Free Fridays: Best way to stop my kids fighting over the TV.

20 June 2025

We only have one TV at home. And I really like that. Everyone’s concentrated in one place, movie nights are fun and everyone has their own spot on the couch.

But I have four opinionated children who each want to get their way.

And one remote control.

Oh, big problem.

Big fights.

“I want to watch Blue Lock!”

“But you’ve had the TV for an hour already!”

“We always watch Victorious, it’s so boring!”

“It’s MY turn!”

“PEPPA PIG!!!!!”

As much as my eardrums have grown immune to this volume of noise pollution, they still get on my nerves sometimes. I don’t like to solve the problems for them all the time - sometimes I think parents need to step out and let them find solutions together without our intervention.

So, I’ll slowly tiptoe out of the living room. I’ll take my laptop and my mug, and retreat quietly, completely minding my own business like I should…

One of them will notice me.

Then the other three notice.

“MOM!”

“MOM, Sarah just grabbed the remote from me!”

“I DID NOT!”

“MOM, CAN YOU TELL MARIAM THAT IT’S MY TURN?!”

“WHY DOES IDRIS ALWAYS GET HIS WAY?!”

“YEAH, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WATCH PEPPA PIG!”

Oh the screaming…

If I freeze here long enough, maybe they’ll think I’m a statue and leave me alone?

No chance. They continued quarrelling and suddenly I’m the referee to this tournament I didn’t want to attend.

“Look, why don’t you all take turns? Daniel gets a chance, then Mariam gets a chance, then Sarah gets a chance, then Idris gets a chance. Then goes back to Daniel…”

“We tried that. Daniel always chooses the long shows and ours is only 20 minutes. It’s not fair!”

What’s not fair is my tea is getting cold…

“Ok, I don’t know, guys. You need to sort this out yourself. If you really want your TV show, then you have to convince the rest why they should allow it. Or maybe you can offer something to the other person. Think of ways to rally the rest or offer them something else. It’s called negotiation.”

All four looked at me and blinked. I stayed strong, wanting to teach some independence to my kids to fight for what they want in life. Even if it’s Peppa Pig.

“Sort it out yourself. You can’t come complaining to Mommy every time you don’t get your way in life. I’ll be over there, drinking my tea. Goodbye,” as I bowed out.

Half an hour later, it was quiet out there.

Quiet doesn’t always mean good.

So I got up to see what’s up.

I peeked at them through the door, curious to see who won the negotiation.

Who do you think?

The best way to find that out is to look at the TV screen.

Whose show was on?

So I squinted my eyes from the cracks of the door.

They were watching Daniel’s Blue Lock anime.

Something about football, and boys fighting – it’s also all in Japanese. I cannot imagine how the others agreed to watching this - my two bossy girls and a feisty Idris would never…

“How did you get them to agree to your TV show, Daniel?” I asked Daniel as I tucked him in bed that night.

“Oh, easy. I negotiated. Like you said,” he answered.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“I said if they let me watch my TV show, I’ll give them donuts,” he beamed proudly.

I smiled to myself.

Smart boy.

“Wait, the sugar donuts on the table?” I asked.

“Yep.”

Those donuts were mine.

So conclusion: The best way to stop our kids from fighting over the TV is to step aside and let them negotiate with each other.

Just make sure to tell them don’t negotiate with your desserts. Grrrr.

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Before you go…

Let me know you’ve read this. Comment “please buy another TV” so Fadza can see it, on my latest post at @sincerelyvivy.

See you there! :)