My 5yo is allowed to go down and make his own breakfast but only at a set time.
TV is downstairs and watching is only when we switch it on.

Dragongirl10 · 03/11/2017 21:43

How can you possibly censure what he watches if it is in his room?

Terrible idea.

drspouse · 03/11/2017 21:43

(Before that time he plays in his room).

Crumbs1 · 03/11/2017 21:44

No definitely not in their room. In truth, our first was allowed to watch OU maths at 5 am sat at the end of our bed. Sesame Street started at 6am and she still says zee not zed but is otherwise undamaged by her experience. She was precocious mathematically and thatbstayed with her through to A levels but I’m not convinced it was early exposure to calculus.

Baileystruffle · 03/11/2017 21:44

I wouldn't have one in his room but would let him go and turn on the one in the living room. As long as it is actually a reasonable time

geekone · 03/11/2017 21:45

We don't have TV in bedrooms in our house but since DS has been 6 he has come in and said good morning and then asked to watch TV so he is allowed downstairs. It's only 30 mins at most but he likes the me time and I like the extra sleep.

RainyApril · 03/11/2017 21:46

Dd had one in her room from that age. Like pp, it was only connected for dvds and couldn't play any TV channels. The only time it went on was when she woke at 5-6 on a weekend morning, or sometimes I'd snuggle up and watch a DVD with her on a rainy afternoon. It did not lead to constant isolated tv watching, and she managed to achieve two degrees and is now in a professional job. The TV is not, in itself, a problem as long as you set clear boundaries.

ChevalierTialys · 03/11/2017 21:47

DSD has had a tv in her bedroom at her mums since she was 3. She already knew, at that age, how to change the dvd when a film finished if she wasn't asleep yet. She's always hated going to bed here as its "boring" but we point blank refuse to put a telly in her room. There is NO need.

We have had to give in to some extent and allow her to listen to the radio or an audio book quietly because she really cannot sleep without background noise. Please don't do this to your child.

Unihorn · 03/11/2017 21:47

Dragongirl10 what do you think he'd be watching at (presumably) 5-6am?!

Our 7yo has one now but for DVDs only.

cheminotte · 03/11/2017 21:48

What time are you talking about? TV in room is linked to obesity, poor sleep etc. Better to have a gro clock and consequences if he disturbs you before the sun comes up.

somewhereovertherain · 03/11/2017 21:50

Yabvu no way would I let a 5 y/o have a tv in their room

peanut2017 · 03/11/2017 21:50

No way would I let a 5 year old have a tv in their room

NapQueen · 03/11/2017 21:51

No tvs in bedrooms in our house.

Palegreenstars · 03/11/2017 21:51

No TVs in any bedroom in our house. Just wouldn't think of it.

Forts to snuggle up in the living room are fine though.

Wolfiefan · 03/11/2017 21:52

No TV in bedroom.

Original poster
Grimbles · 03/11/2017 21:52

Dragon girl - I'm not sure what would need censuring at 6am but he won't be able to change channels as there is no remote.

I'm not keen on TV in bedrooms but I can't argue why watching in one room is any different to going downstairs to watch if we restrict when it goes on?

OP posts:
Ttbb · 03/11/2017 21:55

Wouldn't you rather he spent that time using his brain?