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Original poster

What TV rules do you have?

55 replies

acnebride · 04/10/2005 10:17

Thought I wouldn't clog up the other thread with these...

My TV rules are quite simple.

1 No TV in the morning, EVER, unless -
it's the Olympics
it's the Ashes
it's a general election
it's the assassination of a politician
it's the wedding of the heir to the throne
there's been a terrorist incident
DS is ill
I'm ill
I'm getting dressed and need to stop ds pinching my socks
I'm feeling a bit bored

2 No more than 8 hours of TV a week, EVER, but see 1

3 No adverts, unless they're funny.

There, that's clear, surely.

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trefusis · 04/10/2005 13:08

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frannykenstein · 04/10/2005 13:19

Fangache - my first suggestion was that people might let their kids watch a lot because they enjoyed it so much themselves as children. The second example was meant to be the other end of the spectrum. They were both just examples of things people might say, not a statement that you or your children personally wasted their childhoods.

I do understand it is an emotive issue. I'll try to be more clear next time.

QueenOfQuotes · 04/10/2005 13:26

ours are

Kids tv only allowed up to 6pm
However if:

Olympics, Cricket, Athletics, Rugby, World Cup football, tennis, extreme makeover homeedition are on (etc etc) then it gets switched over

No sitting too close

No eating in front of the TV - all meals to be eaten at the dining room table.

6pm the news goes on, and then everthing else after that is "adult".

Unless they're watching a video/dvd then, if they're sat glued to it (rarely happens - put a Thomas Video on this morning and they watched half of one episode before starting to play) for more than 15-30 minutes I make them get up and play.

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QueenOfQuotes · 04/10/2005 13:31

"Do your own viewing habits (as a child, or now) have any bearing on what your kids watch? E.g. do you let them watch a lot because you enjoyed it so much as a child? Or do you NOT let them watch a lot because you wasted your childhood sat in front of the box? Just interested..."

Nope - didn't have a TV at home until I was 15 (apart from a strange 2 month phase when I was 8 ) , although did have access to one at school from 12. DH had a TV, but even less choice than we had when we were younger - only had 1 channel, which showed ermmm no childrens TV at all.....unless he went to his 'rich' friend's houses and watch their satellite LOL.

We always had the radio on at home, unless dad was in a foul mood - in which case he'd switch it off and we'd sit in silence - hence the reason I like 'background' noise (in our case TV - as DS2 messes with the hi-fi if it's on ) as I asspciate it with 'happy' times.

MiaouTheFamiliar · 04/10/2005 13:35

My dds are 8 and 6. Our rules are:

No tv in the morning
Tv in the evening only once they have finished their homework
Discovery channel only (no ads, no silly programmes)

They don't watch that much, tend to self-regulate and rarely ask for it on. dd1 in particular much prefers to read.

dd2 likes to watch x factor with me and dh

And they are allowed tea in front of the telly if they have had a busy day/if I feel like it

highlander · 04/10/2005 13:39

absolutely no TV until DS has gone to bed (he's 1).

PeachyClair · 04/10/2005 15:03

No hitting the TV, no throwing the remote.... oh that wasn't what you meant???

koalabear · 04/10/2005 15:42

no TV (but then he's only 18 months), unless it's with his daddy and he's watching the rugby or the Tour de France

bless him - i truly believe that my DS only thinks that the telly has rugby and cycling

trinityrocks · 05/10/2005 07:53

I am awash in the shameful place of having no rules for tv as in my depression I have become a telly addict and so has my 5 yr old, I am ashamed to admit I am scared to try to do anything about it, though I wish I was strong enough to. I know I am killing her mind. I feel so bad about it

frannykenstein · 05/10/2005 08:25

Trinity, I am sorry you are feeling like this but there are a lot worse things that your daughter could be doing than watching tv. At least she is safe at home with her mum. We all say negative things about tv from time to time but it is not killing your daughter's mind - she is stronger and more resilient than that!

TV is not the problem - your depression is the problem - but you know that. I hope you can find a way out and don't be afraid to ask for help.

trinityrocks · 05/10/2005 10:18

thanks franny
Sorry everyone, I didn't mean to kil the thread, I should have kept quiet

moondog · 05/10/2005 10:30

franny's right tr.There is a lot worse than tv in the world!
I don't think it's bad,but when you're feeeling down,although it seems to relieve the lethargy,it does actually make it worse in the long term.

