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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

children with tv's etc in their rooms

72 replies

PeppermintPasty · 15/03/2010 20:48

AIBU to think that the world has gone mad when I hear of children not getting enough sleep etc; because they have TVs, computers in their rooms and are up all night with them, or most of the night? Why don't the parents take the damn things out? I don't get it. Is it just too difficult an area for parents to get into with their offspring? Am I naive in thinking we should all have these things in one/two central rooms, or am I just hopelessly out of touch?

OP posts:

pigletmania · 15/03/2010 20:52

YANBU I totally agree. My dd 3 does not any such things in her room nor will she have, if she wants to use the tv its in the lounge if I or my dh are not watching it, or if she needs the computer when she is older then she will use the one in dh room with him supervising or my laptop with me supervising.

lovechoc · 15/03/2010 21:08

YANBU - I have heard of this happening. I suppose they do it for an easy life (or what the parents think is an easy life!). DS won't be getting a TV in his room until he is at least in high school. They don't need that extra stimulation. He watches TV with us in the lounge. And complete supervision from DH or myself when he wants to look at Cbeebies website for games etc.

LucyHoneychurch · 15/03/2010 21:11

I agree with you all but am painfully aware or dc are quite young. I hope we still have the strength of our convictions when they go to school an all their friends have one

EmilyStrange · 15/03/2010 21:17

Mine don't have these things yet I frequently find them reading long after I thought the lights were out and they were fast asleep. The youngest can't read but stays awake much longer than he should singing.

Coldhands · 15/03/2010 21:18

YANBU, I didn't have a mobile until I was 17, I had a tv when I was in my mid teens and I used the family computer. If you are out of touch then so am I.

I just don't see the need for all these things in a childs bedroom. I also don't see the need for a 3/4 year old having a games consol either but I know many others disagree. My friend had on her facebook status the other day about how she had fixed her DS's xbox 360. He is 4.

chegirlWILLbeserene · 15/03/2010 21:18

YANBU in that of course children shouldnt be watching tv at night etc.

But I can never understand why anyone thinks tv in room = unlimited access.

My DCs have had tvs in their bedrooms from fairly young ages but have always had to ask permission to watch, have restricted access to channels and NEVER watch them after bedtime.

The rule in our house is no kids tv in the evening anyway. No beebies or cartoons etc after 6 ish.

Having a tv but having to follow the rules teaches them boundaries.

MogTheForgetfulCat · 15/03/2010 21:20

I was a bit when I went round to SIL's house and saw that DNephew (6) has a TV in his room. There is also one in the room that he sleeps in at my mum's, and DS1 (4) goes over there for sleepovers sometimes. Am dreading him cottoning on to this idea and wanting one in his room. Will, of course, say no, as hate TVs in bedrooms generally, and for children in particular. But am sure it will get harder as he gets older.

mummyofexcitedprincesses · 15/03/2010 21:20

M DDs have a tv in their room. It is not connected to an ariel and I control when they watch it and what they watch. Some weekend and school holiday evenings they will go upstairs and watch a movie so I don't have to sit through Hannah Montana the movie for the umpteenth time.

They don't have a computer as that is very different imo. They can only use thge family PC in the living room under supervision.

HerBeatitude · 15/03/2010 21:23

I used to think this until friends of ours gave us their old TV and the only place with room for it was DS's bedroom.

You are making that classic mistake of thinking that just because a child has a TV in their room, that means it's never policed and they're up all night watching it.

My DS literally hardly ever watches his. Last time it was on was about a month ago. It really is just a back up for when one member of the household wants to watch one thing and the others want to watch something else.

lovechoc · 15/03/2010 21:25

someone I know who let their 9yo have a 32in TV in their bedroom - totally ridiculous IMHO. why on earth does he need a TV that size.

