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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not own or watch TV?

18 replies

YellowSkyBlue · 18/08/2019 19:36

I have been following a few threads where people say that you are depriving your children / teens if you are not sitting and watching tv in the evenings together. To me its a bit strange as I have different cultural experiences where tv watching is not so habitual. My children are young at the moment so they go to bed early. Should I reconsider and get us a tv for the future? I partly do not own a tv because I don't like it and don't want to pay the license fee. I prefer the internet and watching video clips online. I allow my children to choose what they want to view online once a week for max 1.5 hours. I do not have the strength or interest to watch a full show. Aibu?

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 18/08/2019 19:41

Probably by the time your kids start wanting it you’ll be able to see most things in a computer anyway, though that tends to be a personal rather than group (with tv in living room for example).
My family enjoys watching movies and football matches together. But TV certainly isn’t essential. I rarely watched it with my parents as a lot less choice then and they didn’t watch much themselves and it didn’t affect us negatively.

Cryalot2 · 18/08/2019 19:42

We always had a tv, but often months went by when it was never on.
Personally if it was up to me I would not have one .
Now kids are adults and dh seems to be in love with tv .
I prefer the days when you chose what to watch and it went on for that and off at the end of it.

forkfun · 18/08/2019 19:46

Just do what you want to do. I don't think anyone is missing out by not watching TV.

CheshireDing · 18/08/2019 19:49

Whatever works for you.

We have 3 young children and no TV. They do watch films sometimes on the laptop on Netflix.

So far they seem to be surviving 🤷‍♀️😀

Expressedways · 18/08/2019 19:50

I know lots of people including us that have done away ‘live’ TV. We do have a proper television though- we watch shows through streaming e.g. Netflix and it’s nice to have family movie night or watch big sporting events together. Do what works for you- the kids will be fine with iPads as they get older and if you end up reconsidering you can always buy a television then. It’s technology that dates quickly, don’t buy one now to potentially watch in the future!

stucknoue · 18/08/2019 19:54

It is up to each family but people do consume media differently now so you are not refusing to let them watch anything, just not live tv. The only thing they will miss out on is major events eg the Olympics, it was the London Olympics when mine were young and everyone watched it. There's few things I bother to watch live these days but there's lots on tv, far better than YouTube clips.

Original poster
YellowSkyBlue · 19/08/2019 11:08

Thanks for your replies all. I will be sticking with no tv.

OP posts:
Herefortheduration · 19/08/2019 11:12

I don't watch much tv but we do on occasion watch something together as a family (my dc are teenagers now). I like the option for it to be there but everything In moderation. I don't see it as an either/or situation. Some people think having a tv means you're glued to it at every opportunity, I don't think that's the case for lots of people.

familycourtq · 19/08/2019 11:23

YANBU - I know a few parents with no TV. Don't think their kids are seriously missing out.

thecatsthecats · 19/08/2019 11:25

I don't watch much tv but we do on occasion watch something together as a family (my dc are teenagers now). I like the option for it to be there but everything In moderation. I don't see it as an either/or situation. Some people think having a tv means you're glued to it at every opportunity, I don't think that's the case for lots of people.

Same. We have a TV, and if there's nothing on, neither is it!

formerbabe · 19/08/2019 11:33

There's a child in my ds class who doesn't have a tv. Honestly, the other kids think it's a bit odd and he can't join in with the discussions about kids tv they all watch.

AtmosClock · 19/08/2019 11:36

I think it’s fine as long as you don’t get superior about it (not saying you are). Just happens that a pet peeve of mine is people who are quite snooty about TV and then spend their time watching YouTube, Online games, etc etc

Nanny0gg · 19/08/2019 11:39

There's a big difference between video clips and films or a series or factual programmes.

Whether you watch those on TV or tablet is besides the point. It's the content of what you watch.

I wonder if there's anyone out there who watches nothing at all.

TinyMystery · 19/08/2019 11:40

We haven’t got a TV. I had intended to be pretty hardline with not having DS in front of screens in his early years but he does now (nearly 1) watch a bit of Fireman Sam or Postman Pat on my phone occasionally if he needs distracting (although he’s only really interested in the theme tunes). Or YouTube videos of dogs!

At some point we’ll probably get some kind of TV/tablet/whatever we’re using to watch stuff then but I’d still rather there was more outdoor/imaginative play or reading going on.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 19/08/2019 11:58

you can watch pretty much anything on a computer these days anyway.

TV shows for kids are great when get sick and you can plonk the kids in front of them when you are miserable with the flu or D&V!

Some parents think it's the only option to get anything done in the house, most of us manage without, so each to their own.

I have a tv (got a couple actually), they are only banned upstairs but stay barely used. The kids can watch enough so they know they don't miss out on anything, but frankly they don't have that much time - by the time they come back from clubs, do homework, have diner, play and read in bed, no way could they slot tv in their normal week.

whattodowith · 19/08/2019 12:12

We have one TV but no TV licence/sky box. We just watch Netflix and prime on it, the odd bit of YouTube for my DC.

pikapikachu · 19/08/2019 12:13

The tv here is used for console gaming. The kids like watching films/tv programmes on their personal devices. (They are teens so have their own phone etc)

Elphame · 19/08/2019 12:16

I wonder if there's anyone out there who watches nothing at all

I'm close to it! No TV and I've lost the DVD habit. I don't watch you tube, podcasts or any news videos etc. I much prefer to read my information rather than watch/listen to it.

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