Re: TV in a toddlers room?

DS has a TV in his room without a cable box. He watches Disney DVD movies.

If he isn't tired he will "rest" in his room while laying down and watching a movie.


I don't see anything wrong with it. You are monitoring the amount of time he is watching TV in his room.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Hmm, I don't have personal experinece since DS is only 12 months but I personally wouldn't put a TV in Jack's room. Definitely sounds like he shouldn't nap in the afternoon anymore, 9ish is a late bedtime for a 3 yr old and I'm sure you need child-free time at night. Can you occupy him with something else during that block of time in the afternoon, a TV in living/family room maybe so you can get a well-deserved break?

I'm just of the opinion that kids should not have TV's in their room. As they get older they will inevitably want to spend more time in there watching tv and will spend less time interacting with the family/as a family. A TV in a common area only will hopefully encourage more family time and more interaction among parents and siblings especially as they grow up.

When we had our cable wired when we moved into our house we purposely had the cable company not put any wiring in what was to be DS' room. I didn't have a TV in my room until I was 13 (and it wasn't my parents who gave it to me, was a gift from an aunt) and I think it contributed to a better relationship with my parents.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

As long as he's not spending his day sitting in front of the TV (which I'm sure he's not) I don't see the harm in putting the TV in his room -
I don't think it's a big deal to use the TV to help him wind down before bed or relax rather than napping ........

I'd personally put it on the wall, high enough so he couldn't reach it though

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

For me, personally, no tv in rooms.
Bry doesn't nap anymore (he's in school all day), he comes home has snack and watches TV in the den.
Then goes off and plays.

He's in bed by 8PM. If he can't fall asleep, he plays with his animals that are in bed with him until he falls asleep.
He usually zonks out.

He's up around 6:15AM and plays (in bed) until I go in and get him.

As of now, there's no need for it (here in our home).

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

We have a portable DVD player that I let DD watch in her room. It's not daily. Maybe this is a feasible option for you.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

i would do it - it will help you out

i grew up with a tv in my room my whole life - i dont see the harm in it

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I'm anti-TV in their rooms so I wouldn't. DH is against it too(spoken from his own experience as the child who had a TV in his room) - because as they get older, they tend to get used to watching TV in their rooms & you lose that family interaction

They do learn to entertain themselves with other things (legos, dolls). One of our punishments is no TV, no computer so I wouldn't want to rely on TV as my break time.

As dpli said, I'm not a SAHM & it's easier for me to get breaks too. If you can figure out another option, I'd go with that. Otherwise, do what you have to. I don't know if you monitor TV but I do like dm24angel's idea of no cable & relying on DVDs.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

DD has had a TV in her room since birth - I wanted it when I was BFing.

She watches movies and TV in there for quiet time. And when I shower.

The TVis high up, she can't turn it onor off, I have all the control so she onlywatches when I want her to.

She's in there right now watching Alvin. My office is across the hall from her so I can do some work while she is in there.

Win/win.

I would get the TV.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

AJ will be 3 next month and has had a TV/DVD in his room for about 6 months now.
We dont have the cable hooked up in there and he only watches movies.
For me it works out great and I see no harm in it at all. It has become part of his bedtime routine which makes for a happier mom too.
He hardly ever watches TV during the day, seriously 1/2 during the day would be alot for him. He isnt a TV kid but at night, it calms he down and he falls asleep with it.
He isnt allowed to put it on during nap time and knows it is only for bedtime.
The way I see it is...if it helps you then it helps him too because you wont be so stressed out.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

What is the reason you have been against the idea thus far?? Is that still valid?

Here are a few thoughts:

My sister has 2 kids - age 5 and 2. The 5 year old has a TV in her room, and has since she was about 2. I think I have been to my sister's house exactly once and found that TV off.

It appears to me (from the outside looking in) that her kids watch TV for 2-3 hours minimum per day, every day because it's an easy way for her to get peace and quiet.

