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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be disapointed my son watched Frozen in reception class yesterday?

208 replies

Jude76 · 09/10/2014 11:52

I hate to moan but we don't do Disney in our house. Not yet anyway. But yesterday my reception aged child came home singing Frozen after apparently watching it in class as a treat. I just don't feel comfortable with it. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
FiddleDeeDees · 09/10/2014 20:36

Agree with OP that some people (the Disney fans) are being rather judgemental about this…perhaps there's an element of defensiveness creeping in…?

We 'don't do Disney' either (no major philosophical reason - DH and I just dislike the raging commercialism of it, the gender stereotyping, the endless tat) and I honestly don't think my DCs have suffered in the slightest. I'd rather my DD in particular had the confidence to do her own thing instead of being yet another sheep with a pink sparkly Frozen backpack.

If my DS (5) had been watching any movie, and especially a Disney one, at school I wouldn't have been in there protesting, but I wouldn't have been particularly impressed.

YANBU.

ellieding · 09/10/2014 20:42

I hate Frozen and yes, it is bs that they put a near 2 hour film on for four year olds in school - they constantly do this. I lost count of the number of times my daughter came home saying they'd watched telly. It's so lazy! The music, contrary to popular belief is atrocious, it is full of whingy all-american girl crap about feelings and a nasty, cynical plotline involving a wolf in sheep's clothing. I personally find the liberal agenda pretty scary too. If that's Disney's version of feminism they can keep it.

ellieding · 09/10/2014 20:43

Also, I'm usually a big Disney fan but I found Frozen so utterly jarring and misguided compared to their others.

SarniaCherie · 09/10/2014 20:53

DS' school put DVDs on in the hall at lunch/break time if its raining. I've lost count of how many bits of films he's seen but never the whole thing. I was a bit miffed that my 3 year old DD was watching Frozen at nursery though. That big snowman is pretty scary and I was saving it for Christmas when we could all watch it together.

Timetoask · 09/10/2014 21:00

Sounds like laziness from the teachers! I would be fuming

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 09/10/2014 21:25

Lol my dds and all her mates adore frozen. They are 15.

You got a hell of a long road ahead.

Disney is huge amongst teens.

Grin
theonlygothinthevillage · 09/10/2014 21:29

I personally find the liberal agenda pretty scary too - just out of curiosity/interest, what do you mean by this, ellieding?

When I was a nipper - not at primary school, but in quite early days of secondary school - our teacher let us watch 'Threads' as a treat on the last afternoon before half term. In case you don't know, it's a film about a nuclear bomb being dropped on Sheffield. What a joyous atmosphere there was when we all skipped off for half term :D

oaksettle · 09/10/2014 21:33

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oaksettle · 09/10/2014 21:36

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klmnop · 09/10/2014 21:38

But your original post sounded judgemental, snobby and precious OP. This level of response was only to be expected, and you still haven't told us why you don,t do Disney.....

Fabulous46 · 09/10/2014 21:39

Oh jeez OP you'd really hate our school then! We hold Polar Express afternoons at Christmas where this kids bring a cuddly toy and wear jammies all snuggled up on beanbags with blankets to watch the film, We give them hot choc and marshmallows as well as sending them home with an "I believe" reindeer bell. Not one of the parents have ever complained and not one has not signed the consent form.

Sirzy · 09/10/2014 21:46

But painting/building/dressing up are not relaxing activities for a group of 4 year olds, far from it. So both have different purposes. A bit of relax time especially for children who are so new to school isn't a bad thing

oaksettle · 09/10/2014 21:47

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pookamoo · 09/10/2014 21:47

jude I have only really read your posts through the thread, but I am totally with you on this. DD1 is just into year 1 and last year I complained 3 times that they were showing movies in class time, for "downtime" and rainy days.

Your DS sounds very like my DD, who just can't cope with intense movie stuff at home. however she does seem to be ok at school, although when they watched Ice Age (I think it was) she asked the teacher if she could go and read in the library because it was too scary.

I haven't broached it with the new teacher yet. I have been labelled "that mother" because of it, and I know the reason for that is because most parents don't mind, and it never occurred to the teachers that anyone would not be happy about it. "We only show U rated films" they said... but yes on the extreme end, that includes the early Star Wars films...

