TV in kids room?

[smitch425]

Our kids have always had cable TVs in their bedrooms. They often want to watch different things, and DD likes to lay in bed and watch a show before going to sleep. They will be getting new TVs for Christmas this year. They currently have 13" tube TVs, so they will be getting flat screens. We actually have 7 TVs (all with cable, 1 DVR) in our home, including one in the kitchen and 2 in the great room. We are TV people, and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[tvguy]

Ha. DW and I work in TV and our kids didn't get TV's in their rooms until they were in college and came home for the summer with the TV's we bought them for their dorm rooms.
Until then, we all watched the same TV in the family room.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I also agree with luvmythree - I recently allowed my tweens to have tvs in their rooms. They do need some alone space and the ability to have some alone time. We also spend lots of time together and don't feel the need to be at arms length every waking moment. I feel this is an important part of their independence and maturing. Don't get me wrong - they do not have cable. DS has an xbox and a roku, DD just a roku. I screen what they watch and shut off the wireless at bedtime.

Is there a way to limit which devices can over on the wifi past a certain time or is it all on/all off?

 

[disneychrista]

My girls had TVs in their room when they were young. Looking back I would NOT do it again. It encouraged them to stay in there rooms alone.

 

[navywifetill2002]

I had a VERY strict upbringing, so I'm trying to find a good balance with my boys. Many of my friends and families kids are much younger than mine and many of my other friends don't have any children.Ds will be going into middle school and he tells me all the kids have xboxs and are allowed to play the games rated M. I want him to fit in but I hate all the violence, blood and gore and the bad language.It is so helpful to hear everyones different points of view. Thanks

I volunteer with the Middle School kids at our church. Believe me when I say anything they tell you "everyone" has or is doing is probably far from the truth.

Here's one example...4 years ago I was with the 6th grade girls and 2 had cell phones but they told their mom that "all" the other girls had had them. By their 8th grade year everyone of them had a phone but it was a slow process.

 

[angierae]

It really depends on your kids. I was a "stay in my room" a lot kid and it wasn't over electronics. I just preferred making up stories and playing out my favorite books or whatever. I would occasionally watch tv with my parents in the evening but mostly I played in my room.

 

[luv2sleep]

What is your goal? I think bedroom TVs encourage kids to spend more time alone in their rooms, rather than together with family, make it harder to monitor what they watch, interfere with sleep and serve as a distraction to things that kids are supposed to be doing in the bedrooms--like getting ready for school or cleaning the room or maybe homework. Also it seems to me that kids watch more tv if the tv is in a bedroom--and what kid needs to watch more tv?

What benefits do people see to TVs in kids' rooms?

Agree with this 100%. I won't ever put one in my son's room. I have one in my room that's a really small old set from 1999. I only watch it after my son's gone to bed and don't turn it on often. When it dies I doubt I will replace it. When I was in junior high and high school my own mother would come home, make herself a plate for dinner, and go to her room and stay there all night and watch TV and talk on the phone. It was awful. To me TV in your room means you are avoiding others in the house.

 

[smitch425]

My girls had TVs in their room when they were young. Looking back I would NOT do it again. It encouraged them to stay in there rooms alone.

Is that a bad thing? Not being snarky at all, just curious. My kids love spending time in their rooms, and often with the tv off. I don't limit their tv at all, and they know which shows/channels are appropriate. I don't need to physically be with them all that much. I am the anti-"helicopter mom" when it comes to what they do in their free time. As long as their homework is done, they can do whatever they want for the most part. For DD, that usually means reading or watching a movie, and for DS, it means playing with toys or video games. Depending on which system he is playing, he is either in his room or in the great room (which is why we have two flat screens in there). DD uses her laptop in the great room for the most part, but occasionally she'll sit up in her (loft) bed and play games. We spend tons of time together, so I don't see how a little time alone hurts anyone. I think it is great that they can be independent and enjoy their rooms.

 

[irishsharon]

I volunteer with the Middle School kids at our church. Believe me when I say anything they tell you "everyone" has or is doing is probably far from the truth.

Here's one example...4 years ago I was with the 6th grade girls and 2 had cell phones but they told their mom that "all" the other girls had had them. By their 8th grade year everyone of them had a phone but it was a slow process.

