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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ban Tracy Beaker

58 replies

Snoopytwist · 04/10/2013 17:09

My 7 yr old DD has been watching Tracy Beaker/Dumping Ground episodes for a little while, but has become a bit hooked on them and is constantly asking to watch them all on You tube. I have noticed in the last few weeks though, her attitude is getting awful - really stroppy, shouting and answering back.

Now DD is not a perfect little angel, so it might be that she is just going through a phase, but I am also thinking that she could be picking up a few tips from Tracy Beaker. Should I ban it even though she loves it and if so, what else could she watch that is more appropriate but still grippy?!

OP posts:
Perspective21 · 04/10/2013 19:10

Sorry, I forgot, YABU....use it as a discussion tool Grin

farewellfarewell · 04/10/2013 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notnowbernard · 04/10/2013 19:12

Oh yes, Zammo and his stash of smack behind the fridge...

My personal gripe with the Beaker is how my dds think life in a children's home is Happy Days Hmm

But agree it raises issues that are good to introduce to younger kids

duckyfuzz · 04/10/2013 19:13

oh good grief are you serious? ban TB? she is royalty in this house, with no gobbiness resulting!

derektheladyhamster · 04/10/2013 19:14

Max was quite often a bit naughty, and he did this narrowing of his eyes when he was being defiant. DS1 used to do the defiant and narrowing of eyes after watching it. And yes, he was about 2/3

thebody · 04/10/2013 19:14

defiantly, it's Eastenders for kids!! why would you watch either? depressing.

Runoutofideas · 04/10/2013 19:18

My 8 yr old is banned from watching Tracy beaker, I Carly and Victorious. All result in a marked increase in cheeky back chatting and a horrible sarky tone of voice.

She loves all Jacqueline Wilson books though, which I have not banned - the stories of survival in a less than perfect world are acceptable to me, when not accompanied by the awful tone of voice!

mrsjay · 04/10/2013 20:10

I remember watching the TV film when tracys mum came into the picture it was a BBc fostering season thing I sobbed I like tracy as i said before my dds were never naughty because of watching it.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 04/10/2013 20:15

I started an exact same thread on MN some years ago.

People said not to ban it. I sat down and watched it with dd and underneath the bolshyness there are some really good, positive messages. I talked with dd about why sometimes Tracy or some of the others might be a bit aggro, and wouldn't it be better if she didnt have to be, etc.

I think my dd was a little o,der than yours though, maybe just 9yo? She's 13yo now and has turned out ok so far, no major rudeness from her.

mrsjay · 04/10/2013 20:20

I used to watch Tracy beaker with them too and we would talk about what was going on I actually really liked it Blush and really felt for the children and yes they were naughty but what child isn't naughty and backchats sometimes,

TunipTheUnconquerable · 04/10/2013 20:27

I like TB and so does my dd.
But if it's making YOUR dd's behaviour deteriorate then yes, don't let her watch it.
My dd went obnoxious after watching a lovely 1970s adaptation of The Secret Garden. I don't think certain books/tv shows are inherently unacceptable but if it's pushing a button for a particular child at a particular stage of development then, yes, remove access to it.

Opalite · 04/10/2013 23:12

Yanbu to ban it for your child.

Honestly though, it's just realistic, I don't think the characters are over the top with their strops and language etc. their lives are pretty shit and they have a lot of issues, it's tame compared to some of the things that go on in childrens homes in real life.
again, yanbu to ban it for your child if it's having a bad effect.

trashcanjunkie · 04/10/2013 23:14

both tracey beaker and horrid henry aren't allowed on my telly. I can recommend wolfblood, young dracula and the sparticle mysteries.

Rosencrantz · 05/10/2013 01:37

Equally aghast that parents ban books!

Have you not read Fahrenheit 451?! Shock

MrsCakesPremonition · 05/10/2013 02:10

TB seems to give out pretty clear messages to me.
Even the worst behaved children have redeeming qualities - the Wellards stick up for each other in what sounds like a horrific family situation, the Dumping Ground children and staff are fiercely loyal to each other, everyone always makes the right decision in the end.

