Spinoff - Is 7 Hours of TV on Weekday Typical?

[karina5]

LOL, this is a spinoff of my own post but I honestly have no idea. My nephews watch TV from about 3 pm until 10 or 11 pm (bedtime) during the week. My SIL has confirmed this. THey have a house where the TV is pretty much always on and they have about 5 TV's for their family of 5.

Is it common nowadays (yes, I sound like an old lady) for teens to watch TV that much?

For the record, I am not anti-TV by any means. I love me my Lost, my Prison Break, my Weeds, and my Curb your Enthusiasm, and even watch crap shows like the ones w/ the Hugh Hefner gf's so I'm not being all elitist, but I am amazed at how much tv these kids watch.

[warriorprincess]

It's probably not all that atypical, but I'd consider that problematic.

[Rani]

From what I hear, yes it is. Most of my co workers with kids talk about having a tv in each room and on all the time...

However, research shows that watching tv during the week directly impacts how well they do in school. Weekend watching appears to not affect schooling.

So, we restrict during the week to maybe several hours AT MOST all week, but let dd have at it on the weekends when she is inclined. We only have one tv and we use DVR to record for the weekends or after dd is asleep.

[journeymom]

Oh, my word, seven hours? In a row? My kids would be insane, peevish, grumpy and very unhappy if the tv were on that long. Not to mention dh and me! We watch too much tv (two to three hours a week day), but the kids are becoming aware of how BAD they feel when they watch too much.

[UnschoolnMa]

I have no clue if it's typical overall. Speaking of my own teens and family- it's close. We love TV and it's often on for hours at a time. I can't say that we are in one place actually watching for 6 hours in a row, but it has been on for that long while we go about our business otherwise and we listen and often stop and watch.

We have 3 tv's in the house. My son likes to have one in his room but my Dd prefers not to. We get a lot of computer time as well. For example, with brief breaks here and there, I have been on the PC for 4 hours today. Ds for 3 maybe.

[karina5]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

I have no clue if it's typical overall. Speaking of my own teens and family- it's close. We love TV and it's often on for hours at a time. I can't say that we are in one place actually watching for 6 hours in a row, but it has been on for that long while we go about our business otherwise and we listen and often stop and watch.

We have 3 tv's in the house. My son likes to have one in his room but my Dd prefers not to. We get a lot of computer time as well. For example, with brief breaks here and there, I have been on the PC for 4 hours today. Ds for 3 maybe.

I was waiting for you to pop in and tell me your family has the TV on a lot. =)

[MillingNome]

So does it count as double if they watch tv while surfing the web : I won't mention a certain dd who does that

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by karina5

I was waiting for you to pop in and tell me your family has the TV on a lot. =)

I am nothing if not predictable eh? LOL

So does it count as double if they watch tv while surfing the web I won't mention a certain dd who does that

Oh the horror! I can't imagine that anyone in my house ever does such a thing... (she says while typing and listening to a "Friends" re-run.)

[Arduinna]

It's probably quite common, but not at our house, unless someone is sick and veging on the couch

[Strong Mama]

The tv or computer is on almost 24/7 over here too.: either ds is web surfing AND watching tv(sometimes with the ipod on too or mytube running) or DH has the tv on 24/7. It sometimes nerves me as I am sensitive to noise, but I deal with it. They are like the background noise, the only shows I watch personally are jon and kate plus 8 and bear grylls. ds2(hes 3) goes through spells where he wants to watch tv and then he doesnt so. I donno. ds(almost 14) CAN watch tvfor that long(ive seen it), but he is mostly out and around with friends.

[UUMom]

Not typical here. Sometimes I tell my kids to turn on the TV...so i can have some veg time :, and they say "There's nothing on!" or "What *is* your problem?!"

My hsers rarely turn the TV on during the day, even though they are not restricted.

They all do like Scrubs and Simpsons, which is an hour a day...but it's not something they watch everyday.

Of course, all that said, my dh and my 8 yr old are watching on DVD the final scene-- the Christmas scene-- in About A Boy-- which is something they do a couple of times a week. I would day that scene is about 8 minutes long? Not sure. So multiplied by 4 or 5, maybe?

We def do not have the TV or computer on all day.

[Strong Mama]

However, research shows that watching tv during the week directly impacts how well they do in school. Weekend watching appears to not affect schooling.

luckily the research didnt include my son. he is a straight A student, a tutor for those that need help and got citizen of the month for his county last month.(but he loves his josh and drake!!)

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by iamthesmilingone

So does it count as double if they watch tv while surfing the web : I won't mention a certain dd who does that

I am sure she'll live.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by journeymom

Oh, my word, seven hours? In a row? My kids would be insane, peevish, grumpy and very unhappy if the tv were on that long. Not to mention dh and me! We watch too much tv (two to three hours a week day), but the kids are becoming aware of how BAD they feel when they watch too much.

I hear ya. On Black Friday, we watched The SAnta Clause 1, 2 & 3. Which was a lot of TV! But it wasn't all in one sitting. Maybe we are ADD or something...but we cleaned the barn, cooked, played Scrabble, the kids biked to the beach, we went outside etc. I don't think any of us could sit for 7 hours in a row. I know my attention span is way too short.

But i am still a nice person...we are all nice people. But not good at sitting.

I am sure the Ritalin people would love to make some money off of us!

[Strong Mama]

But i am still a nice person...we are all nice people. But not good at sitting.

I am SO hyper, i cant even sit through movies at the theater, my dh thinks I am nuts.

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by UUMom

I know my attention span is way too short.

Yeah it gets to me too. I gotta get up and just do stuff. I'll be at the computer and write a few emails or posts and then I get up and let the dog out, make some tea, turn on the radio, start the dishwasher. In order to watch a movie at home I have to be in the "mood". Usually it needs to be night, like around 9 or so, and we've got the kitchen all cleaned up & we are relaxed. I mostly watch TV standing. The only one I sit for is CSI. :

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by Transitions

I am SO hyper, i cant even sit through movies at the theater, my dh thinks I am nuts.

See I prefer to watch movies at the theatre because it's the sole purpose for going there, ya know? Like I am totally into it and not thinking "Crap...I should go switch the laundry over" I have a friend who gets restless at the theatre too though.

[Strong Mama]

The only one I sit for is CSI.

The one and ONLY show I sit through is LOST.

[Linda on the move]

Not typical for the teens we know, but we only know them through activities such as swim team. The teens we know are busy and have lots going on. I think my kids may be the only ones on swim team who see TV during the week. (We homeschool, so my kids watch more TV than any of their friends). Most kids we know have school, home work, sports and possibly other activities as well.

I don't have anything against TV (it is unrestricted at our house) but it does seem odd to me for a child or teen to not have anything else going on in their lives.

[kennedy444]

ay too much tv time. I can't even imagine!!!!!!!


I know kids watch a lot today but that many hours, each day, seems over the top. When does school work, play and friends come into the mix? No afterschool sports or other activities? Sounds like there are "issues" here.

My older kids watch one, maybe two 30-minute shows in the evening or something on Discovery, etc. but this is after sports, school work and dinner are done. They don't even do this every night!