Buddleja · 15/03/2010 21:26

My DS1 (6) just the other day said to me 'it's really nice when you can choose your own DVD. I could have one in my room AND it'd would have to have a TV with it' then he stands there looking hopeful following it swiftly by 'And if I have one so would DS2 that way he could watch he's DVDs too. And we wouldn't argue over them'

Wouldn't be so bad if they weren't in the same room and in bunks

Ain't gonna happen. Ever.

herbietea · 15/03/2010 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LyraSilvertongue · 15/03/2010 21:32

My children won't have TVs in their bedrooms any time soon, if at all (they're 7 and 5). There's no need. We have two living rooms both with TVs in so if there was a clash they could go in separate rooms. They don't need to watch TV in bed. I'd much rather they read a book before going to sleep, which they often do.

birdworthington · 15/03/2010 21:33

The youngest can't read but stays awake much longer than he should singing

My 2 (10+5)have a tv. Ds uses it for his comp which he plays for an hour max. They do not have it on at night but will watch a dvd on the weekend. They get plenty of sleep and, unlike some children,do not think of it as part of their bedtime routine.

mazzystartled · 15/03/2010 21:36

I will allow mine to have a tv in their rooms (or preferably in a separate sitting room, if we can still afford to live in this house by then) when they hit early teens.

upahill · 15/03/2010 21:40

We have one tv in all of the house. The lads are 10 and 13 and having a tv in their room has never been an issue. They have never asked for one.
We have one computer in the hall which we all use.

I haven't got strong views with children aged 8ish and over but I must admit I was a bit [shocked] a few years ago when I was at my ex boyfriends house and found out that his then 3 year old had a tv in his room. To keep the peace I said nowt!!

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 15/03/2010 21:46

YANBU
I read in the evenings and listened to music when I lived at home. If I had friends sleepover I got to borrow parents' tv for the evening.

My friend's DD, 6, has a tv with DVD only. She does ask permission to watch one but her mum never says no and she watches dvd movies every night, one weekend night I was round she was still up watching them past 11. I know that's partly a parenting issue but my DS's room is quiet when he goes to bed, and I think a peaceful bedroom with soft lighting and storybooks is a better environment to get DCs off to sleep calmly than tvs and dvds and whatnot.

TrinityIsFuckingTrying · 15/03/2010 21:49

mine have a tv in their rooms
it is not connected to an aerial
holidays sometimes and special treats they get to watch a video in their room

means that I dont have to watch spongebob the movie or timmy time or dora and they feel chuffed ot bits
no tv before bed

2shoes · 15/03/2010 21:50

op
how old are yours(nosey emotion)

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 15/03/2010 21:51

YANBU. They are children. My nephew was 3 when he had one in his bedroom , ds is 10 and we watch TV together at a reasonable time, he's asleep by 9pm. His friend has a TV in his room and a playstation (what sort of a game is Dawn of War?? , he's rarely downstairs according to his mum. This isn't family life to me.

VKschmeekay · 15/03/2010 21:54

I agree with Che and Her. Why should a tv in the room = staying up late/watching inappropriate channels etc??

My DS is 5 and has had his own tv since his 4th birthday. There is no aerial point in his room, so he can only watch his DVD's and he is very clear and fully understands that he is only allowed it on a Friday and Saturday night. He has the choice of staying up until 20.30 with me, but then he doesn't get to watch anything or going to bed early and watching a film (he still gets to stay up a little later on the weekend then iyswim).

As soon as film over/I deem it lights out, the tv goes off and lights out with classic fm being the only stimulation. I have never had an argument with him about it.

It comes down to parental control and boundaries. Children who respect those boundaries will abide by the rules.

choosyfloosy · 15/03/2010 21:59

I would probably have slaughtered entire nations to have a telly in my room when i was a kid. I would have stayed up all night, every night trying desperately to catch the alleged river of pornography that Channel 4 purveyed in those days (in reality, a glimpse of nipple towards the end of a lengthy French film, once every six months).

I'm sure ds would be much more sensible but he is definitely not having a telly in his room. Why should he have easy access to pornography when I had to work for mine? I would rather he was down the park getting pissed tbh.

TrinityIsFuckingTrying · 15/03/2010 22:00

see I've never understood the raido being on in a kids room

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 15/03/2010 22:02

I may relent when he's older and give him my old portable, it's not cool to spend all your time with your mum.

gonnabehappy · 15/03/2010 22:04

I held out until son was 14...wish I had held out longer

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