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Original poster

No TV before school?!

418 replies

Tireddadplus · 03/10/2025 08:41

Hi! Just got a message from our DD’s (5yo) school that we should not let the kids watch any tv before school! Bad for their brains or something…

DD watches a bit of tv while myself or DW sort out lunches or whatever…just makes getting out the door easier!

Am i being unreasonable to ignore this advice?

OP posts:
ClaireUnderwoodforPresident · 03/10/2025 17:10

No TV in the mornings here. We’re getting ready / eating breakfast/ reading & doing homework…

GlasgowGal2014 · 03/10/2025 17:12

My eight year old gets up every day at 5am. If the school are willing to send someone to my house to occupy him until it's time to get ready for school, then they can dictate whether or not he watches TV, but otherwise they can mind their own beeswax!

Original poster
Tireddadplus · 03/10/2025 17:30

Thanks for all the feedback! I dont think a bit of telly is gonna warp any minds…defo saves my sanity. Will continue as usual unless i get some negative feedback from teachers etc!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tireddadplus · 03/10/2025 17:32

Neemie · 03/10/2025 14:14

I suspect that is correlation not causation. Tricky kids are put in front of the tv because they are hard work in the morning. Tricky kids are more likely to grow up into tricky adults and therefore more likely to end up in prison.

It seems more likely that other factors are at play and it isn’t an episode of Octonauts over their cornflakes that is sending them into a life of crime.

Show quote history

That made me chuckle!

OP posts:
warmapplepies · 03/10/2025 17:32

Meh, I grew up watching kids TV every single day before school, so I don't get all the angst and drama over it.

As long as you can get out of the door on time, who cares?

Original poster
Tireddadplus · 03/10/2025 17:56

Belmondo · 03/10/2025 08:59

"Bad for their brains or something…"

I'm going to sound patronising/sarcastic, but I'm genuinely just wondering whether this is the first time you've heard anything about the effects of screen time on small children's brains and development?

Good point! But we’re talking 20 minutes before school and maybe 30 mins before dinner…is this really that bad? I genuinely am not sure…

OP posts:
EatSleepDreamRepeat · 03/10/2025 18:14

At 5yo my youngest would naturally be up from around 5am. So 4 hours before school starts. We watched the Nativity film once before school 😅 Absolutely no otherway me or DH could have entertained him quietly enough not to wake the older children without TV.

Then there was a decent period of time I had to work at home from really early before school. Kids watched TV because I needed them doing something where I could work quietly. Not ideal and I left that job when I could because I know using the TV as the babysitter isn't good. But neither is not paying your mortgage so 🤷‍♀️

Not everyone's household looks like the middle of the bell curve for lots of reasons.

Smudgesmith · 03/10/2025 18:34

My mornings would be a shit show without it. No TV before he is ready is our rule. So we read a book with breakfast and then he gets ready. I can then get ready without added pressure and stress. He's 6 and sometimes will play and sometimes won't. We generally walk or scoot to school. If I got that message I'd ignore it unless it suited us on some days.

Ebeneser · 03/10/2025 18:44

My son watches CBBC before school 🤷‍♀️
Don’t see the problem. We manage to watch most of the Deadly 60 before we have to walk to school and he has learned quite a bit about animals watching that.

Dinosaurhearmeroar · 03/10/2025 19:11

So sick of screen time debates. I grew up with tv (90s kid) and it didn’t affect me. Trust in parents - if a kid wakes up super early let them watch tv. The demonisation of screen time does my head in - the thing we teachers do notice more js those who have slept and those who have eaten well that am. We have tv time because I struggle as a neuro divergent mother and it gives me a much needed break therefore making me
a better mum.

Walkingonrainclouds · 03/10/2025 19:12

I’m a teacher. Year 1. No idea who watches tv before school and who doesn’t. My dd can watch a little after she gets dressed. It is a great incentive to dress quickly. Do what works for you. Obviously hours of tv a day isn’t good but only you can decide the right amount for your children.

SemmaLina · 03/10/2025 19:15

My DC are in their 30s now , we had either Breakfast news on TV or Radio 2
They survived

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/10/2025 19:18

I never did it. My mother always had the TV on for her benefit when I was a kid, but it irritated me in a way that a radio didn't (the two together - three if you include the second radio ten foot away from the first playing a completely different station), so I was in a foul mood with the racket from the moment I got downstairs.

