Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Watching films and tv

17 replies

newusern99 · 16/12/2023 19:45

Do your teenagers like watching films and tv? DS is year 8. We sat down to watch Dune but he doesn’t want to watch it and is playing Fortnite instead. He rarely shows interest in films or tv programmes and prefers YouTube and gaming. Is this normal? I have to really persuade him to try a programme. I bribed him to watch David Tennant in Dr Who with food but he enjoyed it in the end.

OP posts:
MaloneMeadow · 16/12/2023 19:51

Why is this an issue to the point that you feel the need to bribe him to watch something with you? Sounds like a you problem, not your DS!

Most teenagers these days don’t particularly like to sit down and watch TV or movies, especially with their parents or if it’s something that they haven’t chosen. DD very rarely watches TV with me and if she does it’s something that she’s picked out. If he’s happy doing his own thing then that’s fine

Original poster
newusern99 · 16/12/2023 20:04

Because sometimes I’d like to spend some time with him in the evening. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
I would also like him to experience watching something other than YouTube.

OP posts:
Clarabella77 · 17/12/2023 09:07

My son stopped wanting to watch films with me when he was about 11, with the exception of Stranger Things. He prefers YouTube, TikTok, gaming and will sometimes watch films on his own or with friends when they stay over. I still suggest it sometimes. But he always says no. Totally normal I think!

HollyGolightly4 · 17/12/2023 09:10

I'm a teacher and I've noticed a huge shift in the last 15 years. Watching the film version of the text (English) used to be pleasant and helpful, now it's generally a battle, because this is the tik tok generation who can swipe after 20 seconds if they are bored!

Cricketbelle · 17/12/2023 09:57

My son is 13 and definitely prefers you Tube/gaming.

However,now and again we watch a series together...

Modern Family
Young Sheldon
New lives in the wild with Ben Fogle

Burntouted · 18/12/2023 19:32

He isn't interested. He is his own person with interests of his own that will often differ from yours.. Thats perfectly okay.. Accept that. Watch him play the game, watch YouTube, find out what interests him and do it...occasionally..if you want to spend more time with him.

Trying to force and bribe him isn't the way.

Coolstorysis · 18/12/2023 19:49

I can see why tbh, if I had access to the Internet at that age I wouldn't bother with most things either.

ectoone · 18/12/2023 19:51

Is this normal?

They are all different so it will be normal for some and not for others. Only one of mine likes watching movies but he is obsessive and repetitive so it's not particularly enjoyable anyway! DH doesn't mind he will watch the same thing over and over. One of mine doesn't watch TV/movies at all, hasn't since she was about 5/6.

DNLove · 18/12/2023 19:53

My son is the same. If you want to spend time with them try playing some games with them. Get them to teach you fortnite. Engage with the stuff they enjoy. I do try and insist on time being spent watching proper TV shows to try and avoid this you tube brainwashing 5 minute attention span. Sad day when I'm pushing my child to watch Netflix LOL

MaloneMeadow · 18/12/2023 20:02

newusern99 · 16/12/2023 20:04

Because sometimes I’d like to spend some time with him in the evening. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
I would also like him to experience watching something other than YouTube.

@newusern99 If you want to spend more time with him then pick an activity that you both like. Forcing him into liking what you like is only going to push him away from you. He’s an individual with his own interests and that’s fine

Original poster
newusern99 · 18/12/2023 22:55

Well he asked me yesterday if we could watch the next Dr Who episode and was disappointed that it wasn’t on until Christmas Day. So sometimes pushing them to watch something they aren’t interested in opens them up to to something enjoyable they wouldn’t have tried.

He is always reluctant to try anything new on tv. It’s the same with books. Doesn’t mean I should stop trying to get him to read. School tell us regularly to get them to read.

computer games make me feel dizzy and sick so not something we can do together.

OP posts:
Original poster
newusern99 · 18/12/2023 23:01

Burntouted · 18/12/2023 19:32

He isn't interested. He is his own person with interests of his own that will often differ from yours.. Thats perfectly okay.. Accept that. Watch him play the game, watch YouTube, find out what interests him and do it...occasionally..if you want to spend more time with him.

Trying to force and bribe him isn't the way.

It was just a couple of biscuits. It’s not like I paid him to watch it 🙄
I said watch ten minutes and if you don’t like it you can then go. He watched the whole episode (and the remaining episodes).

my point was more around the
reluctance to try anything. I don’t think it’s that he is not interested but that he won’t try things. I don’t think you can work out what your interests are if you don’t try new things.

OP posts:
waterrat · 19/12/2023 10:56

I totally get this OP - I also really have to work hard to encourage my son to watch tv

For those wondering why - can you see the difference in content between unmoderated shit Youtube shorts - and a properly made, crafted tv programme with an actual story and plot?

Can you see there is a difference between the impact of that content on a young persons mind? That perhaps JUST playing fortnite does not provide them with such a wide range of input/ experiences as also sometimes watching a really good film?

Original poster
newusern99 · 19/12/2023 12:07

@waterrat so glad you understand.

OP posts:
NealBrose · 19/12/2023 16:40

I think watching TV together can be a rare pleasant shared moment in the day for teens and their parents. Not as wholesome as say, cooking together or a board game. But those aren't always wise choices when one of you is tired, grumpy and hormonal (at least as likely to be perimenopausal me as the teen these days!)

I think it'll probably get easier as he gets older, OP as there's a bit of a gap between older primary-age telly/films and the really good boxset series which tend to be 15+

We game it a bit by having a no phones/games etc after X time but family telly is allowed. Or reading.

BibbleandSqwauk · 20/12/2023 15:29

Totally get it op and I agree with the pp who said there's a massive difference between a plot with characters and motivation and requirement to follow along for a period of time and absolute banal rubbish on YT that only requires seconds of concentration. I teach secondary and agree that teens now find it almost impossible to watch something of any length.
I have sat through South Park and Family Guy recently which I generally hate but it was a way to keep DS in the room, with me, discussing it..at least I was able to point out to him the misogyny etc. Actually it was quite heartening to see that he got why it's offensive. Id suggest being quite laid back about age certs. A lot of stuff below a 15 might well struggle to hold their interest and so long as you're watching it with them it's fine.

supermum384 · 20/12/2023 17:49

Sadly this is very normal. DS who is 12 spends almost all of his free time on his playstation, and has no interest in watching over TV.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page