Am I flapping for no reason?

[vwvic]

Yesterday, my dd1 was allowed to watch a film at school for a friday treat. Mostly I'm ok with this, apart from two things. Firstly, the film was Jurassic Park, secondly she is only 5. I'm verging on geting my knickers in a twist as I'm not sure that this was a desparetly appropriate choice given the PG rating, and that parts of it terrified me when I first saw it.

I'm not sure if I'm over-reacting, given that I have other concerns about the school that may be influencing what I think about this. DD1 doessn't seem to have been scared by it, but she did seem to be a lot more jumpy than normal. She is not the sort of child that would tell anyone other than me or dh about feeling scared/unhappy etc.

Another dimension is that I would not mind her seeing the film if she was with me or dh.I guess I just feel upset because I think ther are loads of other films that are classified U, and surely it should be the parents choice to show an older rated film to their children?

So, am I flapping for no reason?

[ionesmum]

No, I would be very annoyed. In fact, I wouldn't want our dds watching any film without our approval, but esp. a PG one.

[ionesmum]

No, I would be very annoyed. In fact, I wouldn't want our dds watching any film without our approval, but esp. a PG one.

[ionesmum]

As you can see, I feel doubly strongly...

[kid]

I don't really think it was an appropiate film to show a 5 year old, like you say there are other films more suitable for that age. Was it just her class watching it or the whole school?

At DD's school, if its wet play, the school usually play a video like scooby doo or other cartoons but DD can't remember which ones though!

[jodee]

Think they should have pre-warned you to let you have a choice, imho. My ds is just five and thinks himself quite 'brave', loves superheroes and wants to be Spiderman when he grows up, but he doesn't want to watch the Spiderman movies, the baddies scare him. I guess your dd wasn't too affected by it - so far, this time - hopefully she won't have bad dreams or anything. I would be inclined to have a word at school.

[ionesmum]

Surely the school can find a better treat than watching bloody telly! If they have to stay indoors, why can't they have music on? My dds watch more than enough telly, I wouldn't want them to do it at school, too!

[vwvic]

Ionesmum, my feeling exactly. This wasn't because of a wet playtime, it was because it was friday afternoon! Apparently they do it every week, as a reward for good behaviour. I have to admit to being cross that she is spending her time this way when she could be doing something much more valuble. I wonder if I'm being unfair here, but it seems to me a bit like a cop out for the teacher. I think that it's only dd1's class that does this.

oh dear, I can feel another appointment at the school, along with "you're being a pushy stroppy parenet- no one else is bothered" type of implications .

I wish we lived somewhere else/could afford to go private. This school is best out of a very bad selection.

[Gobbledigook]

I'd be very, very cross - it's far too scary for a 5 yr old. My 4 yr is scared of the sharks in Nemo!

[MaryP0p1]

I'd be furious. I have deliberately prevented mine from Jurassic Park and she 7 because I think wholely unsuitable for her age range. She has plenty of other films which I would be happy for her to watch but what educational benefit is Jurassic Park. Identify the dinosaurs???? What is the rating for Jurassic Park?

[vwvic]

Its a PG. I looked on the film classification website last night and it says a PG film will be suitable for most children from around age 8 onwards.

[MaryP0p1]

I still wouldn't be happy for 5 year to watch it. I assume that some the children wouldn't even be 5 yet!

[ionesmum]

what a rotten situation, vwvic. Sounds like the teacher fancies a quite afternoon once a week IMO. I'd ask to speak to the governors myself, maybe Ofsted would be interested in hearing about this teacher's consrtuctive use of classroom time.

[ionesmum]

Is this the same teacher who is a bit bonkers about little children going to hell if they don't sing hymns? If so suggest you start a 'how do I get rid of a crap teacher' thread.

[jjash]

am gobsmacked by the film choice .I know my 5 year old gets to watch films in school as part of projects but they are the likes of disney films etc.I would make my disapproval known in a letter to the headteacher !

[Yorkiegirl]

Message withdrawn

[ionesmum]

Where do Disney films come into projects? I'm quite happy for dd to watch them but not at school. I'd rather she was painting or running about or (whisper) reading a book.

[Yorkiegirl]

Message withdrawn

[jjash]

Well i agree - not quite sure why they need to watch the films to be honest .They watched part of Nemo to do some sea project but pretty much think all they kids must have seen it before and know what a fish looks like ?
Its not that often - def not once a week ! I would agree i`d want them running round etc .Is it every week ? Does the teacher lool very tired ?

[ionesmum]

Oh jjash, what a cop-out. There are plenty of decent wildlife CDRoms and DVDs if they want to show sealife. Sounds like they just want a way of keeping them quite.

[jjash]

Yorkiegirl- think its acceptable to use films as teaching aids as you do .I remember doing that at school even into my degree in english . At 5 though what is the real reason for it ?

[ionesmum]

Yorkiegirl sorry, how old is Yr5?

[jjash]

Ssh- ionesmum .I`m not that fond of the teacher anyway and you are encouraging bad thoughts

[jjash]

Ionesmum - think yr5 is 9-10 year olds .Is that right Yorkiegirl? Am thinking that my ds would be 9 anyway by then.

[ionesmum]

Go on, keep having them I'd be livid if I were you.

[ionesmum]

Well, I'm not familiar with the film but I think that around age 9 or ten would be fine for this sort of analysis, children that are about to go to secondary school need to be aware of how the media manipulates things esp. in films, so this sounds like an ideal way of introducing this, along with the literacy side of course!!!!!