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Original poster

What age do u all think is an ok age to let child have tv in their room?!?

88 replies

mindermummy · 15/09/2012 08:41

My son is 8 and been begging for years to have a tv in his room as all his friends have for years.

I was adamant not to let him as long as I could, but now I'm starting to sway, maybe I should let him now.
Just wondered what sort of ages others let their kids have them. Thanks

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 15/09/2012 08:42

I'm saying never.

Bedrooms are for sleeping. Why do you need a tv there?!

laptopcomputer · 15/09/2012 08:43

15 minimum, if at all.

oddslippers · 15/09/2012 08:43

I agree, never, once you've got a TV in the room sleep will go downhill.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2012 08:45

Both DSs have a TV in their room. They are 13 and 10. They have inbuilt DVD players. Ds2 has had one since at least 8 years old.

There are rules though and time limits. But we don't all share the same taste in TV so it makes sense.

notcitrus · 15/09/2012 08:50

When they've saved enough pocket money or job earnings to buy one. Though with all the old ones on Freecycle I may need to rethink.

CMOTDibbler · 15/09/2012 08:53

14 or so, but I am old gimmer, and it took dh till last year to persuade me to have a tv in our bedroom

SoggySummer · 15/09/2012 08:56

Mine are 11 and 13 and have TVs with built in DVD players in their rooms but neither TV is linked up to an aerial so that cannot watch actual TV only DVDs. This is more because we live in rented accommodation though with one aerial point in the whole house, than an active decision - but its a good excuse to them to not let them have actual TV in their rooms.

They are also at boarding school so I dont have the worry of school night late night TV watching.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2012 08:59

Ds1 likes to watch Russell Howard and other 13 year old nonsense. Nobody else wants to watch it. Grin

Lambethlil · 15/09/2012 09:00

Never. No need. Bedrooms are for sleeping.
There are exceptions. I had friends who had a tv in their toddlers bedroom. I judged. However dad worked shifts and they had an auntie sleeping in the sitting room, so the dcs bedroom was effectively the children's living room. Both parents strictly monitored what was watched and the time it was on.

SoggySummer · 15/09/2012 09:00

Ooops posted too soon. I was going to say they have had these since they were about 9yo.

Watching DVDs in their room does not worry me at all as I know what DVDs we have and they have their doors open most of the time but I am not that kee on them having actual TV. I for one can remember watching the Amityville (sp??) Horror age 10 in my room (against the rules and on very low volume) and being terrified for weeks!

I dont think its good for young kids to get into the habit of watching TV everynight though. I think reading is alot more relaxing. Each to their own though - if it works for you and you and your kids are happy - then carry on.

GobblersKnob · 15/09/2012 09:01

Once they have their own home.

TunaPastaBake · 15/09/2012 09:01

21 - if they're still at home . hopefully not

Grin
Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2012 09:03

I am not getting the sleeping thing. It doesn't affect their sleep at all. they don't go to their bedrooms as soon as they get in from school then watch TV all night.Confused

TimothyTumblespring · 15/09/2012 09:05

I think it's very much down to the individual. For my DS the answer is probably not until he's in his mid teens if at all. We only live in a two bed place. We don't have a TV in our bedroom either.
As far as I'm concerned TV is an activity you do as a family (saying that, I do occasionally watch things on the iPad that I know DP doesn't like!!)
I wasn't allowed a TV in my room as a kid until I had saved up enough money from my Saturday job to pay for one. It was the first thing I got with my wages, so I must have been quite desperate for one. Grin

NoComparison · 15/09/2012 09:08

Never, but no bedrooms in this house will ever have a TV for many reasons.

For one, watching TV is not relaxing, might bore you to sleep, but it's not relaxing. Another is that my DC (and I) currently read for a least an hour every evening before lights out. If TV was an option, that wouldn't happen.

For me, if TV must be watched, it should mostly be watched together.

For adults I have a strong (unsubstantiated) feeling that TV in bed is the death of many a relationship

Jinsei · 15/09/2012 09:11

When she has her own home and can afford to buy a TV for her bedroom. There are no TVs in bedrooms in our house, and there never will be.

LadyStark · 15/09/2012 09:12

Never, completely agree with all of the reasons stated about why having a TV in anyone's bedroom is a bad thing.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2012 09:12

I am not watching Russell Howard or The Simpsons or Match of the Day as a family activity thanks. Grin

In the evenings the DC do their homework, read, play PS3 and then sometimes go to their rooms to watch a TV programme. Sometimes not, they have football training most nights.

DS1 looks very relaxed when he is watching TV TBH.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/09/2012 09:13

A tv not hooked up to channels but just to a DVD player then age 8-11 to give you some peace Grin

sassytheFIRST · 15/09/2012 09:17

When they are old enough for you not to bother if they see very adult stuff if they wake up turn the TV on in the middle of the night. Mid teens earliest impo.

We are lucky enough to be planning an extension with a second living room that will be the primarily for the kids' use. That will have 'their' TV in so we don't have to all watch the same stuff.

ComradeJing · 15/09/2012 09:19

Never. Unless they are adult children after university and are happy to buy one themselves.

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 15/09/2012 09:22

until they are 15/16 IMO
We have a tv in our room and it gets watched on occasions such as being poorly in bed during the day but not at night on the way to sleeping

usualsuspect3 · 15/09/2012 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2012 09:25

How can you expect a family to all share the same taste in TV though?

stargirl1701 · 15/09/2012 09:25

When dc has a job and can buy own TV.