For thinking it's ok for DC to watch TV before school

[thirdistheonewiththehairychest]

If they're completely ready to walk out of the door.
We just got a TV in the lounge yesterday, and DH has gone a bit huffy about them watching it this morning.

Just want to check if I'm being unreasonable because DH has a tendency to be a bit of a party-pooper and I'm not sure if that is colouring my judgement and I'm unwisely pushing back against that.

Do your DC watch TV before school?

Nope. TV is extremely limited here.

Mine were allowed TV before school as long as they were walk out the door ready. made them get ready quicker and doesn't seem to have stunted them in any way.

I might be remembering wrong but didn't Cbeebies have a song at one point about "it's time to go to school now" ?
There was "what's on your plate" at lunch time and the bedtime song. Am I imagining a "switch off the telly and go" song?

No. We never had it on before school. I don't think it's a good idea to have a constant inane TV soundtrack.

Mine always did - both ND and it helped with the time management. DD used to know that if she was dressed on time she could watch Peppa pig (5 minutes per episode) and it made her smile, so where exactly is the harm? As long as it isn't stopping them getting ready it's ok IMO. DS (long time ago now!) had Cbeebies on and would jump up automatically to put his shoes on as The Tweenies started up so it was a useful signal.

I used to have the TV on while I was getting ready for school when I was a kid, and that was in the 80s and 90s.

In my experience, any question about TV, gaming etc on Mumsnet gets a very skewed anti-screens response that doesn't particularly reflect how most people actually parent their children.

Same with questions about food, where everyone will pile in to say they only ever offer their children 'hummus and veggies' as a snack and have banned refined sugar.

We don’t normally as they are very leisurely and don’t have time. 40 minutes at breakfast today. Pain au chocolate and strawberries. Ten minutes to hoof down surely?

Sounds fun.

Haven’t RTFT but it would be a no from me. For me, TV is what I bring out for the times I really need it, and I (personally) think before school is unnecessary for my kids.

No, 6 year old makes a fuss about turning it off. We also have a separate nursery run to do so no chance because it'd cause delays.

@Pocketfullofdogtreats if it's Cbeebies it will probably be an educational programme.
Nothing wrong with a bit of Octonauts (marine biology) or Alphablocks (spelling) etc.

Mine were always allowed tv once they were ready for school. They were always ready in plenty of time so would usually get 10/20 minutes tv time. My youngest is usually ready with a good 30 minutes to spare but he prefers to learn a language on duolingo with his time, or a play a game on his phone. 🤷‍♀️

Lots of fun....bike riding, swimming, gymnastics, dance, Lego, reading books, building forts, days at the zoo/park/seaside.
Do you know what too much TV actually does to kids brains/development/behaviour?
🙄

Goldengirl123 · Today 08:38
I’m in the camp of kids watch far too much tv so I certainly wouldn’t allow it”

Surely it depends what they’re watching. Bit of Alpha/number blocks might crank their brains up before lessons?

Yeah mine do all that stuff too. They also watch tv for 20 mins in the morning and their brains haven’t even melted yet.

No problem if everything's done and you have spare time. It's satisfying seeing them sat ready, everything done books read etc with 10min to go.

Mine are often offered tv if there's enough time as motivation to finish chores. But it's rare! If they do bluey has them belly laughing which is nice before school. I just turn it off at the wall when it's time though. I live opposite school and only have one drop-off nowadays so have more time than hellish nursery days.

I usually ask alexa to play fun kids radio while they eat breakfast, heart's music was absolutely filthy!

No he doesn't, but even before ds we didn't have the TV on in the mornings, and it's not on generally as background, it's on if there is something in particular we want to watch. I tend to have radio 4 on in the kitchen in the mornings

As long as they're ready and have eaten, I don't see the problem - unless an adult wants the news on and then there needs to be a compromise.

DH gets up earlier than anyone else most day and admits he likes 30 mins to himself having breakfast over morning tv - he likes to know what's happening in the world or sometimes like the topics chosen to discuss.

Never had the tv on before school. My philosophy was basically to leave it as late as possible before turning it on. When they are alert in the morning I think they should be reading or playing. Tv is for later when they are tired or for family watching together imo.

Mine do, never been an issue. They get ready after breakfast and sometimes watch a bit more before we leave for school.

There’s never been an argument in my house about turning it off though. If I tell them it’s time to turn it off they just do, no drama. Sounds like I’m lucky.

I remember watching tv before school
as a child - I’d get up early and watch an episode of lassie at 6am 🤣 (1990s!).

My kids don’t watch tv though - mornings are totally hectic as it is as we do music practice then so would never have time for it. They’d blatantly whine about having to turn it off as well.

Music practice?!

Is it only my children who sleep in until the very last possible second..?

Not that there is anything wrong with music practice but I am incredulous that people have time for this stuff in the morning.

I don't have moral objects to it - but when we tried found it made one child behaviour much worse on walk to school and apparently in school and occasionally caused arguments with others - not wanting to leave when needed.

So obviously we stopped it - but other families with other kids do it routinely with no adverse affects.

How old are your kids?! Sounds depressing!

Mine wakes anywhere from 5am! TV doesn’t go on until 7am but he must also be eating breakfast, cleaning teeth and getting dressed by 8am. I need to get ready etc so I don’t see an issue with TV. He has it on after school for about 45 mins. Then it’s footie, bike ride, dog walk, garden etc.