TV in the kids' bedroom

[Dr De Soto]

According to a recent report by Childwise, 80% of 5-16 year olds in the UK have a television in their bedroom (the ratio for 6 year olds is over 50%). Part of the reason given is a shortage of things to do locally, or fear of letting children go outside to play.

This figure seems to have been creeping up over the years, to the point where it is presumably regarded by the vast majority as perfectly normal, maybe even necessary, for your child to have their own TV. As a society, I'm surprised we aren't more shocked at this. If you grew up in the 1970s or earlier, it's unikely you had your own TV because (a)they were too expensive, and (b)your parents/grandparents would have been appalled at the thought of children watching TV unsupervised.

It doesn't seem to be a class thing, since our figures are much higher than in France/Germany. In one report it said 3 times as many children in the UK have TVs compared to European counterparts.

It's up to every parent to decide what they think is best for their children, but if every other home in East Dulwich has TV's in the kids' bedrooms, our own children might begin to feel 'deprived'. Is anyone else as shocked/depressed by this creeping trend as me?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Neither shocked nor depressed. My child [13] is not allowed a tv or computer in her bedroom despite "every one else" having one. Tough. Yet I do know children with said items and they are affable and intelligent enough. Who's to say which way is right?

[Mark]

I don't think a TV in the bedroom is a bad thing, is there a correlation between children having a TV in their bedrooms and the quality of their lives?

[Narnia]

My boy has a TV in his bedroom. He hardly ever uses it as he spends most of his time on his computer (also in his bedroom).

This being good or bad I know it is too late to reverse it. If you want to control children you've got to start in their early years. Eventually they grow up and start thinking for themselves. Not sure how to stop that!

PS He spends his Summers in Spain where he hardly ever watches TV and doesn't have a computer. I think it's the weather there plus the fact you go out here and you probably end up being mugged or at least on the receiving end of an attempt as he has been 3 times.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

My mum gave us a TV in our rooms from a young age, not a good idea really as I remember I used to always turn the TV on and watch rubbish programmes late at night.

My niece is only 2 and she has a TV in her room, I don't like it. I think kids should spend more time playing and using their own imagination. I most certainly would not let my kids have a tv in their room until they were of an age like 16.

TV is fine in small doses ( I let my little charge watch Cbeebies in the evening after he is washed and it is nearly bed time) but I most certainly would not want him watching TV non stop all the time. TV makes people sluggish I think, you just sit there slumped in front of the TV, it is not good.

Also it is hard to monitor what they watch if they have a TV in their room. I remember my friends at school whispering about rude programmes that used to come on Channel Four many years ago at school! I wonder if kids do that now?? is Eurotrash still on??

[dulwichmum]

I do not allow my poppets to have TVs in their bedrooms (4 and 6 years). I feel that they should be engaged in imaginative play, doing their homework, reading and playing the violin. If I find that they have been watching too much TV, I will be forced to come home early from work in order to severely chasitise the au pair. What do I pay her for if she is not entertaining my muchkins during every waking hour (outside school ... clearly)?

[Nero]

I used to have a telly in my room, and did watch telly, but it was usually decent films or those progs that might have made you blush if watched with mum et al. I still watch too much shit, but I can't read all the time! I think kids shouldn't have one in their room until they're teenagers, by which time they'll not be addicted. Nero

[Asset]

my 11 yr old has a small one for playing his games console with (since age 8), he very rarely watches the actual telly on it(no cable and poor picture). I expect he will more as he gets older and can't bear to be with us!

He's not allowed to play computer games after 6pm on a school day and I try to balance weekend overuse with dragging him out for walks etc.

I think it is all a matter of moderation.

[TillieTrotter]

My children have their TV for games consoles, I'm not a believer of kids having TV's (to watch) in their bedrooms. Apart from not being able to censor what they are watching, I like to cosy up with them in front of the family TV and feel that they would become abit anti-social if they were closeted in their rooms.

[LizzygotDizzy]

Most tvs are controllable and can be programmed to turn off and stay off at a certain set time, and popping in every now and then doesn't hurt either if they do have the tv on. My kids were more into National Geographical programmes and BBC Wildlife and Walking with dinosaurs, and stuff like that as they grew older, if the programme and viewing material is monitored I have no probs and they can learn lots too, they all also read a lot as well, but I see no harm in them having tvs in their rooms. They also grew up on Sesame Street and were all reading by the time they were 2 and half/3, because along with watching Sesame Street, learning colours, numbers and the variety of educational things, which are good for children, I felt these programmes supplemented and backed up what I was doing at home with them as regards reading, maths etc. all of course in a fun environment. Nowadays people have no excuse if their kids can't read, a lot of people look to the schools and blame the teachers for their children not being able to count or read, its a two way street and can't be left just purely down to the schools, no-one has a good enough reason not to sit down for 10-15 minutes a day reading with their children or helping them and even if you are busy you could always get an older sibling to help out, no excuses, especially then to turn round and blame the education authorities solely. But the kids are allowed to have fun stuff on tv as well, like at weekends,its not all educational but are only allowed a certain amount of time for it and as long as I know what it is, but that kind of stuff they usually watch downstairs, the tv is not on in their bedrooms 24/7 either.

[TillieTrotter]

I was saying just the other day how I mourned the death of Sesame Street. Why did it go?

[James]

I think the fact that we work the longest hours in Europe has a lot to do with it. It means we end up bribing our kids with material goods to compensate for not being there enough (as a nation we spend way more on Christmas gifts for kids than other European countries).

A TV in the bedroom is an example of this kind of appeasement/bribery. My son certainly won't be having one. If he's bored I'll take him to the park or tell him to read a book. There's always the TV in the living room... but I fail to see why he should have one in his bedroom too.

[LizzygotDizzy]

It also stops arguments when you have more than one child and they like watching different things.

[clare]

Then they have to learn to negociate.

[Alan Dale]

Teenage boys need a TV in their bedroom. You don't want them masturbating in the lounge.

[Bookworm]

I won't allow my children to have a TV in their room. When I went to a parents' evening at their school, I was told by a teacher that she could tell they are not over stimulated with electronic things or spend hours in front of a TV.

I have arguments with my 10 year old daughter who wants to watch Eastenders and Hollyoaks like "everyone else in my class" but apart from the fact that we don't watch those programmes ourselves, I think the issues in those programmes are too adult for her. She also says she is the only one without Sky but will have to make do with Freeview.

To be honest, I think the Ninentendo DS and PSP are worse than TV. They are really addictive and because they are portable, are taken everywhere. We've had to restrict usage on those too.

[Alan Dale]

Bookworm Wrote:

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> she could

> tell they are not over stimulated with electronic

> things or spend hours in front of a TV.

What were the signs - poor computer literacy and deficient general knowledge?

[KalamityKel]

Oi play nicely Alan :|

[Alan Dale]

I went to school with a kid whose parents had a zero TV policy.

He used to spend his evenings trawling from one mates' house to the next trying to get a bit of TV action and getting chucked out when they had their tea. He had a timetable so after Spenny kicked him out he went round to Baggles house.

It's hard enough growing up without your parents making things impossible.

"They fuck you up, your mum and dad.

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had

And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn

By fools in old-style hats and coats,

Who half the time were soppy-stern

And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And don't have any kids yourself"

[*Bob*]

Parents should hold-out as long as is deemed respectable, but there comes a time when denying your boy a telly in the bedroom is tantamount to abuse.

[KalamityKel]

I thought we were talking about primary school aged children :S

[Bookworm]

My children do watch TV but I don't just plonk them in front of it because I can't be bothered to spend time with them. If you speak to some teachers they will tell you that the TV is a childminder in a number of houses. They are the ones who have to deal with bad behaviour in the classroom and it can't be easy. The teacher in question told me that she could tell I don't do that because my children can read and hold a proper conversation with an adult. They are also interested in lots of different things and do have a good general knowledge. I understand fully what Larkin is saying but it would be worse to allow them to have their own way all the time and I do think there are programmes that primary school children shouldn't be watching.

[MelbourneGr]

My parents never allowed me to have a TV in my room until I was 19 and that was when I had enough money to buy it myself, therefore saving them from having to shell out.

My dad preferred it if he could "keep an eye" on what I watched. That didn't stop me from using boring football highlights as an excuse for a bit of late night TV.

[paragon]

Alan Dale Wrote:

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> Teenage boys need a TV in their bedroom. You don't

> want them masturbating in the lounge.

HA.

Following that logic you will also need to furnish the rooms with DVD players, Sky+ and copies of the News of the Screws otherwise the lounge will always be a more attractive masturbation destination of choice. Even then though you can't replicate the danger element of the lounge.. I would imagine anyway.

[*Bob*]

Surely this was British TVs finest hour?

It was for me anyway.. I'd just hit thirteen.