This week on Parenting, one woman asks whether she and her husband should permanently ban their children from watching TV. 

“While our two young kids have been going through some behavioural issues lately, my husband and I made the joint decision for them to take a proper break from TV," she told Moncrieff. 

 “I was sceptical at first, but it has had a really positive impact so far to be honest. 

“They are calmer, more engaged, more playful. However, it has been three weeks and now my husband wants to continue the ban indefinitely. 

“I worry that they will lose out on some things, as their friends in school will be more tuned into the latest programmes and what’s going on. 

“TV is culture and I am concerned that they will be missing out - is a TV ban simply too much and how can we find balance?” 

A person holding a TV remote. Picture by: Cottonbro Studios / Pexels.

Family psychotherapist Joanna Fortune said it might be something other than the lack of TV that has improved their behaviour.

“I’m wondering if what’s made the big difference is they have more time to play,” she argued. 

“They’ve more time to be outdoors, there’s more activity going on and that has also improved the behaviour. 

“So, I wouldn’t say it is solely the cutting TV - it’s what cutting TV opened up the opportunity to do.

“So, I think look at it in that holistic way.”

Main image: Children watching TV. Picture by: Alamy.com.