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Original poster

TV in childrens Rooms????????????

60 replies

TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 08:57

My two children aged 5 (girl) and 7 (boy) have been arguing constantly this half term about the TV - we only have the one - they do not have one in their rooms. They don't watch it all the time obviously but whenits on they argue about it - usualy because one wants a dvd and the other wants the Playstation. DH thinks we should get them one to take the TV out of the equation iyswim! Most of their friends have TV's in their rooms. Obviously it would be limited....... but what do people think. Good idea or not? what are your experiences? Thanks for your input!!!!!

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Hulababy · 25/10/2007 09:01

I have no intention of letting my 5yo DD have a TV in her bedroom for a long time yet. I will consider the issue again when she is a teenager and see how I feel then. At present it is a no go for me.

Is it not possible to wire a playstation up to a monitor is some way?

ShaunOfTheThread · 25/10/2007 09:01

We only have one TV, but when you take DVDs and Playstations into account, the demand on that one telly is very high. I hate the idea of tellys in bedrooms, but I guess that getting one extra ropey telly just for gaming or something with time limits established might not be unreasonable. We get away without one because ds1 only really likes online games, and neither ds watches much telly.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 25/10/2007 09:02

Bad idea. IMO

No control over what they are watching, reduces family time, etc.

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:04

I wouldn't be having Sky TV up there or even any normal channels - it would only be for DVD;'s.

Hulababy - what are your reasons?

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TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:06

and it would be limited - as the TV is now........Family time is no good if they are arguing!!!!!!!!

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crazylife · 25/10/2007 09:06

my ds (7)has one in his bedroom, its limited and he will watch an hour a day if that. as long as they not in there all day watching/playing, then its a good thing.

We have plenty of family time and having one in ds bedroom works well.

FunkyGlassSlipupandyouredead · 25/10/2007 09:06

Personally no.

We do however have a tv in OUR bedroom. When both DDs are older I would be happy for DD to go and watch in there for short periods because then you have a way to limit viewing and you have no dispute over ownership etc.

And you can go to bed at 9pm if you wish and watch tv yourself

hana · 25/10/2007 09:08

Id rather have the kids watching tv where I can see them - but they are little, all under 6.

Do you have a portable dvd player or laptop they could watch a movie on instead?

or maybe they need tv tokens that they can swap for tv time - I've done this when tv was becocming a problem for dd1 and it was great - she had 3 20minute tokens that she could trade for a long tv session, or 2 or 3 shorter ones

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:09

We did consider letting them watch in our room - but DH wants to keep our room just for us - as the whole house is taken over by the little darlings as it is!!!!!!!!!

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foofi · 25/10/2007 09:09

My children watch a LOT of television, but I think if the television was in their rooms, they would do nothing else at all! At least when they're in their rooms they're not watching television, at the moment.

Hulababy · 25/10/2007 09:10

I just don't want DD having accesss to TV in her bedroom. I like to be able to limit TV watching time anyway, and to have control over what programmes/channels she is watching to ensure it is suitable. If the Tv was in her bedroom, unless I spent half my time popping up and downstairs, I would have far less control over that.

For me, DD's bedroom is for playing in or sleeping in. Not for watching TV. We have a TV downstairs for that.

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:10

hana I get your idea sounds great - but the trouble will still occur when they both have TV time - they will still argue I can guarentee it. I usually just turn the TV off when they start arguing but once its back on it starts again.

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TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:11

I would have control over what they are watching cause as I said it will only be DVD's - that I have bought

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hana · 25/10/2007 09:13

maybe you have to set up a little chart and they choose the day before or after breakfast who gets to watch what? I will have this problem in a few years, at the moment, dd2 is happy to watch whatever dd1 is into

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:25

tbh I can't be doing with charts for everything!!!!!!!!! think I'd just rather let them have a TV!!!!!!!

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foofi · 25/10/2007 09:26

Well get another tv and keep it downstairs.

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:27

Foofi - great idea if I had another room!!! I only have a lounge and a Kitchen Diner. So no good unfortunately.

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TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:28

I really appreciate all your thoughts - is there any out there who actually thinks its a good idea

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crazylife · 25/10/2007 09:31

hello did you not see my post earlier. lol

I don't think its a bad idea. If its limited.

It seems irrelavent where the extra telly, will be, as you said it will only be dvd's and if you use a wall bracket and they cant reach your in control of exactly what they watch.

themildmanneredaxemurderer · 25/10/2007 09:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GibbonInABloodSoakedRibbon · 25/10/2007 09:34

You want people to validate a choice I sense you have already made....you'll be hard pushed as most people really don't agree with TV's in childrens rooms. I am one of them

If you want to do it - go for it, your kids, your choice.

crazylife · 25/10/2007 09:40

I also might add that during the week off my ds has probably watched no more than an hours telly a day, we have been out and he has played with friends and we gone places. He liked to go to bed at 8 and watch an hour of telly a night to wind down. He does this if he doesn't want to watch what we are watching. In our situation it works perfectly, and I would never be convinved otherwise, I agree that it does sound as if you have made up your mind. Just go and do it and don't feel guilty about it. They are your kids at the end of the day.

Original poster
TVornoTV · 25/10/2007 09:40

I don't want validation as I haven't made my decision yet - I was only interested in other peoples thoughts. I have disagreed with a TV in rooms ever since they were born but now I'm thinking maybe I should make life a bit easier for all of us. Surely there must be other people out there who have TV's in their kids rooms apart from Crazylife!!!!!!!!!!! Or other people who have been against it and then changed their minds.

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wheresthevalium · 25/10/2007 09:42

We have 2 tv's, one in the lounge, which the children are only allowed in if we are there, and another in the playroom (also downstairs) which is only for DVDs and videos, and only if they ask.

My SIL bought a TV for DD1 for Christmas last year (she was then 4), I told her that I would never allow TVs in bedrooms.

Since we have moved recently and the DDs don't have access to Cbeebies, they have played happily everyday when they come home from school, soI suppose I am now of the opinion that maybe they don't need TV at all, with the exception of films we all watch together.

Sorry TVorNoTV, but I really think TVs in bedrooms are a really awful idea

crazylife · 25/10/2007 09:46

just a thought it might actually improve family time, because if one has earned 1 hour of tv time and so has the other, then the telly will be on for 2 hours if you just have one, but if you have 2, then the tv would only be on for an hour, therefore giving them an extra hour to play/do family stuff.