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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

DD wants a TV in her room!

127 replies

Tw1nkle · 08/09/2013 18:45

We're thinking about getting a tv for our DD's room.
We currently have Sky, and whilst I would like to get rid of it, it costs a small fortune it does have REALLY good parental controls.

If we keep sky, we can get multiroom for my DD's room, and use the great controls.

However - she will be 5 - is this too young - even with the parental controls? She's pretty good, and would only have it on when she is allowed.

Advice appreciated!

OP posts:

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stargirl1701 · 09/09/2013 08:00

No one should have a TV in their bedroom. It is not conducive to a calm, sleeping environment. I was never allowed a TV in my bedroom until I went to Uni. It will be the same for my DC.

Sparklingbrook · 09/09/2013 08:36

I have just been into Ds1's bedroom. His telly is currently being used to throw clothes over.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2013 08:42

Ds has just got one on his room for his 12th birthday. Personally I think it's a little young but it's totally up to to you.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2013 08:42

Oh and he doesn't have TV, just a monitor for games.

nooka · 09/09/2013 08:46

No TVs in bedrooms full stop here. Mainly because of the sleeping issues, but also because I like to keep an eye on what my children are watching and for how long. Same with computers and gaming consoles.

I don't intend to change my mind before my children have left home really (14 and 13 now). There is lots of negotiation over the use of the TV, and we have another one set up for movies only.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2013 08:48

Nooka, I'm the same, very strict about what gets watched and for how long.

usualsuspect · 09/09/2013 08:56

I don't see a problem with it.

I love watching TV in bed.

Floralnomad · 09/09/2013 09:03

My DC have always had TVs in their rooms , they barely watch them and never really have . Apart from the bathrooms we have a TV in every room .

Jergens · 09/09/2013 09:06

I would say no. But then, I don't like TVs in bedrooms for anyone - adults or children.

LovesBeingOnHoliday · 09/09/2013 09:08

Too you g for me (have a 5.5 yr old)

Hullygully · 09/09/2013 09:09

Five seems very young to need one

valiumredhead · 09/09/2013 09:21

Usual-I do too

froubylou · 09/09/2013 09:22

At five I would allow it for dvds only. My dd at 9 has one for that reason but she doesn't have proper tv as I knowsshe would be up too late watching it.

It's handy to have more than 1 tv in the house that gets a signal. DP likes sports and war programmes and shouty shooty films. Me and DD like x factor and chic flicks. So we have sky in the living room and our bedroom.

When I DDs age I used to wait until my sisters were asleep and then put my lamp on and read all night. Although you could argue that reading is slightly more worthy than watching tv I'm not sure how significant Enid Blyton and pony books were at influencing my intelligence.

And I found when dd was little she watched the same dvd over and over and over again and they become like white noise. They cover the sound of the rest of the house up and actually helped her fall asleep.

Ehhn · 09/09/2013 09:24

Don't do it! I had a tv at 14 yrs old and I would stay up to 2am watching it! Then I'd fall asleep in class the next day. Best thing I ever i was get rid of the tv - age 27 I still have to put my iPad in the other room or I will watch Netflix until god knows what hour, with the justification that "I'm listening to it while I go to sleep", which is rubbish. I now have a radio for that.

SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 09/09/2013 09:24

My son has had a TV in his room for nearly a year now. Hes nearly 4. Whats the issue?

Its not like hes locked in there with it 24/7. He watches a film before he goes to sleep.

DancingLady · 09/09/2013 09:30

Agree it's too young. Why does she need one in her room?

noblegiraffe · 09/09/2013 09:33

It can definitely be a problem with secondary school children, although gaming and facebooking till all hours are the major culprit of kids falling asleep in lessons.

How do you plan on stopping it being an issue when they're older?

JakeBullet · 09/09/2013 09:36

It comes down to personal choice really. My nephew has had a TV in his room since age 3 and sleeps well, achieves brilliantly at school (he is 9 now) and is also very sporty. It causes no issues for him.

My DS is autistic (high functioning) and a TV in his room would be a disaster as it is a total stimulant. He DOES have a TV in there but it is not attached to any aerial and is purely there because it has an unbuilt DVD player for him to use during the day and at weekends.

Theas18 · 09/09/2013 09:39

Way too young even for the " DVD only" option IMHO. It is only with the ownership of laptops/tablets (in mid/late teens) that TV has gone into bedrooms here.

It DOES affect sleep and educational performance. There has been research into it. TV downstairs means you know what they watch and actually they are more likely to not spend all the day " switched off" by it. I'm aware kids learn from seseme street and other educational programs but honestly, most TV for adults as well as kids is "zoned out" time isn't it?

JakeBullet · 09/09/2013 09:39

My nephew is like SPs DS, he can fall asleep watching a film if he wants to. No way could I do it with MY DS though.....I wish

Theas18 · 09/09/2013 09:40

Nooka I luffs you!

I thought maybe I was the only person who was a bit strict about these things :)

PeterParkerSays · 09/09/2013 09:40

I would say too young. Maybe you should start another thread saying "this is DD's behaviour. It's a problem, how should I solve it?" rather than assuming a TV will resolve whatever the issue is.

As she gets older she will start to read independently so will be able to read if she wakes up early, rather than get up, and if she wants to watch the living room TV all the time, that's an issue about boundaries, and sharing with other family members, not necessarily a reason to get a 2nd telly.

If you want to get an extra TV, why don't you get one for your room, then she can watch the main one in the living room and you can check watch / how much she's watching?

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SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 09/09/2013 09:46

Jake He has a calm down film at about half 6/7 and he likes to watch the same films over and over. He can do that in his room. No way can I watch the same film every night

SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 09/09/2013 09:48

Peter Why do you assume her DD as a behaviour problem just because she wonders about putting a TV in her room?

anon2013 · 09/09/2013 09:51

I'd go with the DVD option myself then at bedtime you can remove said dvds so they won't be tempted to sneak one on later on. I'm normally more worried about them coming downstairs to watch tv and having full reign over all the channels.

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