AIBU to think school shouldn't show this film to 6 year olds!

[Figamol]

My 6 year old came home from school totally traumatised today after being shown a charity film of a detailed heart operation on a 2 year old African girl. She's been pale and crying since and even had to pick her up from the school reception as she was about to faint and had got one of her stress headaches.

How would you handle it? AIBU? Too late to do anything now! How to debrief her?!! Or ask the school to?!

Sorry, but I just don't agree with you all, a six year-old is squeamish about such things because she's been taught to be. Maybe you should all look to your attitudes to such things and how you pass them on to your kids,

That's completely inappropriate! I have a ds who cannot cope with the sight of blood/operations etc- he would probably pas out now & he's 11, he would definitely have fainted at 6 and I would be livid if the school had showed him similar.

That's ridiculous Ifailed ! I'm a nurse and have never been anything but calm and factual with ds- as has my dh.

However my ds has a predisposition to becoming very upset and fainting at the sight of blood or anything medical- this has been confirmed by the paediatrician he saw when younger as a very common problem I children.

in children.

The video sounds very graphic indeed for such young children - I agree that children need to learn at some point about the bad things that happen in the world, but six is too young for graphic representations like this IMO. All you can really do now is lots of cuddles and reassurance that it's not going to happen to her.

even had to pick her up from the school reception as she was about to faint and had got one of her stress headaches

Are there underlying issues with your DD, OP? Six sounds very young to be getting stress headaches. I don't think it was great that she was shown the video, but I'm also a bit that it sounds like getting stress headaches is a known thing for her.

YDNBU I'd be complaining. That's too graphic for any primary aged child.

Yes well theyre migraines, can be brought on by all sorts, including getting overly anxious. She's such a little pocket rocket you would never guess that this is a thing for her! After a whole battery of tests and scans its come down to that!

No point me overreacting, damage done now. I think the gore and the fact the girl was away from her family both really bothered her. I'll just try and talk casually to her when the moment arises.

I will try and figure out the teachers story though and just reflect to her I thought it was a bit much.

Glad I posted this thread though - the comment about being judged by our insides has had me laughing for a couple of hours :)

Can't comment on how to make her feel better but I'd definitely be picking up on this with the school - they should have been much more careful about this. I run a charity for AIDS orphans and present to primary schools all the time - without scaring the shit out of them about AIDS, dying, losing their parents etc etc. The school and possibly even the charity should take responsibility for how they deal with a younger audience. I'd never send a presentation to a school and expect them to make it age appropriate, that's my job.

I'm really surprised that this would be shown to an infant age child, not least because it seems very long. (20min op, plus background). 20 mins of 6yos being freaked out and either upset or squeally surely isn't the way any teacher would want to spend an afternoon. Are you sure they showed the whole thing? why did they show it?

Ratings wise a good number of 6 year olds can still only watch U rated films, never mind PG rated films. So this seems off the scale!!

watching creatures being cut up is usually GCSE level

the comment about being judged by our insides has had me laughing for a couple of hours smile

Are you saying you DON'T think we should love and embrace the appearance of our small intestine?!