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

[emkana]

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!

yes, but you don't deliberately seek out silent pubs and cafes to talk in do you?

When my dd (8) has friends over, they are either playing in her bedroom, outside in the garden or doing a craft activity.

When ds (2.5) has "playdates" (god, I hate that expression!) CBeebies is usually on in the background with the sound down low although the children rarely watch it!

I hate sittingin silence, it is awkward, yuk!

I am always wildly suspicious of people who don't like silence

Like my dh with his bloody ipod

What's the matter honey, trying to DROWN OUT THE VOICES?

tut

I do actually have a few cafes/restaurants that I choose to go to because I know they will be quiet and I can hear myself think and have a nice conversation without raising my voice.

I don't think it's a case of sitting in silence though is it, because when you have guests you will be talking to them surely?
Maybe it's different if you only have kids over, but in emkana's case she was there as well, and they had sat down to eat! So, I do think that's a bit rude.

I used to hate if there were silences in conversations, but then one day a really good friend of mine was on a long trip with me in the car and he said that he loved driving along with me because the silences weren't embarassing and he felt that it didn't matter if neither of us had anything to say. Which was nice, and now I always think that if you're with someone you know really well sometimes you can have long silences and you don't have to always be saying something. does that make sense?

I encourage my children and visiting pals to entertain themselves as much as possible, for as long as possible. Normally by the end of the visit, there is a need to chill out. I usually put the tv on the last 20 mins or so to maintain harmony and sanity. The use of tv is absolutely fine in measured doses and at appropriate times.