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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not let a TV in the room until 16?

143 replies

Snagscardies · 14/06/2020 21:37

Is it that bad? I haven't allowed phones upstairs at all and have not had any problems. My 21 year old still leaves his phone downstairs although I've always said the moment they pay rent there are no rules just consideration for a house share. My 14 year old would like a telly. We have a teen only snug is it unreasonable to say no to the room telly?

OP posts:
Rosebel · 15/06/2020 15:57

My children don't have one in their room nor do I plan to get them one. I had one for my 14th birthday and watched it for about 2 weeks and after that hardly ever. It was a waste of money.
If my children were to save up for one that's fine as it's their money. They have kindles, ipads, phones and eldest will be getting a laptop on her birthday so I don't think they need a TV too.
Electronics downstairs at 10 (used to be 9 but things have slipped a bit since lockdown).
I don't see an issue if you want to get your children a TV but they don't need one and as, I said my children can have one if they save for it.

FleurDaxeny · 15/06/2020 16:08

I have no ideas why MN thinks screens are evil, unless your DC can't be trusted and would be watching TV 24/7 I suppose.

you suppose wrong. HTH.

bottle3630 · 15/06/2020 16:09

This reply has been deleted

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Sweetlikecoca · 15/06/2020 16:13

With all the technology kids have today I can understand having no TVs in their rooms. Technology is way too advanced. Then again my DC is only 5 but I don’t have a TV in my room. I hardly have the time to watch the TV in the living room. I do think my child would be up at the crack of dawn on a school morning if I let him now have a TV in his room.

Kids won’t miss what they have never had!

Sparklingbrook · 15/06/2020 16:32

@FleurDaxeny

I have no ideas why MN thinks screens are evil, unless your DC can't be trusted and would be watching TV 24/7 I suppose.

you suppose wrong. HTH.

Not really.
BakewellGin1 · 15/06/2020 16:41

DS11 has had a TV in his room since age 9... Upgraded to a Smart TV last year. Accesses You Tube, Netflix, uses it for PS4 etc... No issues so far.

Doesn't have it on if doing school work, switches off by his given time, occasionally likes to watch TV for half an hour on a morning, or watches Netflix if he feels unwell and is laid in bed.

Same with his phone etc. He can keep them in his room providing he uses them reasonably and switches everything off 30 min before he plans to go to sleep, he then reads for a bit

Sparklingbrook · 15/06/2020 16:42

@BakewellGin1

DS11 has had a TV in his room since age 9... Upgraded to a Smart TV last year. Accesses You Tube, Netflix, uses it for PS4 etc... No issues so far.

Doesn't have it on if doing school work, switches off by his given time, occasionally likes to watch TV for half an hour on a morning, or watches Netflix if he feels unwell and is laid in bed.

Same with his phone etc. He can keep them in his room providing he uses them reasonably and switches everything off 30 min before he plans to go to sleep, he then reads for a bit

I honestly think some DC can be trusted to self regulate, it's perfectly possible.
AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 15/06/2020 16:58

sparklingbrook totally agree - having had one who couldn't, and one who can, it isn't about parenting but personalities. I used to open my curtains to read by the street lights, or smuggle a torch uh under my covers to read. It doesn't always follow that with no tech in rooms, they will just sleep without any mischief.

Sparklingbrook · 15/06/2020 17:03

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners

sparklingbrook totally agree - having had one who couldn't, and one who can, it isn't about parenting but personalities. I used to open my curtains to read by the street lights, or smuggle a torch uh under my covers to read. It doesn't always follow that with no tech in rooms, they will just sleep without any mischief.
Yes, totally. I used to stay up reading half the night with my torch too. It's all down to the personality of your DC.
Littlebyerockerboo · 15/06/2020 17:08

Wow, am I wrong? My son has had an old tele in his room since he was around 3, hes 6 now. He comes into my room and asks around 6/7am of a morning and will watch channel 5, milkshake until around 8/8:30am, the tele can't be turned over as it doesn't work on anything other than channel 5 milkshake -after that he had no interest in watching. It buys me extra time in bed and he seems to enjoy it? Doesn't watch it any other time than in the AM/before school when we go downstairs together?
Am i Satan?! Grin

Yerroblemom1923 · 15/06/2020 17:15

No one needs screens in the bedroom. Bedrooms are for sleeping, reading and relaxing.

iklboo · 15/06/2020 17:20

DS has had one in his room since he was 11 (birthday present) but he uses it more for gaming than watching TV. He tends to want to watch shows with us we all enjoy. He's 15 this year.

We're fairly flexible on screen time but he always does all school / homework first, comes down for meals and no games after 10pm. He's happy with this and sticks to it without reminders.

BeautifulCrazy · 15/06/2020 17:21

Bedrooms are for sleeping, reading and relaxing.

And those are the only 3 things that anyone can ever do in a bedroom because Yerroblemom1923 has spoken. 🙄

lowlandLucky · 15/06/2020 17:21

I never allowed t.v's in the bedrooms, they weren't bullied because of it. My children dont allow my Grandchildren to have one in their bedrooms either. My Step Daughter had had a tv in her baby's room since he was 8 months old, he is now 3 and although very clever he still can string a sentence together because his parents spend their lives watching t.v or playing games on the P.S, the only time they speak to the little one is when they holler at him to shut up.Sad

godyouareahhhhh · 15/06/2020 17:22

My kids all have TVs in their rooms. We are a technology family but we all use everything within moderation. I take the remotes out of their rooms if they want to watch a little tv before bed and put it on a sleep timer.

Imissmoominmama · 15/06/2020 17:22

We don’t have TVs in any bedrooms. If anyone’s desperate to watch it, they can go in the sitting room.

momtoboys · 15/06/2020 17:23

You are not being unreasonable. No TV's upstairs for my boys. I am not as strict about the phones and I regret it.

Deadringer · 15/06/2020 17:27

We have no rules at all for tvs phones or anything like that and have never had any issues with behaviour or achievements. We have 3 adult dc, a 16 year old and an 11 year old. Do whatever suits you and your family.

woodhill · 15/06/2020 17:29

Mine never had TVs in rooms. There was another tv in a family room.

Dds don't have TVs in their own households but probably watch things on laptops

cjpark · 15/06/2020 17:30

Its your choice as a parent surely. We've allowed tv's in bedrooms from age 11 (secondary school). They don't turn it on that often, certainly not in the morning, but it is useful if they want to have a movie night with friends, watch something different to us or maybe chill out and watch a film together. As long as you set clear boundaries, I don't see a problem. We have no screens after 8.30 ( kids are 12and 16), they know the rules and stick to them.

Whatnametomorrow10 · 15/06/2020 17:32

We didn’t put a TV in my daughter room until she was 16 (after GCSE) she was so excited...it’s now a dust collector!

Yerroblemom1923 · 15/06/2020 17:33

BeautifulCrazy, what else would one do in a bedroom???? Children, I mean. Adults may have occasional fun etc but a six year old should be sleeping, relaxing or reading. OK they can also play with Lego, draw or paint.

BlusteryShowers · 15/06/2020 17:34

DS is far too young but having been through lockdown had he been older I think I would have let him have one. Sometimes it's nice to be able to relax away from every one else in the house. I'm not keen on social media and phones in rooms, but a TV doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Yerroblemom1923 · 15/06/2020 17:35

lowlandlucky, that is really sad.

ElenadeClermont · 15/06/2020 17:36

We only have one tv and it is downstairs. We all have to compromise and no screens upstairs.