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?

We've never had the tv on before school. Prefer the radio and chatting, plus we've not got enough time.

My five year old has a love of maths that was sparked by Number Blocks. I get random maths quizzes now and his Duplo gets made into "number blocks" to add/subtract.

TV before school, who cares. I have 3 kids, one with autism+severe learning disabilities - if I think that a favourite music video or Mr Tumble might get a bit more cooperation and let him perk up enough to eat breakfast (his poor sleep means he is hard to get going in the morning) then I bloody put it on.

Kids are all go at school, they can veg in front of the TV for a bit before and/or after sometimes without any harm.

Mine are early risers, so TV is on from getting up until it's time to start getting ready for school. This allows me to drink coffee and make packed lunches in relative peace.

Oh I do, my daughter is autistic and if its not on she just runs riot, if the tv is on the morning runs a lot smoother is my house, wish it wasn't the case but it is

Mine have woken up around 6am for many years now. Yes they get some screen time before school as there are hours to fill!

I’m a terrible parent compared to some on here 😂.

None of us are morning people - DD5 (reception age) comes in with us for a cuddle when she wakes up and we watch an episode of Sophia the first or whatever is in CBeebies while we have a coffee/shower and she has her breakfast in our bed.

She tootles off to get dressed in her room and comes back a watches a bit more while I do her hair, then we go downstairs, put shoes on and leave pretty much straightaway - no issues with turning it off etc.

We’ve always had quite a lot of tv but it’s interspersed with creative play, reading, playing in the garden etc - she’s doing brilliantly with school so I’ve no concerns.

Honestly mine were never able to regulate themselves enough to have tv on before school, until they started secondary.

Now they're responsible for getting to school on time by themselves they do have it on - but that's ok because I don't have to yell at them to get themselves sorted!

My kids watch what they want in the mornings, why not?

I use it as a good gage of how times ticking without having to constantly look at my watch. If it's the 2nd Bluey we need to be brushing teeth!

No, of course it is not ok to let children watch TV before school. In fact, it is terrible parenting! You are sending out the wrong message by conveying that TV comes first before other things. Why don't you ask them to help out with the school bags or by tidying up their rooms?

We would never have time for it in the morning? But personally I think it doesn't set them up for the day very well. After school whilst relaxing, fine.

Yea mine watch it as an incentive. If they are dressed in good time they get 10 minutes before school. If they take ages and aren't ready then no tv.

Nothing wrong with watching tv if they have done what is needed and ready to go. TV is good not bad

I swear can tell what time it is by what is on CBeebies 🤣

if Peter Rabbit has come on we know we will be late!

Yes mine watch TV in tne lounge when completely ready, Agree it makes them get ready quicker!

Ha this has got to be sarcasm.😆 Terrible parenting!? What a sheltered life you must lead! How does it send a message it comes first if they watch it after they have done everything they need to do.

My daughter is allowed YouTube on the tablet before school as long as it doesn’t distract her from getting ready, the earlier she is ready the longer she has! Some mornings I have shouted at her to get ready if she has taken too long to get dressed and have breakfast or she has not fully listened when I’ve told her to do something due to her concentrating more on the tablet than getting ready for school. I was allowed TV before school if I was ready and not distracted, in secondary I always watched The Big Breakfast before school x

We do homework before school as dd is most switched on then.

I watched TV before school so I don't judge it.

The question is, what does he think they should be doing and will he actively facilitate it? If he is just making sweeping statements with no willingness to get off his arse and be invilved then he can piss right off.

Of course it is, like many we used CBeebies almost like a clock at the time. The kids knew when X programme finished it was time to go. 20 mins of TV before school is hardly going to kill them or turn into serial killers, despite what all the moral overlords will say on here.

Mine don't, they're in secondary school now and never have.

Once my dcs are dressed for school/nursery that can watch tv while I do dds hair and get myself sorted.

Wow I'm massively outnumbered here. It's on almost from the moment we go downstairs to the moment we leave the house. DC1 is 5 and has never been able to entertain themselves without me or dad, nor do they have any patience.
DC2 is 2 and super "helpful" but much better able to entertain themselves.
We have breakfast in front of the TV and get dressed in front of the TV. It avoids arguments, meltdowns and means not only do we get out of the house on time, but also I'm dressed with hair and basic makeup done.
I then pop them in the car whilst I finish off the last little bits that just wouldn't be done with their "help".

Parents... You do you and what works for you and your family. There is no right way, just the right way for you.

Think the first time daytime watched day time breakfast tv it must have been for upcoming Mary rose ship , I think . Tv in the kitchen , I was a teenager so it wasn't even particular interesting . Parents thought it was .

Yes mine do, but we live opposite our primary school, so kids have nearly 2 hours in the morning from being awake before we have to leave the house - they have plenty of time also to play, do spellings etc as well as get ready to go!

Jesus, I read these posts thinking I was in the majority 😅 my kids watch telly in the morning because they’re ready to go. They’re in wraparound most of the time so when they back from school it’s bath, tea, bed…no real time for tv!

if you’re kids aren’t late for school, let them watch the telly like we did as kids 😂