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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

I am getting rid of my t.v.!

108 replies

souvenir · 30/01/2006 11:28

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hallgerda · 30/01/2006 11:40

I'm t.v.-less; I have 3 sons aged 6, 8 and 11. We do not have a quiet, lonely existence and we're all still alive. You may find strange craft objects appearing around the house. Don't let them worry you - they're perfectly normal.

Mum2Ela · 30/01/2006 11:41

We have a TV now but we went for 2 months when we moved into this house just before Christamss when we were TV-less and I loved it! Got soooo much done in the evenings and THB the children watch less than an hour of it a day even now.

Don't think I could get rid altogether tho, would have missed all of Big Brother then, wouldn't I?

Original poster

souvenir · 30/01/2006 11:44

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OP posts:

Sherbert37 · 30/01/2006 12:07

Did not have a tv at all when DS1 was little (up to age 3 or 4, so DD as well for a couple of years). We were very busy but think it would be more difficult to take it away now they are used to it. A child in DD's class has no TV and is seen as a bit wierd, so may be some peer pressure as they get older. Sure you will find lots to do but maybe wait for the better weather?!

Blackduck · 30/01/2006 12:10

Was TVless before xmas as it broke - had colleagues trying to push their spares on me which I resisted! Can't say I missed it (miss watching DVDs more as this is what dp and I mainly use the TV for...) Ds didn't seem to be overly bothered either....

RTKangaMummy · 30/01/2006 12:14

A family we know don't have a TV and the children are also seen as weird in that they don't know about the children's programmes that the other children talk about, what about just using it for videos or DVDs then you have control over the programmes that are watched.

You can get them from library for a week for £1.

mazzystar · 30/01/2006 12:15

you don't have to turn it on you know.

Hallgerda · 30/01/2006 12:28

Peer pressure really hasn't been a problem. Funnily enough, DS1 once told me, unprompted, that he thought a lot of his friends' parents used the television as a lazy way to keep their children entertained while the parents did something else. He was 6 at the time iirc.

I don't see why I should live in a way I really don't want to simply to avoid my children being seen as "different". If you and your family are confident in your own decision, it really shouldn't be a problem.

Mazzystar, if you're not going to turn it on, why not save the licence fee?

mazzystar · 30/01/2006 12:38

Some television's actually quite good. Entertaining. Informative.
Watch with discretion. Not Stars in Their Eyes.

Have been tv-less in the past but this was when child-less and able to go out (a lot) more.

GDG · 30/01/2006 12:40

Ooh, no, I couldn't do without Nick Jnr and Thomas DVDs - can be a Godsend when you need time to do something.

As the parent you do have control over how much TV your children watch too so if you don't want them glued to it, don't let them.

Caligula · 30/01/2006 12:45

Do you live in Britain? If so, you will be regularly harrassed by the TV licensing people, who will refuse to take no for an answer.

katierocket · 30/01/2006 12:47

good for you souvenir. A friend of mine was brought up without a TV and she is one of the most resourceful person I know. She was never bothered by it - and she's not slightly weird! Very cool and sporty actually.

I think it can only be a good thing.

expatinscotland · 30/01/2006 12:48

I enjoy watching TV. I just don't have it on much when DD is around. If she asks, I just say no.

FrannyandZooey · 30/01/2006 12:49

We have a set but don't watch it. Occasionally watch a video. Ds is nearly 3 and has just started to get interested if he sees a tv in town etc. "Can we watch that mummy?" "Oh no, let's not, it's a bit boring." "But I like boring things..."

I would rather get rid of ours so that there would be no debate about whether things are going to be watched or not, but dh likes it to play Dreamcast games on. I have just finished reading that book "Remote Controlled" which reasured me I have made the right choice so far. the effects of tv watching can be quite far-reaching. However I can see I have an interesting time ahead of me as ds learns more about what tv is...

faeriemum · 30/01/2006 12:51

i would save alot of money from tv bills if i done this.....but i honestly think that some tv is good ....for everyone! ...ds learns to sign from 'something special' (i could never teach him...and justin seems to have the magic of holding his attention)....bob the builder is a god send when im needing to get on with things..................

he knows when he can have it on, and when he cant.....its always my descision and it always will be.....i wouldnt put a tele in ds's room until he's at the age where he can buy one himself!

but i find it very relaxing in the evenings to sit there with my feet up in front of the box with a cuppa. (if my programmes are not on then i read)

far better then straining at a computer screen......

Spidermama · 30/01/2006 12:53

This book might help you to make your decision. I'm hovering too but not quite ready to take the leap.

Let us know how you get on if you decide to do it.

Lonelymum · 30/01/2006 12:54

I can honestly say that my children don't watch much TV with the current exception of ds3 who has recently become obsessed with CBeebies. His obsession does worry me, but I know in my heart of hearts that if I really didn't want him watching it, he wouldn't watch it (eg at the weekends, I tell him CBeebies isn't on and he accepts that and doesn't turn the TV on). He will outgrown CBeebies before long.

Dh and I watch a reasonable amount of TV in the evening. We would always trun the TV on each evening to see hwta is on, but we have been known to switch it off again if there is nothing we like. We don't watch it mindlessly.

I would not like to be without the TV. I positively enjoy some programmes and frequently enjoy just vegging out after a hard day in front of something reasonable. Also, the thought of not being able to watch TV when ill is frightening.

elliott · 30/01/2006 12:57

My parents decided it would be A Good Thing to have no tv when we were younger - so we were TV-less from when I was around 7 to around 11 or 12 iirc. I have to say it WAS hard being the only person in the whole world not to have seen certain programmes (or so it felt!), and it is not an experience I would wish on my children. And besides, I'm far too addicted to reality TV trash now I blame my previous deprivation....

Rhubarb · 30/01/2006 13:01

TV has it's uses.
You have the educational wildlife programmes.
You have worldwide news.
Documentaries.
Informative programmes for kids like Newsround or Blue Peter.

Personally I think you would be better limiting the telly than banning it altogether. It keeps you in touch with the outside world and can actually be a good learning tool.

And how else are you able to get things done ffs!

Hallgerda · 30/01/2006 13:12

Caligula, I haven't heard from the TV Licensing folk in years now. They were a bit troublesome about 8 years back, and kept sending people round, but it seems they've got the message.

Any really good wildlife programmes (e.g. Life in the Undergrowth) tend to come out in DVD which we can watch on the computer.

And I do occasionally manage to do things!

FrannyandZooey - we have a ban on the use of the word "boring". It took DS1 some time to realise it wasn't "the B-word".

Sherbert37 · 30/01/2006 13:18

So what about tvs in children's bedrooms - or should that be a separate thread?!

Lonelymum · 30/01/2006 14:01

IMO Tvs in chldren's bedrolms is an absolute no-no, ever.

I even take my boys' gameboys away from them when they go to bed as I know otherwise they will play them under the sheets until 10 at night (or later). A TV in the room must be a complete distraction. Why is there a need for a child to have their own TV?

moondog · 30/01/2006 14:21

souvenir,you will feel more liberated and with more time to do really interesting stuff than you thought possible.Your children will also be calmer.

Hey (super smug emoticon coming up) I MN loads,have a very organised household,do a lot of different things outside the home and go to the gym three times a week.My dh isn't even home.

What's not to like????
(Bar dh's absence.)

oops · 30/01/2006 15:29

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oops · 30/01/2006 15:31

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