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Original poster

How old before TV in bedroom?

262 replies

Mummywalsh · 25/04/2011 17:38

My 2.5yo DD1 and 19mo DD2 share a bedroom and MIL has just given us a portable TV with DVD player. I've always been against the girls playing in their rooms and believe they go there to sleep, but now I'm thinking would it be such a bad thing for a quiet DVD in the afternoon, definitely not before bed or otherwise. How old were your LOs before they had a TV in their room?

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Timbachick · 26/04/2011 16:42

Can only speak for this household when I say ... NEVER.

I love tv. But I do not think the bedroom is the right place for it.

I know there are studies that have shown that tv's in bedrooms lead to a reduction in both length of sleep and quality of sleep so, for me, that alone would be enough to say no. However, I also think that tv's in bedrooms cause division - it becomes too easy to use the tv as a babysitter, pacifier or to split the family because you have the option to go to another room to wtach something else.

If my DS wants to watch something, fine. But he does so in the living room.

I would also, politely, suggest that 2.5 and 18mo is far to young to be using a tv in their own room - it becomes a sort of babysitter then and that's not good, imo.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 26/04/2011 16:42

Mine have all had tvs in their bedrooms.

All the tvs have OFF buttons.

None of my children have ever watched tv at nightime. Any messing about and the tv would be removed. They have to ask to turn it on. Its worked for us. DD would be 19 now, DS17, DS8, DS3, DS1.

The only one who watches a great deal of tv/dvds is DS2 (8) and that is down to his SNs.

I really dont get the hysteria about TVs in bedrooms. Its not all or nothing. If you have one in a bedroom that does not = free 24 access.

None will be allowed internet access in bedrooms as I feel this is much more of a problem than tv.

bigTillyMint · 26/04/2011 16:52

That's interesting MrsDV - glad to see your DC respect your rules, hope mine would do the same if we put TV''s in their rooms!

Also interested how do they do homework (well sec school level) - DD needs internet for it and does it at her desk in her room, but I don't like that we don't know what she's on (could look at history I guess!)

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Melly19MummyToBe · 26/04/2011 16:53

I was really [shocked] when my DP said he has had a tv in his bedroom since he was very young and our daughter will get one when HE thinks she should have one. I told him where to go. I never had one until I was 17, and that was only because my mum always wanted to watch what she wanted on the downstairs one all the time. And I didn't buy it, it was my DPs old one! We do have one in our bedroom now though, it is nice sometimes to just lie in bed and watch a film.

Melly19MummyToBe · 26/04/2011 16:55

Ooops, Shock I meant.

BigTilly, why do they need to do homework in their bedrooms??? I never did, neither did my sister.

galois · 26/04/2011 17:05

never.

HmmmIwonder · 26/04/2011 17:06

I'm in the 'never' group. it might seem innocent to let them watch a DVD when they're little but you'll never get that TV out of there and they'll be watching horrible unsuitable stuff all night, and whenever you're out, as soon as they're old enough.Yes they will. No matter how sweet they look now.

ChishAndFips · 26/04/2011 17:07

Never. We watch TV as a family, If they want to watch a DVD in their rooms with friends/boyfriends they use their laptops. They did both half-heartedly want them aged 13ish but they didn't get them and now aged 19 and 17 aren't bothered.

TheBolter · 26/04/2011 17:10

Hmmm not sure. ATM I don't see a need for it, but the dds are only 5 and 7. My mum used to be quite strict but she still let my sister have a TV in her room at 14 or so.

We plan to convert our barn into a teenage space when they're older so I guess if that happens they'll have one in there. I expect they will also want to sleep in there too, so it should negate the need for TVs in their bedrooms!

I think that once children are past 16 there's nothing wrong with them watching TV in their room. They will be old enough to get married and leave home by then!

usualsuspect · 26/04/2011 17:10

I can't see the difference between watching a film on a laptop or a TV Confused

We don't always watch TV as a family

Teenagers need their own space imo

ZillahWhoDrankTooMuchGin · 26/04/2011 17:13

I wonder if i'm in a minority just on this thread or Mn in general or RL in general? I didn't think i was looking at DSs friends....

NoWayNoHow · 26/04/2011 17:15

Never in DS's bedroom - niece has one, it's a pain in the backside for SIL and BIL.

DS has our old TV in the study (mainly his playroom anyway) so he can watch his DVD's in there, but firmly believe in bedrooms being for sleeping and playing, tbh.

