Am I being too strict no allowing tvs or computers in the kids rooms?

[RomyMadison]

Some of my friends say their children have video games tvs and their own latops in their bedroom and they seem like well behaved kids. My kids have their own toy room with a tv and games but they can only use it in the day time - is this too strict? Or am i doing the right thing by keeping their rooms free of that stuff? What do you do?

Five kids - none have tvs in their rooms. Didn't buy any computer games until Xbox 18 months ago - when the oldest was 17. It stays downstairs and I don't allow it to be played after dinner time. Most of the time it's unused.

The older DC have laptops but the internet switches off at 10pm - otherwise I know they'd be on FB til all hours.

A friend recently offered a large screen tv to the kids as they wanted rid of it. No takers with the reason being they wouldn't watch it in their room - they have access to tv downstairs.

Lots of the time they're out with friends, doing sports or playing guitars and dreaming of being rock stars!

Don't regret for a second not having tv or computer games in rooms despite pressure when they were younger.

Elephant, we only have one tv full stop - not just one downstairs!

Usual, never use any screens in the bedroom - sorry to disappoint!

OP, YANBU. Our boys won't have tv/computers in their rooms either - we have never had a tv in our room so they can't accuse us of being hypocritical! Do what works for your family and stand your ground.

Yay, glad it isn't just our family

I did tell DS1 that we could hook his tv up to the aerial so he can watch it in his bedroom but he turned us down

No we don't allow it either. Just don't see the need. Thankfully DD (5) doesn't either, I don't think she's even considered it a possibility. Love the idea of waiting until they can buy one themselves. They do have a grotty old DS which is technically theirs but even that is only for playing in the living room - both DCs get scarily tunnel visioned when they play so I don't let them go off on their own with it - they are too young IMO.

I went through long phases of needing DVDs to sleep, even as an adult - I still occasionally do when I'm very depressed - and really don't want myself or my DCs going through that as it is really hard to break.

We don't have a TV in our room either, and only occasionally snuggle up with the laptop or whatever to play a game/quiz/puzzle in bed

I do MN/eBay etc from my phone but I try not to do it in bed too much. My DCs aren't old enough to have phones so haven't reached that minefield yet!

I thought this looked familiar, it's from May!

And the OP never came back after being accused of being a journo...

I have a no screens in bedrooms rule, my boys are 17, 17 and 14.
Never been a problem as this has been clear from the start. They just use their rooms for sleeping. This rule won't change as long as they live with me. One has a TV in his room at his dad's house.

Fecking zombie threads. I normally notice the date!

Oops! Although May isn't that zombified :)

Ds is 11 and has nothing in his from apart from toys and a big book case - and a bed too of course!

You are doing your children a huge favour. I can pick out the children in my class within 10 minutes of who has a tv in their bedroom and who doesn't. The children without can concentrate on simple activities/carpet sessions much better and do not need the additional stimulation that children with seem to need. Children with a tv in their bedroom are also the ones who struggle to share more than the others as they are not having to do so within the home in an evening regarding what they watch. In a home with a central tv, the parents have to share with the children and visa versa and it sets a good example to the children and as they are doing it everyday, this social skill is evident from an earlier age.

slipslider, that's very interesting. It's certainly been a challenge during the Olympics when we want to watch the events during the day and the boys want to watch CBeebies!!

We've never had TV's in the DC's bedrooms although when they got lap-tops I allowed them but they were sixth form age then.

We only have one TV in the house and have a rule that when you can pay the licence then you have first choice on the channels watched. That means endless Friends repeats are only generally watched when I'm not in the room.

I suppose those with one DS/ XBOX /laptop use the same principles of sharing. As parents find it easier to give their children one each of something to save arguments etc (which is understandable) it stops children having to share and take turns. I find many children understand the actual concept but struggle to put it into practise. I find those who have to share things at home like this also have a good understanding of what is a fair time limit for turn taking too. They will have e.g. a skipping rope for 3/4 mins and then offer it to another. It is hard work maintaining a fair balance especially during things like Olympics but it can be a shared family experience if you can play sports after watching!

I have said ds can have a TV in his room when he is 13.

I would love a TV in my room. It's always really late by the time dh and I get time to watch anything and I am too exhausted to stay up. It would be lovely to watch it from the comfort of my bed.