AIBU?
As a parent and a worker in a school,
vixma · 09/03/2007 20:37
As a parent and a worker in a school, how should I deal with children who whatch 18 films. It is wrong and the law says it is wrong and the schools have to be carefull with this as they cannot upsut parent, even though we have children effected with what they watch. What should be done?
Saturn74 · 09/03/2007 20:41
Is this a primary school?
How have the children at your school been affected by what they watch?
I'm not sure what you mean by "how should you deal with the children" - do you mean that you want to tell them that they shouldn't watch 18 rated films?
I think you need to be careful what you say, TBH.
katelyle · 09/03/2007 20:42
I've been worrying about this too. I was in Woolworths last year when my ds(then 5) met a friend who was spending his birthday money. His mother was buying him Grand Theft Auto for his playstation (I know it's not really suitable, but he plays it with his dad" she said. I've been worrying ever since that I should have done something....but what?
fireflyfairy2 · 09/03/2007 20:44
Katelyle, why should you have said something??? It was his mum who was buying him it
Maybe her idea of parenting is different than ours, but all the same, I wouldn't take too kindly to someone in the shop telling me something I was about to buy my child was unsuitable.
katelyle · 09/03/2007 20:53
Fireflyfairy2 (can I call you fff2?) I was just worried about a 5 year old playing an extremely violent 18 playstation game. I don't like the idea of standing by while somebody does something which is likely to damage a child and I feel very strongly that violent images and concepts do real harm to children's developing brains. I wish now I had mentioned it to his teacher (who is brilliant, btw) so that she could keep an eye on him. But what do I know? I must be the only person who sticks rigidly to the age recommendations on dvds and games!
joanna4 · 09/03/2007 21:06
If children comes to you in your professional capacity and tells you they have seen something that is inappropriate for them to see and that the age isnt appropriate then you must fill in a concern sheet and hand it to the senco in your setting as it is most definately a child protection issue.
Not sure what you might do in a parent capacity as i tend to keep my mum hat and my teaching assistant hat entirely seperate.
joanna4 · 09/03/2007 21:09
The details about games dvds etc being age appropriate and a child protection issue was passed to me as part of child protection training i was given last month so is up to date.In our school we never allow children to watch anything not age appropriate.My son who is secondary level was studying i think it was hamlet and he was 12 at time i had to sign a consent form to give his teacher permission to show him it as it wasnt age appropriate.
fireflyfairy2 · 09/03/2007 21:10
Oh I do agree with you katelyle, [& yes fff2 is fine ] But I was just wondering how she would have taken it if you had said something..
I also would never let my children watch anything unsuitable [they are 5 & 2 so not wanting to watch much tv at the minute!!]
What is grand theft auto anyway? Is it a dvd or a game?
vixma · 09/03/2007 21:12
It is uppsetting that some parents allow their children whatch 18 or 15 dvds or play games. However it does happen, even though it is wrong, the children who what this does not relise this, which is upsetting as their parents do not relise the effect these films have on them.
princesscc · 09/03/2007 21:21
don't think it's any of your business imo to tell someone parent to parent. If you are a teacher or lsa then maybe IF there is evidence of adverse effect on children. Agreed - Grand Theft Auto is graphic and the language is pretty bad, but many of the age restrictions are for parental guidance and since you are not that kids parent - what business is it of yours.
joanna4 · 09/03/2007 21:22
Like i say the training we had and the advice we have always been given was that if a child discloses something to you regarding anything within the realms of illegal or unsuitable we have to write it on a concern sheet and pass it to the senco.You have to stick to facts only not heresay or any information that is of your opinion. All school staff should know where the concern sheets are kept in case they are needed.It is not up to you to make a judgement or a desicion based on this it is what you are duty bound to do as part of your job.Once it goes to the senco they make the desicion as to whether it needs to be persued higher or what the next stage is.
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