The question back when I was a kid was whether or not to allow your child to have a TV in their bedroom. I was one of them that did have the TV in my room. Although, who had cable back then so there wasn't much I could really watch other than an occasional episode of Love Boat or Gilligan's Island. I don't remember watching too much TV in my room and really did spend most of my time in the family room with everyone else.
Today we have more than the TV to think about in our kid's rooms. TV is not what it used to be. I am amazed at some of the things that you can find on regular cable television. Along with the TV, some kids are spending hours on end in their rooms on computers, video games, and iPods. The general rule of thumb is to keep all of these electronics out of the bedroom for a variety of reasons a big one being content. At what age do you start to allow your kids to have these electronics in their room? Is it really necessary to keep all electronics out of their rooms? How do we teach our kids trust if we don't give them a chance to show us that we can trust them?
I like to think that I can trust my kids (don't call me nieve). They do in fact, have TVs in their rooms with cable (oh no). The computer is kept downstairs out in the open, though. I do keep my eyes and ears open and do have rules as to what time the TV goes off at night. My kids do not spend hours upon hours in their rooms (at least not yet), and do spend a lot of time with the rest of the family. So far this is working.
Do you allow your kids to have electronics in their rooms?
TVs and other electronics in your kid's bedroom
Posted by Dalia (Generation X Mom) Labels: electronics, kids, tweens
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16 opinions:
My SS is 11 and has a computer in his room (we just put it in there for his birthday). He also has a tv. We got him the computer because he is starting to have projects to do where he needs the internet or needs to type something up. We do not like to let him use our computer because we would be screwed if he messed it up.
He knows that we watch what site's he goes on and that he will be in big trouble if we find he has been somewhere he shouldn't.
As for the TV, he usually only uses it to play the Wii, or watch a show right before bed.
I think there is a fine line, but that it is ok to have these things in your kids room as long as your are monitoring their usage. Obviously if he starts misusing these things, they will be removed. I am sure one day we will get to that point, but I hope not.
I am hard core on this issue.
We built our house based on an "open floor plan" with glass doors in our office and a loft for homework.
Turtle will not have a tv/gaming system/computer/phone in his room. He will not have FB or MySpace and there will be a keylogger/parental controls on his computer (he will have a desktop in the open loft for homework/research).
I was raised in a no tv on school nights house. We will be doing the same thing here.
I know I'm a tough cookie on this, but it's something I feel strongly about.
My daughter (she's 9) has a t.v. in her room - no computer, no music, no phone.
As far as the t.v. - she has to ask permission to turn it on and usually only gets a chance to watch it on the weekends. Our weeknights are consumed with homework, chores, baths, and dinner. There's no time for t.v.! When she does watch t.v. - she can only watch the Disney channel or Nickelodeon (or the local broadcast channel, but she doesn't like any of their shows). Not even the cartoon network - I don't like that channel...
She does have a DS though - that she can play anytime she wants... but I buy those games, so I know what's in them. Sometimes I'm surprised by what they say on the Disney channel shows - too "teenagey".
We only have one TV in the house. My oldest does have a computer in her room, but with both parents being comptuer/network techs she knows that we know every single word she types. We require her to give us her passwords to all sites and email address and keep chat logs. We don't look at them unless we feel there is a problem, but we do check her internet history at least once a week.
We are a no tv in the rooms family. I feel that children need a quiet zone, a place with little distraction. Kids are constantly being stimulated and at night I want their little minds to rest.
My 9 year old has a tv and computer in his room, but I'd have to pay him cash money to use them. He cannot stand being away from the 'action' of our family. He will play Club Penguin when his little kid friends come over, but he doesn't really like being alone up there. I don't think he's watched tv since his cousin spent the night during Christmas break. I know it'll change, but for now, we aren't really worried.
We do have parental controls on both machines and I regularly check his history after his friends have visited. As he gets older, we plan to be more strict.
We aren't at that point yet because our girls are young. But we've talked about stuff like that. There will be 1 centrally-located family computer, and TVs will need to be turned off at a certain time. I think you are showing them trust since you allow some tech things and have limits on those.
For us it is more of an issue of not getting enough rest than what they are exposed to. Mine are in high school and have computers in their rooms for working on but no internet. That is in our office and only used there, where I have content blockers and can check use if necessary, I usually won't unless I sense there is a problem. I feel the content blockers are necessary because stuff can pop up when you are looking for something else not because I don't trust what they will look at. They don't have TV in their rooms but don't seem to mind. They do have music and phones. I have the phones set to turn off at 11pm on school nights because we had problems with friends calling later. For the most part the only thing we had problems with or they have complained about is the phones.
My son will be 13 in a little over a week, my daughter is 10. They don't have TVs or computers in their rooms. I don't plan on allowing it. Besides, TVs and computers cost money and I can't see spending the little money I have on big and unnecessary purchases.
I feel pretty strongly about this - no TV in the room. I really cringe at those reports that such a huge percentage of kids between 2 and 10 have TVs in their rooms, etc.,
Our 15-year old just got his first cell phone for his birthday (probably the last teen on the planet, right?), and our 12-year old has an iPod Touch with wireless internet - both have to be turned off and in their chargers at bedtime.
If the TV is going to be on, I prefer to watch together with them.
Admittedly, we don't have a lot of time for TV in our house. Both of our boys have a chronic illness and need a lot of sleep, so they both go to bed at 8 pm. Maybe I'd feel differently if I were missing my favorite shows because they were still up!
Another great discussion topic!
Sue
Oh, so many good comments! As for computers, our sons have their own Windows computer (I use a Mac) in our home office where they can do homework or play games. All of our computers are ancient and will need updating soon!
My 15-year old has a Facebook account, but it's a house rule that you have to friend Mom! My 12-year son is begging for FB, and he's right - all his friends are on it (I checked) even though the age limit is supposed to be 13, so I;ll probably let him join early...as long as he friends me!
Sue
we have a tv in the kids rooms but its only hooked to a dvd player - not cable. Its not on often (since they are young) but the times we do have it on - its helpful in there
http://accustomedchaos.blogspot.com
No TVs or computers in the kids rooms. Too much temptation to not be a part of the family!
As I only have under 2s at the moment, I feel I don't want to be too "never say never", but I would prefer for my children not to have TVs or computers in their bedrooms. 1) for family unity - don't want everyone away from each other doing their own thing, 2) for exposure reasons (as you discussed) and 3) I think it teaches good negotiation skills if kids have to share with the adults.
She's only five, but there's nothing in there yet. I think a TV might eventually be okay - though I'm unsure of what age. The computer is always going to be in a common area. The Internet is just too scary.
maybe tv's, NO computers!
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