DD2 would be a pain in the arse being made to turn a TV off that somebody else had switched on to go to school and DD1 would be incapable of navigating the complex requirements of putting both socks on and getting breakfast from her bowl to her mouth if there was the sound of a TV in another room.

I'm absolutely in favour of quiet to start the day as a result.

KindnessIsKey123 · 03/10/2025 19:51

A few people have said something similar, but my four-year-old is currently waking up at 5:30 before school at nine. I’m sorry but I cannot cope without the iPad. I hand him actually iPad with night garden on and we go back to bed for a bit. We have no family support nearby, and I think we would’ve been tearing our hair out without a bit of screen time on the morning.

He is absolutely fine. If you have a child that wakes at 7 am then it’s not a problem. But if they wake up at 5 am, I’d challenge anyone to try and entertain a child for four hours before working a full-time job.

Mumtryingtolivethedream · 03/10/2025 19:54

I remember when reading the back of the cereal box was our only entertainment in a morning.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 03/10/2025 19:59

I think no tech is a reasonable rule. But I think TV isn't as bad as tablet/phone/laptop. A bit hypocritical of them also given that as soon as it's wet break or a 'fun' day they put a movie on.

I'd adhere to no tech, but personally, I think TV is OK. Mine tends to play with it on in the background anyway.

NotARealWookiie · 03/10/2025 20:01

Personally I have a no tv before school rule - it gets their brain in the wrong zone to learn.

DorothyStorm · 03/10/2025 20:01

Same here. Never had tv on in a morning before school. Never while eating either. Screens are not good for growing children.

NeedyLimeMember · 03/10/2025 20:12

My twin girls are 7. We banned TV before lunchtime back in February, after the half term had meant they were watching from first thing in the morning, then becoming unable to play their usual creative, small figure games. Prior to this they would come down first thing in the morning and put the TV on on school days and weekends. I found they are generally much more pleasant to be around, they get bored a lot less easily, argue less and are much more creative. We dreaded it at first but it turned out to be a great choice for our family. And yes it means they get loads of toys out before school (which then don't get tidoed until bedtime) but for me it's worth it.

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 03/10/2025 20:31

No tv before 5pm in this house but they would probably incorrectly guess my son had been watching it since he always arrives at school bouncing off the walls, even though it’s a 20 minute walk.

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 03/10/2025 20:43

My kids have always had a bit of TV in the mornings because they’ve always been early risers!! Really early! And from 5.30 to school is loooooonnng!! I’m not a morning person and need some time to just “be”. To think and get lunches done, work stuff sorted, get dressed, put washing on/out etc. not on screens the whole time - but like you, I just need them to be still and quiet for 20-30 mins whilst I assess the situation 😂😂😂. They’ve been fine. Calm and settled getting to school and their learning is great. Never ever had a behaviour concern shared with me. Both have lovely friends and doing well.

all kids are different. I also had tv as a kid and I’m not in prison (thinking of a PP up thread!).

I think you have to do what’s right for you and your family while also having some common sense. Bit of tv, bit of chat, bit of play….fine. 3 hrs of crazy YouTube whilst parents have a lie in - not fine! (IMO).

you can also be clever with TV and put some number/alpha blocks on or some maddie/andys dinos. Bit educational. Someone mentioned octonauts - wonderful kids show with facts and quite calming.

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 03/10/2025 20:45

Ebeneser · 03/10/2025 18:44

My son watches CBBC before school 🤷‍♀️
Don’t see the problem. We manage to watch most of the Deadly 60 before we have to walk to school and he has learned quite a bit about animals watching that.

my kids love this and they love sharing all the facts!!

Usernamenotav · 03/10/2025 20:47

We're so relaxed as parents but would never put the tv on before school.

Porridgepudding · 03/10/2025 21:12

If I gave mine TV time before school, it would slow everyone down as they would want to have more time. Why children need any form of screen to 'allow' a parent to get ready/start their day.

Nelly91 · 03/10/2025 21:24

I don’t allow my two to watch it as they get too into the show and we always ended up late and the kids upset they didn’t watch to the end. So much better now.