Bookworm

My children do watch TV but I don't just plonk them in front of it because I can't be bothered to spend time with them. If you speak to some teachers they will tell you that the TV is a childminder in a number of houses. They are the ones who have to deal with bad behaviour in the classroom and it can't be easy. The teacher in question told me that she could tell I don't do that because my children can read and hold a proper conversation with an adult. They are also interested in lots of different things and do have a good general knowledge. I understand fully what Larkin is saying but it would be worse to allow them to have their own way all the time and I do think there are programmes that primary school children shouldn't be watching.

I won't allow my children to have a TV in their room. When I went to a parents' evening at their school, I was told by a teacher that she could tell they are not over stimulated with electronic things or spend hours in front of a TV. I have arguments with my 10 year old daughter who wants to watch Eastenders and Hollyoaks like "everyone else in my class" but apart from the fact that we don't watch those programmes ourselves, I think the issues in those programmes are too adult for her. She also says she is the only one without Sky but will have to make do with Freeview. To be honest, I think the Ninentendo DS and PSP are worse than TV. They are really addictive and because they are portable, are taken everywhere. We've had to restrict usage on those too.