The odd, temporary character who is downright bad always gets their comeuppance.

Nobody swears, things that are stolen are always returned, cruel words are always apologised for.

Personally - I think Sadie J is a much worse role model. She is a b*tch to her friends and always put herself first.

AgentZigzag · 05/10/2013 02:16

Ahhh, I was wondering what it was that turned DD1 into a mouthy youth Grin

She loves iCarly, Victorious and that freak Fred.

I won't let her watch things that I think would disturb her, rather than shit that lets her test out boundaries, the way the DC talk in the playground is far worse than anything you'd see on the very tame rubbish we have on the box.

I've just bought her fahrenheit 451 as well Shock

I'm not doing a very good job of it am I?

(DD2 loves Max and Ruby (that narrowing eyes thing isn't endearing it's sly))

Shallistopnow · 05/10/2013 02:19

I let my 7 year old watch TSOTB but not The Return Of. And definitely not Dumping Ground. Its not good. TSOTB is funny but the rest of it is miserable little twats and TB sticking her tits out to make up for lack of height.

nappyaddict · 05/10/2013 02:40

What age would you all recommend Horrible Histories, Young Dracula and The Sparticle Mystery from (or if you wouldn't at all?) Also what is That Freak Fred, never heard of that one.

AgentZigzag · 05/10/2013 02:45

Oh, he's just so fucking funny on account of his nappy Hmm

The whole program (not that I've watched a whole one) is like that.

Wish I'd never heard of him.

(although I'm pleased for the actor that he's found something that sells)

AgentZigzag · 05/10/2013 02:47

And the character's called Fred Figglehorn, I was just calling him a freak Grin

Neighbourhoodwatchbitch · 05/10/2013 02:50

Yabu... I love it... My little boy is 22 months.. But I watch them all and have all the DVDs... It's a guilty pleasure!

Neighbourhoodwatchbitch · 05/10/2013 02:51

Only Tracy beaker mind... Never heard if horrid Henry!

MrsCakesPremonition · 05/10/2013 03:02

Horrid Henry is on CITV. He's a pretty normal little boy with a revoltingly smug younger brother. As far as I can see the only reason he gets called Horrid Henry is because his parents keep saying "Don't be horrid, Henry". He's quite a nice lad really - although the sibling rivalry is intense.

GretaGroovy · 05/10/2013 07:33

The messages in TB might be all right. However, what's being copied in our house is the constant, constant sarcastic tone, and the tendency to approach everything as if it is a conflict about to happen, therefore he has to defend himself from the off with some teenage-sounding sarky soundbite.

If your children don't copy that, then consider yourselves lucky! It's really noticeable and it's exhausting. I know he was copying it at school as well, with predictably bad results. (Head called me about it!)

Real live people don't really communicate in teen drama school fashion, not round here, anyway. It just sounds stupid and irritating, and doubly so from a seven year old.

Original poster
Snoopytwist · 05/10/2013 12:01

Really interesting arguments from those saying don't ban it and I see your points. In fact, the reason I let DD watch it in the first place was because I liked the fact it was a bit more "grippy". DD is fairly sheltered and I kind of thought the issues would be good for her to consider. And yes, I did like the way that at the end of a crisis, generally the moral aspects shone through.

However, I cannot sit down with her to watch it and discuss it every time - jobs, cooking etc get in the way. So even though she may be getting the moral side of the story independently, she is still picking up on the tone and the way TB immediately flies off the handle, and is playing it out at home. And yes, of course she will hear that and worse in real life, but why bring more of it in? To be honest, I'm just tired of the attitude. It might be a 7 year old phase and nothing to do with TB, but I have to try it. (And no, I haven't banned the books - There are some Jacqueline Wilson Books that she isn't allowed as they seem more appropriate for older kids, but she is allowed the TB books because we read them together and they don't seem to bring out the same aggressiveness).

It is so difficult though because in spite of everything, I kind of like Tracy's spirit as a character - DD recently watched High School Musical and I almost threw up, it was so sickly sweet!!

OP posts: