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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:
hoohaal · 03/10/2025 11:40

Why am I the only person that allows TV before school on this thread?!

Unfortunately I do let them watch TV before school. They are quite close in age and it kind of enabled me to get all of their lunches etc ready for school/nursery. It’s not something that’s ever crossed my mind tbh. I didn’t realise it was potentially an issue with school!

RedSkyatNight25 · 03/10/2025 11:41

@hoohaal you’re not the only one I do the same.

Solost92 · 03/10/2025 11:47

We're one of those wierd families that don't actually have a TV in the living room. We have one TV in DSs room with a dvd player hooked up that we watch a family movie on once a week if that. DS doesn't have a tablet or anything but does watch a program on one of our phones sometimes while we make dinner to chill out. Or sometimes on a weekend morning when we want him to have a little less get up and go so early. So yeah, I can see why it's not ideal before school.

SwanEater · 03/10/2025 11:50

It's none of their fucking business, just who do they think they are. Watch it or don't - it's your child, your choice and your decision.

FeedingPidgeons · 03/10/2025 12:01

TV goes on for 20 mins before we leave so I can plait their hair (to prevent nits I do French plaited pigtails for both of them)

With a bike ride to school and then non screen time at breakfast club, I don't see the harm.

Londonrach1 · 03/10/2025 12:03

I can't see how youve time to watch TV before getting to school.

Londonrach1 · 03/10/2025 12:04

hoohaal · 03/10/2025 11:40

Why am I the only person that allows TV before school on this thread?!

Unfortunately I do let them watch TV before school. They are quite close in age and it kind of enabled me to get all of their lunches etc ready for school/nursery. It’s not something that’s ever crossed my mind tbh. I didn’t realise it was potentially an issue with school!

We don't either as tbh I don't have time and it never crossed my mind to put it on

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 03/10/2025 12:06

My kids are now at the end of secondary school and they’ve never watched tv before school. Why would you want them distracted in the morning when they should be getting ready?

Thequeenbee2025 · 03/10/2025 12:06

We never put TV on before school they wouldn't want to move if we did, personally for us it wouldn't work prefer them to get up get ready eat and school

Cakeandusername · 03/10/2025 12:09

We had no tv before school as a child over 40 yrs ago. I’d try and see how it goes, maybe a story to listen to or music instead?

amigafan2003 · 03/10/2025 12:11

WhatNoRaisins · 03/10/2025 08:57

We don't do TV before school but I don't think it's the schools place to tell you what you can and can't do in the morning.

They aren't telling the parents what to do, they are providing advice.

leopard23 · 03/10/2025 12:15

I don't think it's the school's place to dictate what happens at home.

I really think it depends on your family dynamics – how early you get up, how your children react to screentime, what sort of things you're watching etc. We get up at around 6-6.30am and chill out with the TV on for a bit, usually a Disney film or Cbeebies... Then we move through to the kitchen for breakfast and everyone gets ready. I don't feel it had any impact on my kids behaviour. That said, we sit in the playroom and they're often playing with their toys with the TV on in the background, and they're not phased by screens in general (they get bored of the iPad in about 10 mins).

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 03/10/2025 12:17

“I have issues with a lot of school rules in the school and I don't really appreciate them telling what parents should do un their own house”.

It’s just advice. They’re not actually going to police what you do. Sadly there is such poor parenting in many households across the country that they do actually need the school to give some recommendations, such as not allowing phones in bedrooms overnight or tv in the mornings. It may not have occurred to some parents that it can affect how children perform at school, so it’s useful for the school to give this advice for those who would otherwise not have been aware.

Amba1998 · 03/10/2025 12:19

I’ve just banned all screens other than a Disney movie once a weekend because it just sends my 5 year old wild. Squirming, dysregulated, rude and snappy to us. So frankly not surprised school have asked this

Loveduppenguin · 03/10/2025 12:20

RedSkyatNight25 · 03/10/2025 10:19

We have loads of time in the mornings. Takes 5 minutes to dress and do teeth. They have two hours between waking and leaving.

Show quote history

If it takes 5mins then why 2hours between waking and leaving?

Needmorelego · 03/10/2025 12:20

MyKhakiPanda · 03/10/2025 11:36

We have no tv or screens at all in the morning, never have. Your child can find something else to do can't they??

I am curious.
Do you personally ever watch TV? Do you sit down and watch specific programmes at a specific time?
Why is that any different to watching a 10 minute programme before school (because that's the time it's on)?

Loulo6098 · 03/10/2025 12:21

Mine (6 and 9) have the TV on, and they do very well at school (and their teachers praise their behaviour). They don't always watch it either; my eldest might read instead, and my youngest gets up to all sorts.

I can absolutely see that it could be an issue for some kids, so I don't think it's a bad idea for school to suggest it to parents with have children that struggle in the morning.

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/10/2025 12:21

Worrying about small children’s brains. What a bunch of bastards 🙄

PurpleThistle7 · 03/10/2025 12:24

I mean they can’t make you. But if they're mentioning it, that means there’s an issue and they’ve noticed. Take from that whatever you want really.

(personally no screens for us in the mornings or before bed but my kids were never good at regulating after television time and still aren’t great at it now. So it wouldn’t have helped us anyway)

Needmorelego · 03/10/2025 12:24

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/10/2025 12:21

Worrying about small children’s brains. What a bunch of bastards 🙄

Are the brains ok if it's an educational programme like Numberblocks or Horrible Histories?

Houseofpainjumparound · 03/10/2025 12:27

My kids are up at 6.... 2.5 hours is a long time for them to be entertaining themselves

We dont have tablets or computers in the morning but they can watch cbeebies, cbbc, netflix, disney or iplayee. Most the time they watch bluey or horrible histories.

My kids get dressed when asked, eat their breakfast and do some reading before school (not every day) and more often than not they will take themselves off to play something anyway. So max they probably have an hour of tv in the morning.

I have never had feedback that they dont concentrate or any issues.... we did struggle when they had tablets with youtube before school hence why it was taken away.

I would maybe look at limiting it (if you need to) or limiting what they watch. But I grew up watching kids programmes or big breakfast before school and I dont think it did me any harm

However all kids are different and react to these influences in multiple ways

ResusciAnnie · 03/10/2025 12:29

Loveduppenguin · 03/10/2025 12:20

If it takes 5mins then why 2hours between waking and leaving?

Show quote history

…. because the children wake up earlier than 8:25? What an odd question.

Waking up and watching tv is no less worthy and moral than waking up to allow you time to do something else you enjoy before going about your day. Millions of adults the world over wake up early to go to the gym, run, do some yoga, get some peace before the kids wake up, walk to dog, listen to the news, read, etc

Lottie6712 · 03/10/2025 12:29

We don't have it before school as I think it would only make things more difficult as mine go a bit zombie in front of it.

FancyCatSlave · 03/10/2025 12:30

I wouldn’t allow TV before school either.

We rarely have much time but DD will read or listen to her audiobooks. Occasionally she draws.

Figgygal · 03/10/2025 12:31

My kids are 9 and 14
They've never watched tv before school ever
Nor do they have tablets though the older one does have his phone now

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