To think this 'comedian' on Radio 4 shouldn't have said this at 11.30am?

[Imchangingmyname]

In the car earlier with DD 3.5 and baby DS. Radio 4 is on, with a comedy-type show presented by Sue Perkins (who I love by the way), when some silly bint announces that all 5-year-old's should be told that Santa doesn't exist?!? All said very seriously, given it was supposed to be a 'comedy' show. DD didn't say anything but is the type of child who stores things up and mentions it later. Didn't want to say anything at the time as didn't want to draw attention to it.
AIBU to think she shouldn't have said it??

I bloody will. When the inevitable fury erupts, I will simply release the Press Release 'it was shit'.

Is Quote, Unquote still on? That can go too.

Many years ago I used to look after small kids and once when ferrying some of them to/from school/party a know-it-all 6-year-old kid announced in the car that there was no Santa. 3 year-old girl took it very hard and argued the case, but knowing friend dismissed all her points about Santa, his flying reindeer etc.

The following week I took the 3 year-old and her sister to see Santa Claus The Movie. The moment the sleigh took off, the little one stood up, put her hands on her hips and announced in a triumphant voice to the whole cinema "See? I TOLD you they could fly!!"

She didn't quite understand why quite of the few adults had difficulty in controlling their giggles, but her faith in Santa was instantly restored.

If they really want to believe, it'll take more than a passing comment on a grown-up's radio programme to kill it.

BitOutOfPractice, I don't think 3 year olds have a belief system and I don't expect them to tailor things to 3 year olds. But I do think saying that Santa doesn't exist at a time when small children might be able to hear it is a bit thoughtless.

I'm quite shocked at the people on here saying 'You should just listen to kids CDs'. Do people honestly do this? Listen to nothing but kids programmes in their kids presence?

Should everything now just be made for kids? All tv shows, all radio programmes Filtered incase kids maybe listening?
It's not a show designed for kids but for adults.
Adults occasionally need things for them too.
I'd have simply said what others have suggested, that 'she won't be getting any presents this year'.
No people don't listen to kids cds all the time in their children's presence, but they don't then complain if their child hears something they shouldn't have.

Oooh, was it a new Dilemma?

That's part and parcel of the whole thing isn't it? Regularly having to reassure them that yes of course he's real - until the day you tell them know he isn't and never was, and your child gives you a precious 'you deceitful bitch' look for the first time

There's all sorts of adult content on both radio and television throughout the day- I don't watch daytime telly, but I know that shows like This Morning sometimes feature sexual content, and I wouldn't dream of letting kids watch something like Jeremy Kyle, or hear the radio equivalent. Some stuff is just not kid-friendly because it's dull for them, but much of it is actively unsuitable. Put a CD on if you're in the car.

I would also have thought, based on no evidence at all, that the intersection "weeks of Santa work" and "listen to Radio 4" is pretty small.

Ah, we mean Middle Class Women's Hour??

Top of the form for coming back and recognising your preciousness OP. Slight loss of marks for repetiton....

Do people honestly do this? Listen to nothing but kids programmes in their kids presence?

Yes, if they want everything to be child appropriate.

I think radio 1 is far worse because during the day it plays tween appropriate chart music but some of the chat on the after lunch till 4 show is just nasty. However, it's pretty easy to listen to podcasts/services like spotify/your own music instead.

booyaka you can't have it both ways. You say you don't expect them to tailor stuff to 3YOs. Yet you expect them never to say anything that might upset a 3YO. Which is it?

Still no response from 665 about what is do threatening in a Sunday morning on R4

Rob Titchener

hth

Good point well made!

Cactus, I didn't ask if I was being unreasonable, did I? I am quite happy lying to my dcs for a limited amount of time about something that brings so much pleasure and which I survived scar-free as a child myself. Others may choose a different path. By Santa-work, which seems to have been picked up on by several, I mean the time spent purchasing appropriate gifts from him. Including sourcing cheap prices for the ones that appear on the bloody list at the start of December when I've started shopping in September (thanks to bargain threads on here). The time spent working out which presents Santa might conceivably have bought, rather than mum and dad, and of course which ones come from all the other relatives who give me a cheque to spend saying "you'll know what they like". Keeping lists of where I've hidden all the stuff in tiny flat. Making sure older child never sees anything I've bought even for younger one, in case it ends up being from Santa. Jumping to the door when Amazon delivers something in a clear wrapper. Dividing it all up on Christmas Eve and wrapping the Santa stuff in paper that dcs have never seen in the house and never will again. Preparing one of those PNP videos for them to get on Christmas Eve.
That's my Santa-work - have a look on Christmas threads for people who go in for the full Elf on the Shelf stuff if you want to see someone who really puts a lot of work into this!

I do agree with other posters though, that the answer was to quickly respond to what the presenter said. But most adults manage to take children into account when it comes to this one particular topic.

But most adults manage to take children into account when it comes to this one particular topic.

No, they really don't. A tiny subset of obsessed parents of small children think they should, but back in the real world, no-one cares.

Elf on a Shelf? FFS.

Moving, the show you can't remember the name of is Short Cuts, and yes, Josie Long is wonderful, her voice in the links on that show are like a lovely warm hug.

I think Quote, Unquote might have gone UncertainSmile.

I want to purge Midweek and Libby Purves's contrived links between her guests which everyone has to go along with to pretend they aren't on to flog a book or a play.

Ricardian that has not been remotely my experience. Either in my years as a parent or just an adult in the company of small children.
Though I agree with you about elf on a shelf.

The vast majority of people DON'T have believers with them. And they don't want to listen to stuff that's been vetted to make sure it's 3YO-friendly.

Surely the op should've just said "oh what a silly woman! Everyone knows FC is real" and then changed the subject.

R4 is one of the few remaining bastions of intelligent content. There's plenty of anodyne stuff out there that's toddler friendly. Get your mitts off R4!

Can't decide whether I am going to howl with laughter at "weeks of Santa work" or be seriously furious at "silly bint". Maybe I'll do both, one after the other.

To sidetrack slightly- am I imagining it or are Santa people more bonkers serious and sensitive on the subject than Father Christmas people?

I don't know Bertrand but I suspect there's the makings of a university study with shit loads of graphs in that

Children of that age are pretty resolute in their belief in FC. I don't think that the comment will have made any difference (assuming she even paid attention. To it).