Tv in child's room

Desiree - posted on 04/23/2009

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Since some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to get overwhelmed with outside stimulus, your son might appreciate some alone time in his room without any distractions. I would be careful that he is also being engaged with other activities that he enjoys as well. I have a 19 year old with autism and he loves to play video games, and if you let him he would do it 24/7. So to answer you question I don't think that having a tv in your sons room would be bad for him, as long as the amount of time is monitored and everyone is in agreement with that decision. And mom could use a break from time to time.

Rachel - posted on 04/23/2009

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I spoke to my doctor about that issue and she informed me that when a child has had a hard day austic children like to zone out so it could lining up, my boy owen would do that every after when he came back from playschool the whole hallway would be have cars in straight lines pointing in the same direction it calmed he, but after time I had to clean the house etc that's when tv came into it. Tv helps them zone and calm That has been a massive help for some things for Owen. Also for transport I found ds game console helps or writing pad my boy is a whizz at computers only found that out not so long ago. Your child will find what will help them calm also like running around in a circle in siturations calms them. Best of luck x

Maria - posted on 04/23/2009

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Genene Serfontein, your comment about it helping with your son's speech, I find that to be so true!! I can talk to my daughter all day long without any response...put on a child's cartoon..she starts repeating what they say, and using it all the time. She doesn't do it word for word like I have heard some do, it just expands her vocab...and no one wants to believe me!! It isn't like I don't talk to her, she just likes TV!! I have even videoed myself doing certain things I want her to learn and play it for her...works like a charm every time.
As for being able to monitor what your child watches, that was easy for me, I live in the country with horrible reception...and our TV was an old analog with a VCR in it! You can't even use analog anymore where I live! It was Winnie the Pooh and the like or nothing!

Like I said in an earlier post, it didn't really work out for my kiddo's in their room, they just weren't interested, but it might for you!

Jill - posted on 04/23/2009

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My 7 year old son with aspergers has a tv in his room, when he wants time on his own he can watch a dvd, doesnt really watch the channels, and at bedtime he gets to choose a dvd to put on and watch to go to sleep, he is asleep in 20mins, and that gives me peace to sit down at nite. Also has his ps2 in there, he doesnt get up in the nite to play or watch tv, and he doesnt turn it on in the mornings he goes into the lounge to watch sky tv kids channels. i find it great.

Genene - posted on 04/23/2009

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I've had a tv in my child's room for over a year now, and it's the best thing I could do. He loves to play games on his ps2 and he "talks" with the characters and he laughs at them when they do someting silly. I find it has helped with he's speech alot. I nerver have a problem with him watching tv in the middle of the night. He goes to bed promptly at 8 and even when he wakes up during the night, he doesn't put the tv on. I think you'll just have to try it and see how it goes. Good Luck.

Terilyn - posted on 04/22/2009

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I have an 11 year old son with Autism and the television in his room in the best thing I have ever done. When he comes home from school, he gets to spend at least 45 minutes in his room ALONE!! After his alone time he isn't as agitated as when I do not let him spend time alone. I don't know if he even watches the tv or is just daydreaming

Rebecca - posted on 04/22/2009

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We always had a tv in our autistic sons (I have 2) room. They shared a room and also had a computer in the room so they could play games as well. It was a big pain getting them to turn the tv and the computer off to go to bed. They were often up very late and ended up being very sleepy at school. When we moved to our new house, we put the tv and computer in our room and set a time the boys HAD to go to bed. It worked out alot better. There were often times the boys would get up in the middle of the night to watch rv. You are better off with the tv in another room. it will be hard to break the habit later on. Good luck!
Becky

Kelly Louise - posted on 04/22/2009

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my daughter is 4 years old and has just been diagnosed with autism but they're not sure which form yet! she has had a t.v. in her room for over a year, she really enjoys it! she will say "yes tele on" when she wants it on and if she doesn't want she turns it off!

I don't know if this is gonna help but that is how I feel about the t.v. in her room, if she's happy then my husband and I are happy!

Christine - posted on 04/22/2009

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My opinion is to NOT put a TV in your son's room. I think it would promote time spent alone and not with the family. In addition, you have more control over what your son watches on TV if the TV is in a main room.

Lynne - posted on 04/22/2009

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I did consider the same thing for my son who is 7. But the thought of The Wiggles blaring out in the middle of the night and him jumping up and down in excitement put me off!!! Would be really interested to hear some more opinions on this.

Maria - posted on 04/22/2009

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I was the exact same way..."No way are my kids going to have a TV in their room" But then I got desperate. The bad thing was, it didn't really help. My daughter never would watch TV in her room, I ended up moving it out into the playroom so the kids wouldn't domineer the living room TV. Anyway, best of luck. Some kids really do like it! Good Luck!