to think that there should be more kids characters of colour - black, white, asian etc out there?

[semi]

Knowing that kids do in fact see colour - and always categorise things, should I not want characters like Lotta (from the amazing Charlie and Lola stable) to take a lead role? My little one is bi-racial - and I am surprised at how few role models there are out there for her (and yes, I know I am supposed to be her principal role model and shouldn't expect the TV to do my job - but visuals are everything with kids)...I'd be interested in what others think

Has often struck me how under represented Asians Brits from the sub-continent are in the UK compared to African / Carribean Brits.
Considering the census figures you just don't see that many Pakistani /Indian/ Bangladeshi characters.

YANBU, especially, as others have said, WRT books, and TV for older children.

still can't think of a lead character in a kids programme that is any minority be it disabled or non-white.

(though Humph is bi-racial, though of course I haven't met many purple children before)

awesome is quite right about over-representation of non-whites on Cbeebies ...
(not that i believe this to be a problem, and possibly, as TV is very london-centric, it might represent London quite well..)

in fact in general on telly, it's women over 50 who are worse represented per head of population...

but seriously - how do you categorise In The Night Garden? or Waybuloo? Or Driver Dans Story Train?

is Upsy Daisy mixed-race - or are these daft questions?

A genuine question as this is something I don't understand - why do the characters have to be defined by their colour? Can your children not have role models who are not the same colour? Surely by complaining that there aren't enough characters that are black/asian etc then you are making colour an issue?

erm..flying Same Smile?

Green balloon club?

Ballamory has both disabled and black characters ....

Mama Mirabelle is voiced over by Floella Benjamin...

and Pui does the very excellent Show Me Show Me.

Out of the four curent main presenters, (sid, andy, alex and Ceri) one is black, one has an obvious disability, and the other are generic looking blokes (though of course may belong less obviously to some minority group or other)

Well flying, of the big CBBC drama shows MI High and Sarah Jane Adventures both have three child co-stars (as opposed to a star and two sidekicks like eg Dani's House) of whom one is of South Asian origin, one black, and one white.

I seem to have a sparked something here. my little one is nearly 4 - and yes, i agree that cbeebies' presenters present a good mix - but invariably the presenters are the 'daft' adults doing crazy stuff to make kids laugh. my thoughts were more around actual role models. so i can see from the comments that many people think the 'live' representation is fair when looked at proportionally - it's the non live stuff that i am more concerned about...so maybe my comments should be directed to the publishing arena - and thereafter the media who purchase the follow on animated series....
don't get me wrong - the green balloon club, mama mirabelle etc is great (although to be fair - that's just a voice - not a visual!) it's the the likes of lotta, and as someone else said, icarly, hannah montanna....i just feel that it is important that children see themselves reflected back at them in a positive light, regularly enough to have meaning. lauren child's lotta is the sweetest thing. my little one often enquires about lotta and tells me that lotta hasd the same hair etc as her. perhaps this is ammunition to engage with lauren child directly? thanks for your comments everyone, i really appreciate that the debate has now been sparked and that it is not just me that has an opinion!

I totally agree on the race issue Semi (and agree about Lotta - we love her).

Why don't you write a book of your own with a mixed race or black main character? I'm serious! Get an idea, go on a writing forum, hook up with an illustrator...stranger things have happened!

I don't know about now but when I was younger two of my favourite programmes were "Sister sister" on Nickelodeon and "Smart Guy" on The Disney channel.

I also liked Moesha and when I got a little older "The fresh prince".

re disab;ed characters. Has someone mentioned the girl in Tracey Beaker, with cp I think.

I've always thought that was a good example of a disabled child just being part of the group of characters.

When it comes to books you'll find that a large number have animal based characters, as publishers feel that this overcomes the issue of race.

E.g. Bartholomew Bear (On Your Potty by Virginia Miller)
The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith
The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine

This used to make finding books for my ds when he was younger quite difficult as he refused to read books that were animal based.

With Lotta though, she is probably a better role model than Lola how is a bit annoying sometimes, not eating things, breaking Charlie's rocket and pretty much ruining his party. Lotta would never do that!

I think books are absolutely more difficult than TV. You should check out Tamarind books though - I've found they publish a wide range of good books with kids characters of all races: www.tamarindbooks.co.uk/tamarindbooks.asp?all=1

"Sometimes I feel the BBC goes a bit overboard in it's effort to reflect diversity and minorities so they are actually hugely over represented on TV, especially childrens TV"

I agree