Locking TV

I am in the "tell them no" camp as well. Unless they have a VALID reason for not being able to follow the rule, you shouldn't have to resort to locking the TV.

Try a plug lock.
If they can't plug it in, it won't work!

http://www.familysafemedia.com/powerstop_power_plug_lock....

What is wrong with teaching them house rules and boundaries.

Be the parent and just say no tv during the specific times you want no tv. If they buck you... Give them consequences.

Barring mental/emotional disturbances in all your children, tell them NO

How old are these kids? Why don't they know that they are not allowed to turn the tv on whenever they want, and need to ask permission? Rules and boundaries and consequences, mom.

However, if you feel that you must prevent them from getting to the tv, I'd say to just confiscate the remote. Kids today have no idea how to turn on the television without one, never mind being able to search for programs.

I really don't know.

Have you tried just telling them no?

Tell them no! End of discussion. If they turn it on, time out.

Our tv does not turn on.
You have to have a remote. It's annoying.
So you could just have the remote with you???

Maybe there is a way to turn it on but I have no idea how, lol.

I understand that just saying no does not always work, either, with kids. Online it's all nice and good to say that you just need to say no and have consequences, but when you are trying to work in the kitchen, well, it can get crazy fast. Unplug it maybe?

I'm also with the "tell them no" suggestion. :) Or, just take the remote(s) away? Have you ever tried to operate your tv without a remote?? It took me 2 days to just find the power button on our new tv! I don't even think it has channel/volume buttons on the unit! If you have multiple components (satellite receiver, surround sound, etc) you could also take one (or all) of those remotes. I would find it terribly annoying to have to password lock my own tv (although that could come in handy for DH when I have a massive "honey do" list for him)!!

As a parent to a an autistic son, now 7, I realize that just saying no and redirecting is not always going to work. Nor is removing the remote if your children are perceptive and sneaky. The reason I state that is because my child knows full well how to turn the tv, cable, etc. on even without the remotes.

I've had to find all the locking codes on the televisions, bluray, consoles, and cable. At one time my cable company locked everything between x and x time for us however that is no longer an option. In our home at night we unplug everything and confiscate the remotes. Luckily my children do not climb into my closet to get the remotes and have learned to accept that in our house 10 am is tv time. This took a VERY long time to get through to my son and he isn't happy about.

Good luck and I hope you're able to find a way to deter your little ones.

Depending on how modern your TV is, there is probably a security feature in the settings menu that will set a PW.

Our solution is a bit clunky but we have the power strip that the stereo receiver and TV plug into in a locked cabinet in the entertainment center. Only my husband and I can unlock the cabinet and turn the power strip on. For video games, we just take the power cord.

ETA: I should add that we use the locks/disappearing cables because I'm not home every day after school and this keeps my teenagers from
having to police the younger siblings.

Tell them no or take the controller to the kitchen with you and put it up. They will live without it being on and watching unneeded shows.

Be the parent and tell them what will happen if they don't like it - go to your rooms! They are old enough to understand what mom means. Time mom was a mom and not a friend and task master.

the other S.

I have 2 kids.
I just tell them no TV now. Turn it off.
And they do.

I agree with taking the remotes. Or if you want a different way, take the batteries from the remotes and leave them. If it were my children, they would fuss with the remote to find out why its not working lol my kids are allowed 30 minutes of TV in the evening provided they have all their chores done homework done and have bathed. We are not a big TV family...thank Goodness's. I do know of a few friends whos children sit in front of the TV all the time and when she takes it away its a war. Good luck with this!!!

I am also for telling them no, but I will answer your question as well.

We have Xfinity and you can access the security settings from the menu on the remote (you'll have to fish around a bit for it - it's usually in settings or something). I'm sure you can do this AT&T or any other TV provider. You select the password you want, and the level of programming you want protected (i.e. PG13 and up for example). This way, the user will be asked for the password anytime a program is rated within the boundries set.

We use this because the programs we have decided are appropriate for the kids are in the same DVR menu as the programs my husband and I watch. We don't want the kids to end up watching an adult drama or comedy on accident or curiosity - and we are not always in the same room.

I don't have any idea how to program the actual TV from going on with a password.

How old are they? Even at 9 and 12 my kids don't turn on the tv without permission. Not because I ever told them they can't, they just don't because tv doesn't get watched unless we have something specific we've decided to watch. The remotes are complicated and I've just never taught them how to use them. TV really isn't part of our family culture. In my opinion, if they are old enough to turn it on in the first place, they are old enough to follow rules. Short of that, hide the remote.