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Original poster

How much tv in your house?

55 replies

lunavix · 21/03/2005 10:02

I know this is probably been asked a zillion times before, but...

how much is your tv on?

Normally, ours is on if we're in with a mix of kids videos for ds (11 months) or grown up stuff for me (which I put on so he doesn't sit engrossed!)

I want to limit it now, so he watches noddy in the morning (he loves noddy!) and then maybe one cartoon, or 20 min video in the afternoon, and that's it. DP usually has the tv on a lot once ds goes to bed.

(think I might have to move ds's bedtime, else I'll miss eastenders!)

OP posts:
welshmum · 21/03/2005 11:00

I don't think TV is evil but it's as much for me as for her that I try not to watch it too much. I like to chat about our days rather than what Roly Mo's up to....

muminlondon · 21/03/2005 11:02

I wouldn't have thought that mumsnetters who do have the television on more than me are letting their children watch violent or any other inappropriate content. Studies like that are often based on extreme examples.

But I want her to avoid seeing lots of adverts for junk food and expensive toys we could never afford. We don't have Sky, fortunately, and Cbeebies doesn't have ads.

Hulababy · 21/03/2005 11:02

Yes you can BUT sometimes this is not always possible. DD interacts with me and/or another person when watching TV. She does not just sit in front of it on her own staring at it. We discuss what it happening, we join in with activities, songs and dances (yes, the builders opposite do think I am mad!) and we may do some of the crafty activities afterwards too.

Maybe the discussion should be more about how a child watches TV rather than whether they watch TV in the first place.

lockets · 21/03/2005 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

velcrobott · 21/03/2005 11:05

Yes I think HOW a child watches is very relevant... I do not know many people (if any - except you ) who genuinely sit and watch tele with their kids... it's more like... all right then watch some tele whilst mummy does a,b and c....
And I have never seen a mother sit for 2 hours to watch and talk through Cbeebies...... I am sure the child would turn it off it would be too much LOL

Hulababy · 21/03/2005 11:07

But I wouldn't watch constantly for 2 hours either, other than with a film maybe with her. More like half an hour at a time.

BTW there is a fair bot of research around that can be used to show how the Tv can be used as an educational tool as well.

2boysmum · 21/03/2005 11:07

Ours (4 and 6 )seem to have stopped watching it all by themselves! They used to come home from school and turn it on now they usually dont even bother and would rather play with knex or lego. Same in the morning where they have stopped even asking to put it on! Not sure why but I think they have worked their way through the kids channels ( we have the lot!) moved onto discovery science and now decided they would rather play with stuff than watch TV. Our youngest who is four will even turn it off saying he would rather play, long may it continue!

QueenEagle · 21/03/2005 11:16

We go through phases of having it on all the time after school to not at all. Generally in the day This Morning is on whilst DS4 is happily playing and I nip in and out doing my chores etc. If I still need to get stuff done and he's getting bored I flick over to cbeebies which keeps him amused for a little longer. Now the nicer weather is starting it's off and ds4 comes and goes from garden as he wants and he doesn't miss the tv at all. My older kids usually do their homework before tv goes on but I do try to encourage them to go out instead.

AuntyQuated · 21/03/2005 11:23

whatever suits you and your family cxan be justified it you look hsard enough

Donbean · 21/03/2005 11:23

I have no objections to the TV bieng on BUT i find that i get so much done when its off. I am happy to lazily sit in front of it all day with ds but dont get anything done.
I have to add though that we LOVE love love wet horrid days when we can snuggle up on the sofa and watch a dvd or cbeebies.Thats a fab excuse for us.
I have it on maybe an hour in the morning, we watch set programmes that he likes then its off and we get our jobs done. Doesnt go back on until the evening then when me and dh sit down.
I dont see the problem with telly bieng on at all.

iota · 21/03/2005 11:24

My kids don't watch TV these days - too busy using it for the Playstation

But seriously, my boys love TV, Playstation, PC and gameboys, but they also love to do other stuff.

Ds1 is in yr 1 and is doing well at school - he's on the top table in his class - he's not 6 yet, but has a reading age of 8.2 years, is very good at maths and has never yet got a spelling wrong in his weekly test. Sorry about the proud mum boast, but I'm making the point about his ability not being affected by his fondness for TV etc.

He's also very good with Lego - can build all his bionicles by himself and designs his own Lego racing cars. ( he's a big Pimp my Ride fan)

bosscat · 21/03/2005 11:40

Ds1 watches it in the mornings, we are out all day either together or he's in nursery on my work days, bit before dinner, bit before bed time. I don't think it's a problem, he seems very chatty, some might say a bit too chatty! He watches it whilst playing with his trains which he's obsessed with. In a perfect world I'd love to be reading books, making cakes, doing craft activities and teaching him poetry but the worlds not perfect and neither am I !

wheresmyfroggy · 21/03/2005 11:52

Ah but auntyquated if you are happy with what you do tv wise there is no need to justify it to a single person. Therefore i wont !!!

velcrobott · 21/03/2005 12:05

Bosscat can I ask why is the TV on when he plays? does it have to be on or is it a habit? Just curious.

