When you buy the tv and pay the mortgage of the home that houses the tv, then you can decide what gets watched on tv.

My DD was also wanted to be involved at that age, versus being alone.

No reason for you to feel uncomfortable. I learned I had to speak for myself, like excuse me, that's my seat (which SD knew) and no, we don't call shotgun here. Always, just a polite reminder.

I remember we did get DD a small tv for her room when she was 6 so she could watch dvd s like Nemo and Wizard of Oz before bed (from 8 to 830ish) which allowed some adult alone time.

Interesting topic. PPP can play by herself since she was 2. BabyD likes you in the room but plays by herself. She can already play independently for about 20 minutes. Chucky cannot even poop without needing someone near by. I think it's how you raise your children. Either they are independent and can play by themselves or they can't. It's what you teach them that affects this.

I happen to like my girls independence.

Is SS an only child? The reason I ask is SD5 is and she seems to struggle playing alone or even with other children. Shes the kid that would rather shadow the adults, or sit and do little crafts with adults than play with other children. Including us, despite having a mountain of toys.

We decided to split her toys up, we went through everything and got rid of anything she deemed too childish. Anything messy or with small pieces (colouring pens, school practice books, lego, jigsaw puzzels, etc) stay downstairs in a small cabinet. And everything else is up in her bedroom, we also bought a music player so she could put on her various kids-cds in her room. If she is downstairs then she is either playing with something from that cabinet, busy with us or watching tv, the rest of the time shes playing in her room.
To start with she would only be up there a few minutes at the time, because she wasnt used to being on her own. And yes, sometimes she would rather be colouring in the kitchen whilst im busy cooking or cleaning because she wants to be nearby.
Nowadays we can loose her to her bedroom for quite some time if we arent going somewhere.

We do have a tv in our bedroom but our room is a no-go zone for SD5.

If SD5 is watching tv downstairs and I am busy with something and I want to watch something else, its simple, I'll tell SD that once her programmes finished I am going to be watching something so she needs to go play or entertain herself. That being said Im not really a tv person and we try to limit SD5s tv time as she (like most kids) could sit there all day if you let her.

But basically, go through his room, with him, make sure the toys he has are what hes actually going to play with. Anything he doesnt want anymore either sell on or donate to charity. Make his room a bit more interesting, dont forget as young kids they are only in their rooms to sleep and all they see from adults rooms are places to sleep.
If you think hes watching too much tv then change household rules, in our house the tv is not on during the week until after bathtime for literally the last 30 mins- 1 hour before bed. At the weekend we let SD watch about an hour of tv in the mornings then again its off till after dinner. If you take away the tv and a games console you will be surprised how quickly he will have to think up new games once he is done sulking.

When my SS (at 10) came to live with us full time we made an effort to decorate his room in a way that he felt welcome and comfortable there. He has his own (small) flat screen, Xbox One (with limited account settings and limited times he can play with VERY strict parental controls), his room has been slowly decorated with both our money AND HIS chore money to his tastes. He has his gaming section, WWE posters, art "gallery" and football fan section. He goes back and forth from (how he words it) "going into his turtle shell"/sticking in his bedroom for days on end, or hanging out with me (typically not his dad, his dad can be emotionally cold and doesn't show/feign much interest in his ways). Which MAY BE why the boy sticks to YOU so much. He may feel closer or more comfortable around you, depending on what your family dynamics are. Each child is different. My SS is hitting puberty and becoming a little more hermity (hence the parental controls), his BM is a drug addict who just randomly abandoned him last year and he's had a large adjustment to make. I also grew up with a lot of the changes HE is going through so I try to relate and be as understanding as possible.

Its common for little boys that age to stick to your side like glue. At least he isn't leaving the room everytime you enter. That typically comes in the early teens. hahaha

I understand you not feeling welcome in your own space. I felt that way a lot with my SS's. They would come in, take over the TV and lay all over the couches with no room for me. I finally got sick of it and started taking the remote and changing the channel if there was something I wanted to watch. I pay the cable bill so I get first dibs.

It would help if you set him up a little play station (not the game) in his room. If he loves drawing, set him up a mini art studio with a desk and some coloring books or paper. If he loves action figures, set him up a action figure area in the corner of his room. IF his room is in a remote part of the house, it could cause him to get scared and want to be near you. Its normal. But so are your feelings. Next time SS has the TV taken over, let him finish the show he was watching and then tell him "after this show we are going to change the channel so you can go play in your room with your toys if you want."

He will eventually get the hang of it.

Its common for little boys that age to stick to your side like glue. At least he isn't leaving the room everytime you enter. That typically comes in the early teens. hahaha

I understand you not feeling welcome in your own space. I felt that way a lot with my SS's. They would come in, take over the TV and lay all over the couches with no room for me. I finally got sick of it and started taking the remote and changing the channel if there was something I wanted to watch. I pay the cable bill so I get first dibs.

It would help if you set him up a little play station (not the game) in his room. If he loves drawing, set him up a mini art studio with a desk and some coloring books or paper. If he loves action figures, set him up a action figure area in the corner of his room. IF his room is in a remote part of the house, it could cause him to get scared and want to be near you. Its normal. But so are your feelings. Next time SS has the TV taken over, let him finish the show he was watching and then tell him "after this show we are going to change the channel so you can go play in your room with your toys if you want."

He will eventually get the hang of it.

My oldest and my youngest could play alone for hours. My middle one? She could also play independently, but wanted to be in the same room with you. Either way was fine by me. CTBBSS38 could play for HOURS by himself, once he made a snow fort and that thing was making me so nervous I kept thinking it was going to cave in lol! When his lips AND nose turned blue I lured him in with some hot chocolate.

I feel like I could have written this whole blog. My SS7 also RARELY plays in his room and it's full of toys. He is constantly bringing handfuls of legos out and playing with them in the living room (I made a "no toys in the kitchen" rule awhile ago - you can claim safety issues with that one). It drives me nuts.

As far as the TV issue goes, he definitely will dominate the living room TV if left unattended. Once I've had enough or think he's watched enough TV I just say it's time to shut the TV off and do something else. DH never argues.