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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask honestly what time the TV goes on?

127 replies

mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:08

I know I’m going to get a load of ‘never, were a screen free house’ but … especially if you have under 5s, what time does it go on?

Half four here. And it is on in the morning too.

OP posts:
Perpetuallywondering · 09/10/2025 16:12

Never on a school morning. From 7.30am til about 9am on some Saturdays.

In the evening maybe at about 5pm to see me through the last hour before tea time (we eat together so around 6ish).

steamingin · 09/10/2025 16:15

Mine went on at 7 this morning for the snooker. It will go off at what ever time the darts finishes tonight.

Ladamesansmerci · 09/10/2025 16:16

For my 16 month old, I put on Miss Rachel for about 30 mins when I'm cooking tea probably 4 days a week, because on days she's been at nursery she only tends to have some toast or whatever.

I sometimes have Married at First Sight or Grey's Anatomy in the background on if we're stuck in all day for any reason, because she shows no interest in those, and honestly, sometimes I need it for my own sanity.

As she gets older, I won't really monitor it a ton. My attitude is that if your days are full of other activities/time outdoors, 30 mins of TV in a morning and some at night won't harm you.

I grew up watching SpongeBob before school, then watched the Soaps with my mum at night from like age 7 lol. I also defo used to come in and watch things like Pokémon! I think watching a TV show is different from being glued to short form content on YouTube.

Skybluepinky · 09/10/2025 16:17

When I feel like turning it on no set time if there is something I want to watch it goes on.

Merrow · 09/10/2025 16:19

Depends on the day! Never in the morning, sometimes immediately after school but more often just before tea when everyone's a bit ragged.

Doobeedoobeedoobee · 09/10/2025 16:22

For my three year old, usually around an hour on weekdays - 4-5 which I use to cook and tidy usually

Original poster
mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:26

Interesting some don’t have it on in the morning at all, what do you tend to do instead?

OP posts:
Sagedragon · 09/10/2025 16:28

On a typical weekday it's probably around 7-7.30pm, at the weekend we may watch something with lunch but then it's turned off again. Tbh, there is only myself and my partner who watch it, neither of our sons are interested.

GasPanic · 09/10/2025 16:29

It's on all the time. To switch it and the water cooling off would be too much hassle.

Greenwriter76 · 09/10/2025 16:30

I let 6yo put her kids programmes on in the morning when she is often up around 6.30am. Weekdays we turn it off at 8.10am when we leave for school.
On again anytime after school from 4pm (usually closer to 5pm), depending on what she / we are doing.
But whenever it’s on we are often doing other things like playing, eating in the kitchen, in and out of garden, she is having a bath etc. We turn off at 6.30pm for 30
mins to play or whatever and usually put it on again at 7ish to watch part of a family movie to wind her down b4 bed. I usually watch tv from 8.10pm - 9pm.
Weekends it is usually off by 9am or 10am when we go out and generally on again when we get back in the afternoon.

FridayIsItFridayYet · 09/10/2025 16:30

Mine are older now but we never had it on during the day unless someone was ill or the weather was awful.

I turned it on at 5pm so I could cook dinner in peace.

Now mine turn it on as soon as they get home from school if there's no parent at home! Occasionally we watch something after eating in the evening.

Sagedragon · 09/10/2025 16:31

mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:26

Interesting some don’t have it on in the morning at all, what do you tend to do instead?

We have the radio/Alexa on pretty much all day.

Ihaveneedofwaternear · 09/10/2025 16:33

Just whenever. Sometimes before school, after school, weekend mornings, through the day. Any time they want to watch something and I'm happy they haven't/aren't spending the entire day rotting on a screen

MrsTrellisOgleddCymru · 09/10/2025 16:33

When my kids were school age, we didn’t have the tv on whilst they were getting ready for school, I listened to local radio. Tv was on when they came home for hour or so. Then homework, no tv. We’d watch something later till bedtime

Devilsmommy · 09/10/2025 16:33

I've got a 3 year old and it goes on when he gets up at 5😅 I grew up with a TV on all day as did all of my friends and we all grew up to be functioning adults so don't let people make you feel guilty. If you want the TV on then go for it

Original poster
mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:34

Sagedragon · 09/10/2025 16:31

We have the radio/Alexa on pretty much all day.

Show quote history

Thanks Sage but I don’t think you’re quite my target reply-er!

OP posts:
thisishowloween · 09/10/2025 16:34

No children here but if we're awake and home, the TV is on.

Merrow · 09/10/2025 16:36

DS1 is 6 and DS2 is 2, and both of them are rubbish when they're rushed so our mornings tend to involve a lot of prodding to do things like get dressed / have breakfast / get out in time for school. They play with each other a lot, or DS1 will do something like Lego. They both like me reading to them. This morning DS2 had a lie in so DS1 and I played some board games. The weekends are similar as we tend to get out relatively early to go to the park as they get a bit hyper if they're in the house too long (and my tolerance for nonsense is a lot higher outside!) Neither of them will sit down and do crafts, which I know occupies a lot of children in the morning.

CoralOP · 09/10/2025 17:05

Ours is on all day in the background, son watches it while he eats his toast, then the dog watches it during the day while hubby is working in the kitchen and we have it on all night. Not always watching it though if that makes it any better ! X

popcornandpotatoes · 09/10/2025 17:13

mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:26

Interesting some don’t have it on in the morning at all, what do you tend to do instead?

Get ready for school. We have it on in the mornings on weekends but we don't really have time in the week.

DD has about an hour after school most days during the week

Original poster
mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 17:19

popcornandpotatoes · 09/10/2025 17:13

Get ready for school. We have it on in the mornings on weekends but we don't really have time in the week.

DD has about an hour after school most days during the week

Show quote history

What time do your children get up? Mine are up between 630-7 and we don’t have to leave for school until 845 Smile

OP posts:
ReignOfError · 09/10/2025 17:21

8 - 9pm Monday. Every possible moment when there is athletics on. For most matches during the football Euros and World Cups, men and women.

My kids are adults now, but when they were little it was for about an hour of kids TV late afternoon so I could cook (single parent) and when they were teenagers it was never off in the evenings if they were home, and never on if they were out.

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 17:22

So basically pre-schooler?
4 or 5pm

No tv first thing in the morning, they go out one way or another every day anyway, so tv would only be switch on if I felt it was needed when I wanted to make diner in peace.

MIne never watched much tv.

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 17:23

mangoandbanana · 09/10/2025 16:26

Interesting some don’t have it on in the morning at all, what do you tend to do instead?

My question would be more: how do you even have time to watch tv in the morning? I am on MN from time to time, but I wouldn't have time to watch tv during the day. when do you get everything done?

ResusciAnnie · 09/10/2025 17:24

Literally whenever in our house 😁 amongst a sea of ‘oh we could never’, I will happily admit ours is on all the time/anytime. That doesn’t mean they can watch whatever they want. But they can watch it anytime. Causes no issues, genuinely. TV probably goes on around 6am but I wouldn’t know as I’m in bed (DH is up). Off at some point, no specific set point. They don’t eat in front of it etc but I can’t say it goes off. Bedtime at 8 but maybe it’s still on or paused until our adult evening starts, when we inevitably either watch TV or are out of the house.

Kids are 10, 8 and 3 and absolutely thriving in all areas 🤷‍♀️