to think that Disney Movies, Justin Bieber and Jessie J music are inappropriate for Reception class?

[cabbageandbeans]

Yes, I know this might be better under education , I just couldn't decide. My daughter has watched quite a lot of TV over this year and I have always felt uncomfortable about it as there were some things which I wouldn't let her watch at home even though they are classified as children's TV. Then there was mention of Justin Bieber and Jessie J, which I assumed came from other children until I heard that a teacher had show them a video of Justin Bieber (not sure what this comprised of, but I think the teacher may have been to see him....so perhaps it was a live show). Then today they were singing both singers songs 'money' Jessie J and 'Baby' JB. I haven't said anything to the teachers and now it is nearly JULY! Am I too late? AM I being unreasonable? - is this normal? I don't let my children listen to pop music because I think they are too young and there is plenty of children's music for them to listen to for their age.

Please don't judge me. I think the teachers are doing a great job, this is just a personal choice of mine (not to let them listen to pop) and I am not sure if I even have the right to let the teaching staff know that I am not happy about it.

Our school regularly played Katie Perry's "Firework" at celebration assembly last year ;-) and the DC's assemblies included them singing "Making your mind up" (Bucks Fizz) and "Surfin' USA" (beach boys)!

I don't think there is much you can do about it tbh.

Pictish - thank you for being reasonable. I know I sound a bit like a TV/disney nazi but she has watched rapunzel, Cinderella, snow white and toy story (although that was at a frinds house and she won't be watching it again anytime soon as it is a PG). And I let her go on the bloody cinema trip in her first term of school, even though I completely disapproved, because I wanted her to be part of the (very exciting) experience with her peers. So I think that she is fitting in just fine with her peers. I have let it slide for almost an entire school year but everytime she comes out with something about it I feel annoyed about it. I probably will have to let it go but it makes me feel a bit sad really.

And germy - I am inclined to agree. It is Friday night after all!

PatriciaHolm - our Y1s sang that in their singing last term, and in their showing assemblies too.

I think you might need to brace yourself for the years ahead. Pg rate disney films are going to be the least of your worries.

Most probably by the end of year 2 someone will have taught her all the swear words, their meanings and about 'doing it'. The lovely and moving toy story will be a distant memory.

Justin Beiber WAS for kiddies. he has said his new song is for older audience and thatt now he is 18 he wants to expand beyond the Disney channel. This is where it gets tricky...

I remember a friend's kid (8?) reading Hthe first Harry potter. Not sure i;d have taken them to the last film though.

I really think you have to be careful and judge each song/film etc and not assume that just because the first bubblegum hit is bought be loads of preteen sthat everything from that artist is appropriate.

Personally I think so many music videos are based on sex. No problems with DD,4 knowing about sex - but I am not ready for her to see how ladies dress and move to show the sexiness of a song. But I would be really happy for her to watch Kylie shows as they are really about dance, sets, songs rather than for example Cheryl Cole call my name where she humps the wall and pole dances.

Underexposed her DD?

Her daughter is in reception for crying out loud?? You think she should move on from nursery rhyms and clapping games to the top40 already?

Not up to date???????

Everything that terrifies me about bringing a girl up in our society.

Its just music although i dont think I would want a 5 yr old singing DO it like a dude im not sure why you are worried about the disney films though

Firework and neach boys is not what OP is talking about.

Rubyfake - I think you are turning OP into a prude and that really is not fair.

there is a big difference between swaering and being aware of sex and watching stuff that portrays adult behaviour - sex, violence etc.

Pinochio scared the crap out of me as a child.

Again you are labelling all Disney as the same - they are not. And I would love to see mumsnet feminists tlaking about the Princess disney stuff.

Hmmmmmm, I am more with mumble in my heart (I also love Grease!) I remember clearly that the ONLY film I EVER saw at school was parent trap - the one about the twins changing places but it was the old version with a blond girl and it was the best ever treat because we never ever watched anything else except maybe a bit of 'wordy'. Now I sound really old!

But Ruby, I thank you mostly for answering my question and maybe I should just calmed down and accept this god awful music being introduced to my DD's ears. If anyone thinks I am precious - yes I am a bit. But I am not trying to deny her experiences - she has done lots and lots in her short life. And I have taken her to Baby Loves Disco - where of course she heard LOTS of pop music but I deem it appropriate - it IS a disco after all and we'd all look a bit silly with just the classical to dance to!

On the other hand, I think the school should not just stick to pop but introduce world music and classical - there is so much more than Justin B and Jessie J!