There is a brilliant website called commonsense media which I directed the school towards, and suggested they might like to have a bit of a think about which films they were going to show. I also suggested they might like to send parents a list of films they are thinking of showing (no list has yet appeared but I will be reminding them that they agreed at the time it would be a good idea!)

I didn't realise starting school was going to compromise my screen time ideals. I thought limiting screen time was an agenda most people signed up to? It's pretty well known that it doesn't do children any favours.
Yes, that.

Good luck, OP.

oaksettle · 09/10/2014 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

klmnop · 09/10/2014 21:58

"We don't do Disney" IMO sounds snobby

maddening · 09/10/2014 22:03

Yabu - it'll be nice for her to be able to join in with her peers - as someone whose TV was restricted it wasn't nice not to have a clue what everyone was talking about. She will be able to sing along with her friends, know who elsa is, join in the role play games they play. I remember playing Star Wars and Indiana jones in a local wood and Sherlock Holmes and my ds loves to play frozen and we sing the songs (and it is a break from spiderman tbh :))

A now it is nice to reminisce about TV shows we enjoyed as kids

Sirzy · 09/10/2014 22:04

what is relaxing in the home envioment is very different to what is relaxing in an enviroment with 29 other children though. They are far from relaxing in your average reception class

maddening · 09/10/2014 22:14

Ellie - Why on earth does a children's film have to have any agenda - it is entertainment - I enjoyed it, don't feel oppressed or undermined as a woman. It doesn't come across as about feminist ideals (nor does it have to) - surely it is a story of two sisters torn apart by a secret, losing their parents, and their subsequent adventure where they overcome in the face of adversity and those who want to take over the kingdom whilst rediscovering their love for each other - just a nice story with a bit of magic thrown in, adventure, music and some nice animation and a happy ending.

TheEnchantedForest · 09/10/2014 23:27

if your child attends a good school, films will be shown throughout.
Do a search on 'Visual literacy'

ColdTeaAgain · 09/10/2014 23:39

A film every now again, seriously, what's the harm? Remember, some children come from very deprived homes and would not experience certain things anywhere else but in school. Yes including Disney films!

If it happens too often than yes I would complain as that would just be lazy on the teacher's part.

Personally I don't think our children should be in school so young anyway but that's another topic. Up until Year 2 I really couldn't care what they do all day as long as they enjoy themselves doing a variety activities. We start formal education too soon. If they put a film on for a rainy afternoon and the class enjoys it then I don't see a problem with that. Most Disney films are very musical so singing and dancing along is all benefical activity for a 4 year old isn't it?

"We don't do Disney" Confused Probably best not to say that out loud OP Grin

Dancergirl · 10/10/2014 00:01

Oh FFS, lazy teaching?? Has anyone actually tried being a reception teacher??

OP, you sound very over bearing in your attitude regarding what reception children should be doing. Curious and keen to learn? Yes some of them, others not so much just yet. They are very little children who have made a huge change starting school. The reception year is very much about getting used to school life, school rules, making friends and learning social skills. This is WAY more important than formal learning. Doing a whole day at school with so much to take in is exhausting for some children. I'm sure the teacher is perfectly capable in deciding when some downtime is needed.

Seriously if this upsets you so much you're in for a tough road ahead.

ColdTeaAgain · 10/10/2014 00:49

Dancergirl not sure if that is aimed at my comment or not but just to be clear, I don't think the occasional film is lazy at all. But if used too often then yes that would be lazy and unimaginative.

Totally agree with your comments. Current government would happily see our children turned into box ticking robots. They want to improve basic skills but starting them younger is not the answer. Thankfully the vast majority of teachers know better. Let's not scare them off school before they have really started. Let them think school is a fun place where sometimes they get to watch a Disney film with all their friends Smile

zippey · 10/10/2014 09:11

Its PG for Mild Threat:

From the BBFC Website:

^Characters become involved in adventures which place them in danger, for example being chased by a pack of wolves and being threatened by a giant snow ogre which flings soldiers around. However, the mild threat is balanced by comic moments and a focus on bravery and resourcefulness.

The film also features an evil character being punched and some mild rude humour, such as the dialogue, 'What if he picks his nose? And eats it?'^

HavanaSlife · 10/10/2014 09:24

If you had said because its a pg then ywnbu but because you dont agree with disney is a bit daft