TV in Child's Bedroom
By Shar19
@Shar19 (8231)
United States
September 26, 2008 4:07pm CST
It seems that all of the kids in our neighborhood have a TV in their bedroom. Most of them also have their own DVD/VCR player with a wide selection of DVD's to play. A few of these kids have had their TV's in their room since they were about 4 years old. Is it me or is that a little too young? Naturally, my 6 year old wants a TV in her room, since all the other kids have one. I think she is way too young. I was thinking of maybe when she's around 12 or even older. I think she watches enough TV as it is. Not to mention what if she wakes up in the middle of the night and decided to put the TV on? When I was little I didn't get a TV in my room until I was somewhere in my teenage years and even then it was a black and white TV because that was the "extra one". When I got into my 20's my boyfriend at the time bought me a 13" color TV for my room. I thought that was great. I don't know why it's so important for very young kids to have a TV in their room. Is it mostly because "everyone else has one"? What age do you think is appropriate for a child to have a TV in their room?
3 people like this
9 responses
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
27 Sep 08
I grew up with a TV in my room as a child. So when I had my son he too got his own TV, DVD player and stereo. And now that he is a parent his children also have their own TV in their room. I guess I don't see a problem with it, as long as the kids are well rounded, still get plenty of family and play time, and fresh air. And of course as long as parents supervise just what it is the child is watching. I know with my grandchildren (ages 2 and 6) its usually educational DVDs that they watch while playing.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
27 Sep 08
Our sons never had a tv in their room until they were in their twenties. If you are going to school, that is too young. It is like a child having a computer in his room. You do not know what he is getting into. So the only time is if the computer is for his studies and certainly if he has to watch the Discovery Channel because there is program about Elephants for Grade eight, he can watch it in the living room and so the parents do not have to worry about him watching "Debbie Does Dallas" I would say late teens or anytime when they are responsible, have a part time job to pay for the Tv that was not a birthday or Christmas gift.
1 person likes this
@trixyteddy (1070)
• India
27 Sep 08
Children or adults, I think the television should be in the living room. I'm not for having a TV in the bedroom. It will just make everyone lock themselves inside their bedrooms and watch TV most of the time.
1 person likes this
@miller23231 (873)
• United States
26 Sep 08
I really don't know what the appropriate age would be, but my girls have a tv in their room. They used to have a DVD player, but it broke. It was an extra tv that we had and it was just sitting in my living room taking up space, so I put it in their room. The cable isn't hooked up to it or anything, though. They don't really need it. If they want to watch tv, they can watch it in the living room since my boyfriend and I don't really watch tv.
1 person likes this
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
26 Sep 08
I do not think young children should have a TV in their rooms. At that age, they should be in bed by at least nine in the evening, prior to that if there is school work they should be working on that. I'm sure there is a TV available for the child to watch cartoons or whatever other kiddy show is on TV. I honestly think you are correct in your decision. Children these days have too much and continuously want more. They have TV's, cell phones, Ipods, xboxes, you name it. They should get what they need, when they need it, and then they will appreciate things more, not just because their friends have it.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
27 Sep 08
i know how troubleson pear pressure can be. If you decied to keep the TV out of your childs room make sure you explain why, don't just do it because you can. What might seem like a very good reason to you may only seem like a power play to your child, remember they can't read your mind.
1 person likes this
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
27 Sep 08
Yes, I agree. I'll definitely be waiting a while before my child gets a TV in her room and even when she does there will be rules as to when she can watch it. Children need to understand that it's a privilege to be allowed to watch TV, not a necessity.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
7 Oct 08
IMO age four or even six is way too young! I will probably wait until my son is well into his teens and even then, he will earn it in someway. I have a while to worry about this, I hope. Right now my son (4) wants to spend most of his time outside and I encourage that. Maybe I am too hard as a mommy, but even now he has to do something to earn having the family room tv turned on.
@brownsuga4life (29)
• Saint Lucia
7 Oct 08
At the age when they can buy it themselves.
I didn't get a television i my room not until i was working. It's not important to have one in your room anyway. It keeps you up alnight. Prevents them from doing their home work and they learn too many x-rated things. Ask your daughter to wait.
Plus there is the computer. They want one in their room also.
Same thing goes: Buy it when you're working.
@bieke81 (1067)
• Belgium
28 Sep 08
My children will never get a TV in their bedroom. We are planning to have one in our room, so if they want to watch something when we want to watch something else, they can watch in our room. But that's it. I don't think children can have a good attitude around tv's in their bedroom. I think they would watch it when they should be sleeping. They do get one in their playarea, but it won't have cable they can only watch DVD's and play games on it.
Have a nice day
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
28 Sep 08
Yes, I would be worried about the children not sleeping too if they had a TV in their room. With cable TV these days there's just too many kids stations for them to watch something on. Makes it a lot more difficult to get them away from the TV. That's why we have to monitor what and when they watch on TV.
1 person likes this