I have one TV in my house. DD watches Diego while I make dinner 3x per week. She watches some stuff on Sunday morning. That's it.

I attribute the difference in TV watching to the exposure.

If you're confident that the TV is not going to become a crutch, and it will help your sanity - go for it. However, if your child is now not going to sleep, or is going to wake even earlier because he knows that he gets to watch TV, then IMHO, it's a bad idea.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

To answer some questions, I'm not necessarily anti-tv in the room, I just never felt it was a necessity before. I would not be opposed to it if he were say, six years old or so.

Jack can occupy himself forever with his toys, and that's what he used to do when he wouldn't nap - but now I think he's realized that he can play me because I can't have him yelling for me when his brother is sleeping next door.

Thing is - he would be watching the TV regardless. At 5:30am he comes into bed and watches TV there. The only difference will be that he is in his own bed and I won't have to hear "MOM" a zillion times (hopefully)

And after he plays with his toys during naptime - when he starts to get antsy could be when I put the movie on in his room. He normally watches it in my bed but I would rather have him where the video monitor is so that I can do other things and not stay in the room with him (cook, clean, shower, etc)

I don't know - I feel like it's one of those things that could really benefit me. I'm hanging on by a very thin string these days and I really need a break this time of day. Right now he is just yelling "Mom, help, I need my aliens!" -- I am just basically his servant

DH has wanted this forever though, and I kind of hate giving in, especially because if he's right he will throw it in my face that we could have done this years ago.


ETA: He is now watching Toy Story in my bed which means I can't take a little catnap which really really really sucks.

Message edited 10/26/2010 2:07:20 PM.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I say keep your sanity and get a TV

I know plenty of children who had a TV in their room and still had family time and all that good stuff.

With the DH issue, i would try to make him bring it up. See if you can spin it around and say ok fine if you insist. Can you make it seem like it was all his idea and you just went with it to make him happy. Thats what I do

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Go for it. Why not? What would be the reason not to? If you see it's getting out of control then take it away.

We put one in my DD's room when she was 4 and took it out when she was 8.
She doesn't need one anymore and she'd be the first to admit it. At 8 it would do her more harm than good. However putting the tv in there in the first place served it purpose. Kind of like your situation.

Just b/c you get him a TV in his room doesn't give him a free ticket to anything else. It's a Tv- nothing more nothing less. You can unplug/disconnect anytime you want to.

Message edited 10/26/2010 4:09:53 PM.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I just put in the call and my dad is bringing it over this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks to everyone for your opinions! I will def. be doing some of the things suggested.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Good luck!! We JUST put a TV in our three year olds room. I was initially against it but he can only watch movies on it and he really doesn't watch any tv during the day (at pre school he only watches movies ) doesn't watch it at ALL at grandparents houses so I had a bit less concern about too much of it- becasue sadly he's not here that much as DH and I both work long hours during ther week :(

He DOES like to unwind at night in front of it but we only really get to it once we have dinner, bath, play time , book time ,etc. so I don't feel like it is a negative in any way...YET! LOL!

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Im against putting a TV in my kid's room for many reasons - most of it being that they watch enough tv during the day and I don't want to make it a routine for them to watch it at night. My younger one is glued to the tv so much during the day that she won't even respond to me when I speak to her..lol....so I limit it as much as possible.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I usually say no TV in a kids room. However, I'm not a SAHM.

I know on weekends, I need DD to have "quiet time". I send her for a nap, sometimes she sleeps, sometimes she reads her books and talks to herself. On the days she doesn't nap, I'm almost thankful, because that means she will actual be tired at 8 bedtime.

Soooo-I get what you are saying about needing that down time for you and for Jack and I would do it.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

If you think it will help you get some more sleep and peace (and sanity) then go for it!

I personally dont have a TV in DS' room and I wont for at least another year or 2 but I can see in certain situations, it could be helpful for everyone.

You could even try it for a while and if its not working out, take the TV back out of the room.