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AIBU?

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Original poster

YouTube as part of PE lesson

36 replies

HowDoYouSpellThat · 19/12/2025 09:58

Hi everyone, hoping to get a bit of insight here. My 6-year-old came home yesterday and said something that caught me off guard: he started telling me about “the YouTube advert we saw in PE.” It turns out that during his PE lesson, they watched YouTube videos of characters like Mario and Sonic and copied what they saw on screen as part of the activity.

Now, I’m all for using videos as a learning aid. I know they can be really engaging and fun for the kids, and it’s not that I think it’s inherently bad. But what surprised me was the idea that they’re just watching standard YouTube with ads in a school setting. It made me wonder about whether this is the norm and if I’m being unreasonable to feel a bit uneasy about it.

I guess my concerns are just around screen time and whether the content is properly vetted. If they were using an educational platform or pre-approved videos, I’d probably feel a bit more comfortable. But knowing it’s just YouTube with ads popping up makes me a bit wary.

So, AIBU to be a bit concerned about this, or is this just a totally normal part of modern PE lessons? I’m genuinely open to hearing different viewpoints to see if I’m just overthinking it. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
B1anche · 19/12/2025 10:48

OldBeyondMyYears · 19/12/2025 10:45

There was a time when we had to walk to the phone box and queue up to make a phone call. There was a time when everyone sat around the ‘wireless’ to listen to hear the King’s Speech. There was a time when…🤷‍♀️

But science and technology have advanced since ‘there was a time when’…
so are you suggesting that everyone is allowed to use these advances in technology to make their lives better/easier/save time…except education staff? Really? 🤔

Can you see how backwards this thinking is?

Show quote history

No I am not suggesting that. You just made that huge leap all by yourself.

neleh87 · 19/12/2025 10:45

I'm a primary teacher and I will sometimes use Joe Wicks or Cosmic Kids if I don't have an alternative space for PE. Haven't done that in a few years to be honest. I also sometimes use clips of specific skills that the children will be using, for example a gymnastics leap or a cricket batting technique, as they can model it a lot better than I can. Especially when I was pregnant!

However, whenever I use YouTube,I let the ads run on my computer screen before I switch the whiteboard on.

Also we can say "teachers got by without YouTube in the past!!" But if they had it, they would have used it! Where I can, I prefer to use clips on the BBC website.

OldBeyondMyYears · 19/12/2025 10:45

B1anche · 19/12/2025 10:25

Oh dear, someone needs to calm down. OP was asking a valid question. I too would be concerned about unvetted adverts popping on YouTube.

You know, there was a time when teachers managed without resorting to screens in bad weather.

Show quote history

There was a time when we had to walk to the phone box and queue up to make a phone call. There was a time when everyone sat around the ‘wireless’ to listen to hear the King’s Speech. There was a time when…🤷‍♀️

But science and technology have advanced since ‘there was a time when’…
so are you suggesting that everyone is allowed to use these advances in technology to make their lives better/easier/save time…except education staff? Really? 🤔

Can you see how backwards this thinking is?

Ihateslugs · 19/12/2025 10:38

When I was teaching in a Secondary school I had to vet any You Tube clips before using them especially any adverts. I had to strictly follow age restrictions, if there was just one child in the class under age, I could not use it. Finally, my Subject Head had to approve my lesson plan to make sure it was a relevant clip, not just a soft option.

I wonder if things have relaxed since I retired 4 years ago?

Original poster
HowDoYouSpellThat · 19/12/2025 10:32

I hadn't considered the hall being used for shows, that's a good point, though I think they do PE in the lunch hall which wouldn't be affected.

I did ask him if it was a one-off but he said they do it lots and my older child (Y4) said he watches videos in PE too.

I guess it is less about the videos and more about the ads and use of YouTube which make me feel uneasy.

I don't plan to do anything about it, just wanted to hear other perspectives really.

OP posts:
B1anche · 19/12/2025 10:25

OldBeyondMyYears · 19/12/2025 10:21

Good lord OP! It’s been chucking it down where I live all bloody week! We haven’t been able to go outside for PE, the hall has the stage set up for all our ‘year group’ productions (has been like this since the end of November!) and almost every day there are either rehearsals or actual performances (each year group does 2 performances and a ‘dress rehearsal’ at some point!)

Don’t be ‘that parent’ please! We are really trying here!! 🤦‍♀️😫

Oh dear, someone needs to calm down. OP was asking a valid question. I too would be concerned about unvetted adverts popping on YouTube.

You know, there was a time when teachers managed without resorting to screens in bad weather.

OldBeyondMyYears · 19/12/2025 10:21

Good lord OP! It’s been chucking it down where I live all bloody week! We haven’t been able to go outside for PE, the hall has the stage set up for all our ‘year group’ productions (has been like this since the end of November!) and almost every day there are either rehearsals or actual performances (each year group does 2 performances and a ‘dress rehearsal’ at some point!)

Don’t be ‘that parent’ please! We are really trying here!! 🤦‍♀️😫

Luxio · 19/12/2025 10:11

It's completely normal especially at this time of year when it's wet outside and the hall is often in use for shows. Even the private schools around here use cosmic kids yoga on YouTube.

MumChp · 19/12/2025 10:08

It's fine. Don't be the parent complaining for nothing.

FionnulaTheCooler · 19/12/2025 10:03

Sounds like it was a cosmic kids yoga video they were doing, she does lots of videos on different themes with characters kids like. As an occasional thing I think it's fine.

Finchgold · 19/12/2025 10:02

I don’t like it but normal in my kids school too. I’d not mind if it was in the classroom as a movement break but I think it’s inappropriate for PE. They default to screens far more often than I’m comfortable with.