TV in Bedroom

[goldencompass]

At the weekend our 3 year old daughter gets into bed with us in the morning and watches a DVD, this has now turned into wanting to watch a DVD at night before she goes to sleep. Sometimes when we just want some time together we let her get into our bed and most times she drops off to sleep and we put her back in her own bed. I don't like the idea of her having her own TV in her room at such a young age, but maybe it will help her like her bedroom and her own bed again, as now she says her bed is too fluffy and mummy and daddys bed is just right - just because she gets to watch the TV. I would love to know what experiences you have with letting your children watch TV before bedtime and whether they have a TV in their room or not.

I have just joined mumsnet today!!

Great. Well done Sorry, I don't mean that to come across as at all patronising, so I hope it doesn't.

But now you have discovered MN your dp won't even see you in the evenings!

My ds age 6 has a tv/playstation/v-smile connected with a free view box in his room. I tell you this, no word of lie he does NOT abuse it. He watches an hour after school. Switches it off, plays till tea time usually around 6pm. He will then put it on in the morning when he wakes up at 7, usually watches 30mins, before shower and breakfast. And he tends not to have time to watch it afterwards because we are out if the door to school.

He has a routined bedtime always have since an early age. He knows tv goes back on for 6 pm simpsons. Off afterwards. Tea, bath and story. We called it 'us' time. As a single mum this routine works. Because if you can earn their trust they wont break it. And comes in handy when its the weekend or he has friends over. This way he watches what he wants. And due to not having a lot of space i tend to have radio on in the sitting room, rarely watch tv so dont really want him in 'my space' watching tv. He asks when he can put on the tv, or even play his playstation. lol I tend to ask him if we can play together. So you see its not as bad as everyone is making out it is, but you have to use wisdom and discernment.

A child age 3 is very young and for this reason i will say NO to tv of anysort. Dvds are fun but limit her access and control how long she watches the tv.
hope my long waffling helps. ps i dont mean to come across as though my child is so good, i think ive just managed to maintain a sense of discipline and sometimes tv can be abused and used for the wrong purposes.

Just remember you are the parent!!

We got DS an iteddy at Xmas (he's also 3). He's allowed to watch it for 20 mins and then he has to turn it off. If he doesn;t turn it off we take it downstairs. Now he knows what he can do he seems to be sticking to the 20 mins and even shouts 'is it time to turn iteddy off now".
We can download music & dvds ont it, plus he can also cuddle it when it's switched off as its very soft

There is SO MUCH information available about why parents should restrict their children's TV viewing. I honestly can't believe you're asking this question. She's three, FGS. She doesn't need a telly. If you give her one you will regret it. If you don't give her one, you won't.

A good friend of mine (who's a parenting counsellor) recommends a book called 'Remote Controlled'. Apparently it's thorough and excellent.

I would move tv out of your room as well. I am being a bit unfairly judgemental as we did used to have a tv in our bedroom and I did used to fall asleep watching it myself (pre children), but I honestly think it sets a better example to your own DC if you don't have one in your room.

My DCs do watch tv before bed but downstairs, while I tidy up after supper etc and they drink their milk. There is only one tv in house thankfully.