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Original poster

The Inbetweeners - for 11 year olds?

34 replies

StopRainingPlease · 22/07/2011 08:48

DD (11) recently brought home her year-book for primary leavers. Each child in the top year completed a survey of most embarrassing moment at primary, favourite TV programme, favourite foods etc.

A large number nominated The Inbetweeners as their favourite programme! I was under the impression it was crude and vulgar and aimed at late teens, but never having watched it I turned it on for a bit last night to see if I was right. Within 60 seconds we had discussions of wanking, fucking and shitting Shock.

I'm not feeling superior exactly as my DD's favourite was MI High, which is dross - but at least it's age-appropriate dross!

Favourite song amongst the kids appeared to be Rhianna's S&M Confused. Charming...

Oh, and while I'm ranting, at a recent school assembly (I haven't been for a while) my DD seemed to be about the only girl in her year still in knee-length skirt, polo shirt and school sweatshirt (their uniform) - the others had moved over to the high-school look of mid-thigh skirt (OK not quite the bum-skirt of the local high school, but on the way to it), fat ties and tight jumpers. I know they're all growing up, but am I really the only parent of this school year who thinks this "uniform" is inappropriate?

So I am right, or am I just a out-of-touch prude? Am particularly Shock at the Inbetweeners - what kind of parent lets their children watch this stuff?

OP posts:
bellavita · 22/07/2011 09:55

I would not let my 11yr old DS (nearly 12) watch it.

However DS1 got the boxset last christmas (he was 13.6) and now 14 - I have no problem with him watching it.

pictish · 22/07/2011 09:56

Ruby Ruby Ruby - if your 11 year olds get the Inbetweeners, then I'm afraid I can't help but find that rather Shock.

It is not appropriate humour for children, and 11 year olds are children.

My kids do not need to know about being up to their nuts in guts at 11. Plenty of time for all of that yet.

PotterWatch · 22/07/2011 09:57

One of my favourite programmes but definitely not suitable for an 11 year old. My sister watches it (she was 13 at the time) but her mum lets her do whatever she likes anyway so I am not surprised.

No way my kids will be watching it for many many years, and certainly not with me in the room.

I am also a prude and am not ashamed. Smile

pictish · 22/07/2011 09:57

And no it's not 'complex' but it is ADULT.

Catslikehats · 22/07/2011 10:15

It's not complex if you are an adult but an eleven year old shouldn't IMO understand references to and jokes about paedophilia, prostitution, mutual masturbation, drug use, "clunge" etc.

And I Like the show Smile

Scholes34 · 22/07/2011 10:15

I think even late teens would have a problem with "getting" what this programme is all about. The humour is all about cringing at the crass ways in which we behaved at sixth form age. Certainly makes my DH cringe, and I'm not sure some teenagers really understand this aspect of the humour, as they're currently behaving in this cringe-worthy way, so we're just laughing at them. I love the programme, but by kids don't get to watch it. Friday Night Dinner was good to watch with my 14 year old.

CardyMow · 22/07/2011 10:16

Don't worry about buying your DD a 'bum-skirt' (love that phrase btw) to help her fit in. My DD had problems fitting in all the way through primary, has tons of friends now at secondary. And she wouldn't wear a 'belt-for-a-skirt' (as she puts it). In fact, even in the summer, she goes to school in trousers! There is always so much more of an eclectic mix of people at secondary that your DD will find friends that are like her, and not so fixated on how short your skirt is! And that even follows if your dd is not in the 'academic' top set, as my DD is in the bottom set due to her SEN. Admittedly she is fairly 'old' for her year group, and most of her friends are 'young' for her year group, but none of them dress like mini-hookers yet. Unlike a lot of the other girls.

pictish · 22/07/2011 10:19

yesd - I LOVE the Inbetweeners! It's absolute genius!
I am a liberal parent with a fairly lax attitude tbh.....no prudishness or poker up our ass in THIS household.

But it's NOT for an 11 year old. No way, no how. Nope. Uh uh. NO!

squeakytoy · 22/07/2011 10:20

Thinking back to when I was that age, it was exactly the same for parents and for us kids.

We thought that buying singles Relax or Like a Virgin was the ultimate in being cool... and anything with a bit of swearing on the tv was of course our favourite programme....... it didnt matter if we understood it or not.

Not a lot has really changed, and we can probably now understand how our own parents felt back then.

It is all about fitting in.

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