Sorry you're down.....

singersgirl · 05/10/2005 15:21

No TV on school mornings. TV allowed on weekend mornings so DH and I can have a lie-in of sorts.
No TV until homework done, though DS2 (4) often is allowed to watch after morning school and lunch , as he's very tired sometimes. He's just watched "First Fun with French" - his choice!
No more than an hour of screen time a day, except when I say so (well, you can't be too strict on these things....)

Rarrie · 05/10/2005 18:44

With My dd (almost two) I say:

One TV programme a day. Her choice from what has been recorded on the recorder that day (like Sky plus). We record Fimbles, Teletubbies and Balamory.

However, my Hubby and mum let her watch loads.... even though it drives me insane!

However, I am very insistant that she does not watch live tv (only her recorded programmes) and when the programme she has been watching is finished, she turns the tv off.

skerriesmum · 06/10/2005 10:10

I was always made to go to bed early as a child, I missed out on most TV shows. I remember once in school the class looking at a picture of a cruise ship "like in Love Boat" and I had no clue what they were on about! Now of course I know this wasn't all that cruel in the greater scheme of things.
I hate the TV just being on as background noise. If ds is actually watching something, then fine. If he doesn't seem interested I turn it off (or he does!) Mostly he watches CBeebies in the mornings while I tidy up, have coffee etc. And he gets an hour in the evening before bed (not before 7, and not during dinner.)

sandyballs · 06/10/2005 10:43

Well my two DDs (4.5) are completely shattered in the afternoons/evenings since starting school 3 weeks ago and I really think it does them good to kick of their shoes and veg on the sofa for a while watching a bit of TV. It's chilling time after an energetic day at school. We all need chilling time

Original poster
acnebride · 06/10/2005 11:22

trinity, there's loads worse than TV. I looooved TV as a child and would have watched all day and all night, and I don't think it hurt me much, in fact I really did learn from it at least sometimes. I'm sorry this thread made you feel upset. I hope you can find a way out of your depression - my dh has depression and it's about as tough as life gets IMO.

OP posts:
secur · 06/10/2005 11:31

Message withdrawn

sarahsausage · 06/10/2005 14:26

My dd loves cbeebies (nearly 2).

She gets to watch it while i make breakfast and then afterwards we put boogie beebies dvd on and we dance all morning! Great fun and she gets exercise.

miku · 09/10/2005 13:22

I think t.v is very much a part of our culture nowadays and also alot of the kids tv is very educational. i have only 1 dd, nearly 2 who is really active, and shes jumping all over the furniture and watching at the same time.she also reads alot, talks 2 languages.....who sez it kills their minds.....?i

bosscat · 09/10/2005 14:12

If we feel like watching it we do if we don't we don't! That's the rule. It isn't always on but I don't get precious about it if we have one of those days and its raining. I don't think TV is a big deal if you are sensible about it. I wouldn't have one in their bedrooms for instance.

fairydust · 09/10/2005 14:13
  1. turn it on as soon as you get up.
2. last one to bed turn it off
nutcackle · 09/10/2005 14:29

ROFL FD

Cha · 09/10/2005 15:02

I was extremely deprived as a kid and had no TV at all until about 10 years old (when we left the colonies and came to live in UK). This means that now I am a complete tellyhead and watch far too much of it. I totally blame my parents. It's not my fault at all.
With my kids, I obviously don't want them to be like me (deprived then an addict) so we have a kind of balance. Ceebeebies / vids in the pm sometimes and also while I am cooking dinner. Switched off for dinner. I don't like it on in the morning but when dss (stepson) comes to stay every other weekend, he turns it on when they get up.

ScreamEagle · 09/10/2005 15:07

All my older kids have tv's/video/dvd players in their bedrooms.

Rules are though: never on during the school day unless to watch a video after homework etc has been done.

Only allowed to watch it at weekends if it's something worthwhile, that means no crappy fighting cartoons or just on as background noise.

So very limited really but useful if we need to quiten things down of an evening (with 5 kids it can get a bit hectic at times).

Oh the other rule is my 2 yr old is not allowed to watch anything other than U cert videos and we don't let him watch Eastenders/Corrie or the Bill etc where he could see violent or shouting scenes. So telly goes off.