WIBU to switch off Topsy and Tim

[GoofyIsACow]

Beacuse they used the word 'playdate'... Twice!?

In fact 'a double playdate'

FFS!

Good grief. What a lot of fuss! So what if the Mum is weirdly happy - funnily enough most children don't want to watch a programme about a stressed out semi-alcoholic mother who shouts at her children all day.

So what - the dad washes the car and the mum makes cakes. I can imagine that happens in many, many families, my husband wouldn't have a clue where to start with a cake tin. I know plenty of little boys who like pink, and girls who play with dinosaurs who yet still manage to enjoy Topsy and Tim. It's NICE. What is wrong with NICE. We need more of it in the world. My gender stereotypes came from observing my parents, not the harmless twaddle I watched on tv as a child.

I don't think there's anything nice about it. I think it is creepy. Like the button eye parallel universe in coraline.

I have had to post as, for about the dozenth time since this programme started, DD has whimpered with the puppy eyes about wanting a brother or sister. I'm seriously thinking of stopping her watching it as I don't need this guilt trip every night about a pair of weird opposite sex siblings who, in real life, would not be this chummy, all the time, at their age.

Getting so fed up of 'when we move house' storyline too, in fact tonight I realised we were back to the first episode when Stepford mum whined to her husband about needing a bigger house - last week it was on the market and they were preparing for viewers - WTF?

Agree with Offred how creepy it is. Hate the way it masquerades as fly on wall real-time filming when they have all been carefully selected as actors. DD was perfectly happy with Grandpa in My Pocket and frankly, so was I.

Feel for me people! DD has been ill for 3 days and we actually RECORDED this rubbish. It's been on non-stop! Argghh! It is however my justification for spending so much time on mumsnet over the past 2 days! Cuddled up with DD on the sofa
When are we going to move house Mummy? Why aren't we moving house Mummy? etc, etc

I watched three episodes back to back with my girl and boy last night. They loved it. Yes, the adult actors are naff. I don't see what all the fuss is about except that I do agree that it was weird that Tim wasn't allowed to decorate the cakes.

This post is ridiculous! 90% of the parents are more hung up on how "they" loved the books as children but the program has ruined it for them. This programme is not intended for parents! Which is why so many of you are saying "I hate it but my DS loves it, of course!" This programme will be for your children what the books were for you. I'm not particularly fond of the programme but I love how much my son enjoys it because after all it is for him not me! As for using the term "play date" are you serious? And apart from the ONE episode it is hardly sexist!

A

It was more than one episode, but don't you think one episode promoting stereotypes even the bbc itself seems to accept are damagingly sexist is one episode too much considering this is aimed at preschoolers. I didn't enjoy the books btw personally.

And if they have censored the racism in order to comply with their guidelines on protecting vulnerable children then why have they left the sexism in? Do women's rights matter less to them? That's the impression I'm getting and quite frankly I can't help thinking this has a political element to it given the Tories' fetish for patriarchy.

Children enjoying the show is neither here nor there. My little ones liked it but I felt that was even worse because the effect of the promotion of sexism will be magnified if the show is attractive to children. That is one reason why they have the guidelines after all.

Mine love it, and we are in the process of building a marble run that will go down the stairs all due to this programme! Blue Peter eat your heart out...

My lot love the (boring plotless) books and TV series and I think it's ok with occasional annoying moments.

What's annoying me at the moment is they showed what about 10 episodes, and then repeated them, and then stopped showing it! ARGH. My 7 year old is desperate to see the one where they move house, which I (stupidly) told her would be bound to be coming up.

Re the sexism, the cupcake thing was a bit silly, but otherwise, it reflects real 5 year olds pretty well - most girls really do like butterflies, most boys really do prefer dinosaurs. I'm not saying they all should or do, but I think a programme where they constantly gender swap just for the sake of it would be wearing. "Tim chose the pink cup. Topsy played with her trucks. Tim wore mummy's dress and Topsy dressed up as Spiderman." Personally I think that would smack of trying too hard, AND be unrealistic.

In my wide experience of pre-school/school age kids, most girls love pink, most boys love cars. Sorry if you don't like it but that's the way it is, just like you probably enjoy a manicure or facial more than your DH would, and you probably have less interest in football/motorbikes than he does.

Anyway, I just want to know when they are showing more episodes, as according to wikipedia they made 66!!!! Why did they only show 10 or so?

Are you saying that boys and girls are hardwired differently then? Because, if not, then the pink and butterflies crap is all about socialisation and therefore we could and should begin to redress it using children's shows. Accepting that we don't like something but that is "just the way it is" seems to be avoiding responsibility.

I'm not a fan but my DD(3) likes it. I assumed that when Tim wasn't allowed to decorate a cake it was because he was meant to be playing with his friend in the garden rather than going off in a strop to play with his sister.

In the very first episode of season 1 New Clothes Topsy asked her mum when we moved into our new house can i have Butterfly wall paper like my new butterfly jeans and her mum said yes Topsy of course you can, now the new house in season 2 episode 1 Topsy has pirate wallpaper in her room, this was a hard question to answer when my daughter who is a big fan of the show asks me why she has pirate wall paper when she asked for Butterflies, it seems the BBC show has not done their homework, but like i said my daughter loves it, only thing that irritates her is that they have to say Topsy and Tim after everything they say, i do also find this annoying, and they need to start school soon because they are far to old for Nursery.

It was quite good the other day when Topsy could ride a bike and Tim couldn't and fell off!

Warcraft, The pirate wallpaper was already in the new house. They haven't redecorated yet.

are you aure about that housewife, looks to me like the parents decorated their rooms for them, but i will give it time and watch the new episodes to see if they re decorate their bedrooms and the butterfly wallpaper appears