At what age should a kid have a TV in her room, if ever?

My first child had a TV in his room even before he was born...we got one as a baby shower gift (along with a basket of Little Einstein-style tapes).

My second had a TV, too, because they shared the room. But when he moved into his own room at age 5, I bought him his own TV.

We never had any problems with them having TVs. They also have their own gaming systems. They were both involved in sports and music lessons, so they mainly got to watch TV in the evening when they went to bed.
My one son watched Lady and the Tramp every night until he fell asleep for probably a year straight!

My kids are 17 and 23 now, and are normal, so it's my experience that TV wasn't a detriment.
 
My kids ages 5 and 7 have had tvs in their rooms since they were itty bitty. They have a tv in the playroom too. It is once in a blue moon if any of them ever get turned on. They just aren't that "in" to tv. I think they mostly use them when they are sick and laying in bed.
 
Never for us.

No one, including us, have TV's in the bedroom.

From the AAP website:

1. CONSISTENT, FREQUENT TV VIEWING CAUSES BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Consistent, heavy television viewing (more than two hours a day) throughout early childhood can cause behavior, sleep and attention problems. In the new study, "Children's Television Exposure and Behavioral and Social Outcomes at 5.5 Years: Does Timing of Exposure Matter?" researchers assessed data from the Healthy Steps for Young Children national evaluation effort pertaining to the effects of early, concurrent and sustained television exposure at age 2.5 years, and again at age 5.5 years. The effects of having a television in the child's bedroom were measured at age 5.5. Sixteen percent of parents reported
that their child watched television more than two hours a day at age 2.5 years only (early exposure), 15 percent reported that their children watched more than two hours of television daily at 5.5 years only (concurrent exposure), and 20 percent reported more than two hours of television viewing daily at both times (sustained exposure). Forty-one percent of children had a television in their bedroom at age 5.5. Sustained television viewing was associated with sleep, attention and aggressive behavior problems, and externalizing of problem behaviors. Concurrent television exposure was associated with fewer social skills. Having a television in the bedroom was associated with sleep problems and less emotional reactivity at age 5.5. Early exposure to television for more than two hours a day, which decreased over time, did not cause behavior or social problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no television viewing for children under age 2, and no more than two hours of daily media exposure for ages 2 and older.


Oh the long term devastating effects (not). Both of my sons have had tvs in their rooms for god knows how long. They both grew up pretty good. They are not obese and have lots of social skills. I didn't base my parenting skills reading articles like this, I base it on common sense.
 

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