To be fair it is boys AND girls at my school who listen to, like and sing pop songs.

I agree - I wouldn't want them watching MTV and music videos at this age. I am not keen on it for 10 year old DD tbh. She watches Friday Download instead - seems safe enough if somewhat inane.

DD is 10 and has read some of the HP books, heard 5 and a half of the fabulous Stephen Fry audio books (part way through story 6 and have 7 waiting) and seen all of the films, including the last couple at the cinema. But we know our DD and at 9y felt she was old enough and that her personaility and nature would make it appropriate. She is HP obsessed though.

I think you should ask your teacher about the TV. I;d be interested to know the context.

I teach and use TV - I would be interested.

OP have you ever heard of 'fun'?

Only they started introducing it to classrooms around 1995 if I remember rightly.

cabbageandbeans - where I work we have classical music too, plus other forms of music - not just pop. But classical is a bit hard to have a sing along too :) And the children really do like the pop best I am afraid.

And you've heard about Bambi? It has a bit of a rep for the scars it left on many. I however, enjoyed it as a child. Interestingly I was the 3rd child and I think I was exposed to stuff too quickly (went to HMV for a signing when I was about 8 or 9) and maybe I am just trying to stop that while I do have some control. I know that I will have to accept her having more freedom and yes I expect she has already learnt some swear words. It breaks my heart. I am with Mumble all the way. And I am not a prude! I let them see the shakira video for AFrica when I was practising Zumba. It is not sexual but lots of fun to dance to.

DH is desperate to watch Starwars with DD aged 4........

Its not going to happen as me and him watched it and I asked him what he thought. He said he hadn;t thought about it from her point of veiw and I think that goes on a lot with music too.

Its a personal bug bear. Its like when people use classical music in kids stuff when they don;t realise the original lyrics were about shagging your borther or getting sexual deseases from monks....

I also, for my two pence worth, think music videos are much more powerful in portraying sex and violece than just the music.

I can get away with using 'Jump Around' by House of pain to demonstrate the style etc in a lesson (music, secondary) but i would never give out the lyrics or show the video. I heard junp around at a kids disco and was like my god there a kids singing along to 'Smacking the ho'.....

Anywaym sorry for ranting.

I also think OP is entitled to protect and expose her own child to whatever she wants. Does not mean she is not rpeapring her kid for life.

I think you need to try and understand that it's not actually going to do your dd any harm to hear this type of music. I get that you don't like it, and that's your choice, but it's not like it's going to corrupt her. She's still going to be the sweet innocent and lovely four year old she was before she heard any of this.

Reception children at my school have heard pop music (but nothing with dodgy lyrics) Disney music, theme tunes from tv programmes, but they have also heard classical, Chinese and Indian music over the last year.

It's all about balance.

Also, classical music has WAY more sex, violence and swearing than any MTV video I have ever seen.

YANBU. Disney is an evil company pedalling evil products.

Gonna introduce my daughter to Salt n Peppa - they knew how to talk about sex in a song.

You honestly think that young girls listening and watching music videos doen;t affect them? You think that exposing them to adult behaviour, dressing and sexulisation doesn;t affect them?

I'm not turning her into a prude, well not in intentionally. I am trying to make the point that one of the difficult things about babies growing up is you are no longer their biggest influence. They will learn lots of things you wouldn't consider ideal out of the home, though friends, the school, behaviour the see out and about.

At 4 some little shit told my DD1 Father Christmas wasn't real, and despite me trying to fob her off she no longer believed. I'm a christmas nut, I was devastated but I soon learnt its out of my control.

I wish my 4 yr old DD would listen to Bieber, the only thing she will entertain is Harry Bela-bloody-fonte... explain that at the school gates!

hee heeee :)

DD used to be into Metallica... she now prefers Beatls and David Bowie - that Daddy likes. I think we are still out recpetion aged child's biggest influence. I think this will change next year but I donl;t think that menas my influence (keeping an eye on what she is exposed to) should be any less.

She will be 5

I thinkn this thread would be very fdifferent if OPs little one was 8

My opera collection contains far more unsuitable words than Justin Bieber has ever heard of. Good job it's in Italian.

Still reeling at the thought from further up-thread that children might become mini-adults by watching Disney films. Is that how adults spend their time then?

We managed the not-too-much-TB balance by not having a TV at home when dc were little: that way they could watch happily at school without any concerns that they were getting too much overall TV time. Clued-up stingy parenting.

Nice cory, nice.

My stuff is all in german....

TV is brilliant :) We like documentaries. the music is less atmospheric (except this new one with Chris Packem...)