JustCallMeGrouchy · 26/04/2011 17:17

Ds1 ds2 share q room got Tv in their room for computers watch laptops think ds1 was about 12/13 is now 17 but they have much younger sibblings a 9 year gap to dd then 12 yearsto ds3 so I felt it fair that they had their space .

When younger younger it was of earlier by 9pm now more easy going .Though ds1 often up later than me he goes to bed about 11. Ish collage nights but does get up without being called in the morning .weekends meh less have things planned as a family at 17 I don't police what times he goes to bed . But do police within reason what time ye is out to andif he is going to be late I expect a call out of curtsey

dd age 8 has been given tv for watching DVD so far it's not made it to her bedroom but I don't have one in my room either .and will advoid her having till 12/13 at least

those that don't allow tv but allow laptops remember they can watch through them to

usualsuspect · 26/04/2011 17:19

Not everyone has a playroom though

theDudesmummy · 26/04/2011 17:21

Never, for sure (DSDs are 16 and 18, they would not even dream of asking, they know what the answer will be!). Their bedrooms are for studying, reading and sleeping (mainly studying at this stage!).

JustCallMeGrouchy · 26/04/2011 17:21

Mslly

I have quite age gap and ds3 has Sn so not quiet . Ds1 ds2 do homework in bedroom so they can enjozy peace and quiet from younger siblins who have no volume controll

TennisFan · 26/04/2011 17:22

My DC both have TV in their rooms. DS (11) uses his for playstation and maybe some TV or movies when he has time.
DD (7) uses hers just for DVDs at the weekends - we dont have a DVD player anywhere else in the house.

I also have TV in my room and love watching it in bed, tucked up all warm in the winter, listening to the rain outside.

We all do loads of sport, and the DC are doing well at school - so I dont have a problem with it.

In our house, bedrooms are not just for sleeping - its their personal space, somewhere to entertain friends etc

NoWayNoHow · 26/04/2011 17:24

usual of course I know that not everyone has a playroom (you'd think I'd said indoor pool/home cinema experience Confused). However, if we weren't lucky enough to have that space for DS, we still wouldn't put our old box in his bedroom...

mathanxiety · 26/04/2011 17:24

DD1 had one in her room when she was 16 and it's now DD2's. DS didn't have one but he has a laptop, but again only since he was 16 and he bought it himself. They do homework in their rooms too.

If they didn't have access to their own programmes in their own rooms, we would all spend our time watching sports and teenage drivel stuff I don't care for and even stuff that wouldn't be suitable fare for the younger ones, who are forced to watch whatever I want to watch [hahaha]

Since the family tv spontaneously combusted (yesterday), DD2's tv may find its way back to the sitting room however.

usualsuspect · 26/04/2011 17:25

YY ..to bedrooms being a personal space for children and not just for sleeping in

thetideishigh · 26/04/2011 17:26

When they can buy it and pay for it themselves.

We did set an example by not having a TV in our room although this is because my soon to be ex-h was self-centred and would have lain in bed awake watching sport until the early hours of the morning just like he did stretched out on the sofa with the one downstairs so I said no way, I need my sleep.

LadyLapsang · 26/04/2011 17:50

OP, just because your MIL gave you a TV & DVD you don't have to accept it or let the children use it. A family member gave teenage DS a TV which we didn't want & it went straight in the loft. Cue DS 'Thank you for the TV', 'Oh, have you got it in your room?', 'No, it's in the loft'.

Just before uni he worked and bought himself a laptop which he can watch DVDs and streamed TV on.

We have one TV in the sitting room & that's enough. There's definitely something wrong when parents put a TV / DVD / laptop in a child's bedroom before a desk and a bookshelf.

BerryLellow · 26/04/2011 17:55

No, not here either - maybe once they are 16 we'll re-think. I didn't have one until I was 22, and I would prefer not to now, but DP likes to watch to wind down. I tend to read my kindle :)

sleepingsowell · 26/04/2011 18:10

I was firmly in the 'never' camp - and then came 8 solid years of being with ds to get him off to sleep (he has some SN and really, really struggles with processing sleep and with being alone).....after losing most of our evenings for 8 years, we finally went for it this year and DS now has a portable DVD player in his room. and yes we had tried everything else first, you will not be able to name anything we didn't try.....

DS can watch a DVD in bed now - but I wouldn't give him a TV because then you lose the control of exactly what they are watching.

80sMum · 26/04/2011 18:10

I disapprove of TVs (or computers) in children's bedrooms. My DCs never had TVs. They complained bitterly at the time (all my friends have one; you're so mean etc etc) but I stood my ground. Now they're grown up they agree with me and say they are glad that I never gave in!