Toothache · 21/03/2005 12:24

lol at this thread!

Can't believe people get so worked up about TV. I'm a TV addict!!! I am pretty well balanced, have a degree.... speak proper and all that.

My kids are fine. IMO ds learns a lot from TV. We talk alot about whats been on Cbeebies in the day. He doesn't watch it all the time. He plays with his toys, plays in the garden, plays in his room etc etc.

Some of these posts are quite ridiculous... but ho hum.... keeps me amused at work.... I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bored without my TV.

Enid · 21/03/2005 12:28

well I learnt to read (fluently by age 4) by watching Sesame Street as a child so go figure!

dd2 does have an embarrassing habit of desperately begging to watch tv when she is at other people's houses - she does it when she gets tired or shy

paolosgirl · 21/03/2005 12:31

DS would watch it all day if I let him (is it a male thing?) - DD watches a bit, then gets bored and goes off to do her own thing.

It's on for about an hour ish in the morning, and then again when they get home for an hour or so ish again. Some days it's a lot less when they are out playing/at after school club/activities, and if it's a wet weekend and we haven't got anything else on, we'll stick on a video.

Can't see what the big problem with TV is as long as they do plenty of other activities as well and don't watch Terminator or the like.

ThomCat · 21/03/2005 12:33

A bit too often in my case too. Roll on summer and outdoor fun.

Lottie has a very short attention span and doesn't really 'play' with toys for that long, plus as she's not walking still (3yrs old but has Down's syndrome) she can't tear round the house, playing, going to get a different toy out of the cupboards etc and she gets bored. If she's playing I have to be with her really. So if I'm making beds, cooking, whatever, then she just sits asking for 'Dogs' (Lady and the Tramp) or 'Nemo' over and over again until i think well this is ridiculous, you may as well have a DVD on while I make dinner, or do whatever. If D and I are not busy doing stuff then we are with her playing, reading or we're all out and about together, but while we're at home at the weekend and we're busy then she's watching a DVD or maybe CBeebies.

TV also goes on in the morning so she sits watching TV on my bed while I'm in the shower, just for 20 min8utes or so.

We don't turn TV on in the evening until she's in bed.

Toothache · 21/03/2005 12:34

Paolosgirl - Oh I don't know.... Terminator is firm favourite of my 3 year old ds! He usually watches it right after he's watched the Exorcist. Helps him sleep.

Enid · 21/03/2005 12:35

lol at the idea of tv stifling language development - dd2 is the chatteriest child I have ever met and her language skills are very advanced (she is 2.5)

paolosgirl · 21/03/2005 12:41

Toothache!

Enid · 21/03/2005 12:47

i do think that too much tv is a bit crap though if you are using it as a crutch - we have a bit in the morning, peppa pig after lunch then I let dd1 and dd2 watch highly unsuitable cartoons when dd1 gets home from school and I make tea. Then they sometimes watch a bit after bath and before story and bed. We often have a video night when I make popcorn and we all watch a dvd - the incredibles on Friday, brilliant (although dd2 chats the entire way through)

tortoiseshell · 21/03/2005 12:53

Haven't read whole thread - ds (3 1/2) watches between 1 and 2 hours a day. Any more and his behaviour goes completely manic - he is usually a very good child, but I have noticed a real link between his behaviour and the amount of tv he watches, especially in the morning. (I'm not extrapolating this out to other children btw, just ds). So I don't let him have it on before 5, unless I'm under the weather, or I really need to get something done, in which case I might let him have it on a bit earlier. He only watches CBeebies, or DVDs (Bob the Builder, Mr Men, Fireman Sam etc). And sometimes Neighbours, if I'm watching it! Dd isn't interested in the TV (she's 19 months) - she much prefers books, her Happy Land toys and listening to tapes.

CountessDracula · 21/03/2005 12:56

During the week, dd (2.5) often watches none, or sometimes one video in the evening.

Weekend mornings she can watch as much as she wants but more often than not she just ignores it and does some drawing or jigsaws instead. TBH we usually take her out for a walk with the dog by about 10 so she only gets an hour really once breakfast is over.

Then she gets to watch a video or CBeebies in the afternoon after her nap while dh and I read the papers etc.

AuntyQuated · 21/03/2005 13:31

Ah but auntyquated if you are happy with what you do tv wise there is no need to justify it to a single person. Therefore i wont !!!

exactly WMF - imo those who feel that they have to justify anyhting aren't really happy about it if they are 100% honest with tHEMSELVES