I totally agree with you. What amazed me was that all 8 of the boys in my ds boy scout troop all played these very violent games on xbox. I'm trying to let older ds grow up but also not expose my younger ds to much.

 

[luv2sleep]

I had a VERY strict upbringing, so I'm trying to find a good balance with my boys. Many of my friends and families kids are much younger than mine and many of my other friends don't have any children.Ds will be going into middle school and he tells me all the kids have xboxs and are allowed to play the games rated M. I want him to fit in but I hate all the violence, blood and gore and the bad language.It is so helpful to hear everyones different points of view. Thanks

I have the same thoughts. We are not a gaming console household and will never be. Kids around here are playing COD at age 9/10. Awful IMO. I will not care if everyone's doing it. It's not meant for young kids plain and simple. Rated M games are for adults and that will be the end of it.

 

[luv2sleep]

We had a no electronics in bedrooms rule that held until they graduated from high school. We have two televisions in other areas of our home and an additional one in our storage room/work shop with the treadmill.

Love this idea!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

had a 3 channel black and white at age 8 in the bedroom I shared with my mother. When I was 12ish mom got me a 13inch colored tv for my room and cable. I would be able to watch my shows there (mom liked sci fi, I liked diy) worked out well, also was nice when she wanted to nap (her room had no doors). Got a vcr at 13 but never really used it. Never had the computer in my own room (till college) but the computer was in its own room and I had total freedom

 

[cobright]

Is there a way to limit which devices can over on the wifi past a certain time or is it all on/all off?

Short answer is: yes. In reality it's such a pain ...

 

[DawnM]

Just this year my 13 and 15 year olds got TVs in their bedrooms. One never turns his on for TV (but the Wii is up there so he will do that some). The other occasionally watches a Netflix.

It hasn't been a problem, but if it becomes one I will take them out.

The 9 year old doesn't have one in his room but wants one! He is my TV watcher out of the 3 kids.

 

[kinntj]

We're not tv in our bedroom type people. We have three tv's around the house to watch. It's not a priority in our lives at this time with kids back to school.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd17 has had one in her room for 10 years. We will not make that mistake with the other kids. We do have 4 other TV's in the house. Ds15 will still hang out in the living room with the family.

 

[Sydney2977]

We got a tv and dvd player for older DS's room for his 15th b-day. We also gave him a Wii for his room- DH got it from a co-worker for half price, I think she bought it for her boyfriend and they broke up and she couldn't return it or something. We have a tv in our living/family room with a Wii and xbox. The kids have to ask to play and watch and we limit their time. Having one in his room is a priveledge for DS, and he knows this. They have always been good about sticking to bedtimes and not using them during the week when they have activities and more importantly homework. Neither have a computer in their room. Older DS also didn't get a phone till his 16th b-day. I think if the kids know what is expected out of them, and the family makes a choice that is best for them, it is fine.

 

[momto2inKC]

My kids (14 & 16) do have tv's in their rooms. Neither are hooked up to our DirecTV but they can watch DVDs or play video games on them. The 16 year old also uses his as a computer monitor. They've had tv's in their rooms for many years.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Short answer is: yes. In reality it's such a pain ...

Hmmm, thanks. Would love to limit it for dd14 after a certain time, but would still need to access it myself.

 

[sk!mom]

Dd17 has had one in her room for 10 years. We will not make that mistake with the other kids. We do have 4 other TV's in the house. Ds15 will still hang out in the living room with the family.

Totally agree. We got our oldest child a TV for his 13th birthday. He then proceeded to watch even more TV than before and he was already a child who liked to watch too much. We were idiots!

We have not made the same mistake with DD17. She still doesn't have a TV in her room. I feel like she's so busy and out of the house so much that I enjoy watching TV with her when she has time to catch up on the shows she enjoys.
I'm considering a TV for her for Christmas as we are starting to think of gifts that will be needed for next year's dorm room but it may wait until her Spring birthday because I don't want her to spend her last months at home holed up in her room.

You'll get plenty of differing advice but really you can't deny the research so here's a study...
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/11/news/la-heb-television-kids-obesity-20121211