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Parenting

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Original poster

How often do your children watch TV when they have children over to play?

33 replies

emkana · 23/08/2006 20:35

It would never EVER cross my mind to put the TV on when my children have friends over to play, unless they specifically ask to watch a certain film, and even then I would probably try and encourage them to do something else. But when my dd's go to other people's houses the TV always seems to be on - today me and the dd's went to a friend's house to have lunch and for the children to play together, and the mum put the TV on (some film) as soon as we sat down to eat - I just don't get that AT ALL!

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Crystaltips · 23/08/2006 20:39

My initial response was to say never ....

The kids are over to play ..... but a couple of times I have had kids for the whole day .... water fights / roller blading / badminton etc .... and by tea-time a couple of them are tired and emotional ....

cue ... the simpsons .... sometimes they get to the stage that they need a quiet time ...

LadyTophamHatt · 23/08/2006 20:39

if they've had friends over and I've been run ragged then i'LL PUTTHE TELLY ON FOR THE ALST 15 MINTUES OF THE PLAYDATE

opps sorry..

Sometimes they put dvd's on and it's just left on in the back ground with none of them taking much notice. I'm not bothered if they want to watch it or not TBH but I can undestand why you think it's abit odd.

morningpaper · 23/08/2006 20:40

emkana I think it's rude

I'm with you

If I want to stick the children in front of the telly I'll do it in my own time

Playdates are for socialising

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coreyp · 23/08/2006 20:42

If 2 or more kids want it on, then it would go on. Goes off the moment we get down to just one of mine watching, but might leave it on for a guest child.

hairymclary · 23/08/2006 20:45

how rude! that's like saying, "sorry but this film is far more interesting than you"

colditz · 23/08/2006 20:45

Some people just like to have the telly on. Does it matter, really?

Nobody I know switches the tv off just because there is someone elses child in the house, that's what I don't get.

colditz · 23/08/2006 20:46

No it isn't like saying that at all. I bet she just put it on for background noise.

tassis · 23/08/2006 20:47

I think if it's a whole day affair, there could be scope for some TV as "chill out time" or whatever...

Ds doesn't watch a lot of TV but this means if it's on at a friends house he's GLUED to it. I'm always itching to turn it off!!

Original poster

emkana · 23/08/2006 20:47

I think it does matter because the TV prevents people from properly talking to each other/prevents children from properly playing together.

I never have the TV on in the day.

OP posts:

colditz · 23/08/2006 20:47

Must be a middle class thing.

southeastastra · 23/08/2006 20:47

we all hug the tv

Original poster

emkana · 23/08/2006 20:48

tassis, my dd's are like that, because they don't watch during the day at home and only about 30 mins at night they are riveted when it's on.

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hairymclary · 23/08/2006 20:48

really? If I have guests round I always turn the television off because they're more important to me than having it blaring in the background and i'd rather listen to them than the tv

colditz · 23/08/2006 20:48

It only prevents children playing with each other if they are so unused to Tv that they are glued to whatever is on, no matter how crap it is.

Original poster

emkana · 23/08/2006 20:49

So what do I do, leave the TV on all the time so they become immune to it and carry on playing even if it's on?

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colditz · 23/08/2006 20:50

you can listen to your guests too. I hate it when people switch off the TV when I visit, it puts so much pressure on you to make conversation. It is easier with background noise, that's why people go to pubs and coffeeshops, no?

hairymclary · 23/08/2006 20:50

but what's the point of having it on if no-one is watching it?

colditz · 23/08/2006 20:52

No, you do whatever you feel best in your house, but not get so snitchy when other people don't happen to believe the same thing as you. I think children who have problems concentrating with background noise are really going to struggle in the average classroom, but I don't go to people's houses and switch their tv on, I would never dream of it.

morningpaper · 23/08/2006 21:46

Shudder with small children who needs BACKGROUND noise?

Original poster

emkana · 23/08/2006 22:19

See this is the strange thing I thought by not having the TV on all the time I would actually help my children to concentrate. And I'm not being funny here, colditz, you've really made me wonder here.
Dd1 has just finished her first year at school, I don't think she struggled with background noise in the classroom, but I'm not sure.

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hairymclary · 24/08/2006 12:46

pmsl at children struggling because they don't have the tv on all the time. Sorry, but that's a load of rubbish. There are plenty of kids who do just fine at school who don't have the tv on constantly.

They learn other skills. So instead of having to compete with background noise and trying to get people's attention they learn to have conversations and to play without the need for this constant stimulation.

colditz · 24/08/2006 14:26

but there are plenty of kids who do just fine at school whose parents don't switch the TV off ever.

I am talking about the television as pure background noise, not as a replacement to conversation, play, and company. I don't think that background noise does interfere with the ability to socialise, that was my point, I didn't say at any point that children who don't have the TV on won't learn, but I did say, and stand by, that children who cannot cope with any other sound at all when they are trying to talk to someone or do something are going to struggle with the situation in the aferage primary school classroom

MaloryTowersIsSlimAndChic · 24/08/2006 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaloryTowersIsSlimAndChic · 24/08/2006 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hermykne · 24/08/2006 14:32

maybe the mum forgets to turn it off. i remember a thread here saying how long did it take you to turn off cbeebies after they'd gone down for a nap.
she could be in whirlwind of stuff or maybe she doesnt notice tv at all.

no tv when challenged with 3+ kids is a parenting skill some peole might nt have.

if i have kids over. i'll have them outside playing, then maybe some painting or drawing, dressing up and then if its close to dinnner they are knackered ,then on it goes til i get tea and everyone settled.

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