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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

As a parent and a worker in a school,

40 replies

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?

OP posts:

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.

fizzbuzz · 09/03/2007 20:41

How old are the kids? If they are very young it sounds quite serious, a child protection thing IMO.

Speak to your school's child protection officer

Aloha · 09/03/2007 20:42

Which 18 films? They aren't all the same.

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?

compo · 09/03/2007 20:42

How do you know they've watched them?

fireflyfairy2 · 09/03/2007 20:43

Do you mean they watch them at home & come into school & tell you, so that's why you cannot upset the parents?

I don't understand.

Aloha · 09/03/2007 20:43

If they are watching recent horror films with chainsaws etc at five and are upset, talk to the head about it.

compo · 09/03/2007 20:44

I would asume that when you say 'as a parent and a worker' that you are not a teacher. In that case I would ask the Head's suggestion as to what should be done.

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!

Original poster

vixma · 09/03/2007 20:55

I wanted to open up a debate rather than offend anyone. How do you feel this subject should be dealt with in schools.

OP posts:

Original poster

vixma · 09/03/2007 20:58

and as a parent, if other children pass on information to your child that is not appropriate.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 09/03/2007 20:58

I think that if a mother has bought an age 18 gave for a 5 year old, she should be repeatedly told by people that she is wrong! THis game is very graphic and is simply not suitable for a five year old.

kimi · 09/03/2007 21:05

MIL let DS1 and DS2 age 10 and 6 watch horror films when they went to visit in the summer. guess who she wont be seeing this year.

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.

Aloha · 09/03/2007 21:09

What sort of films are we talking about and at what age? My stepdaughter saw the first Alien film at about ten and it wasn't a problem. She is a very well balanced teenager.

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?

fireflyfairy2 · 09/03/2007 21:10

Oh, have just re-read, playstation

joanna4 · 09/03/2007 21:11

Aloha we are talking of any film that is rated at an age higher than that of the child.

Original poster

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.

OP posts:

Original poster

vixma · 09/03/2007 21:14

joanna4 this is intresting, how do you enforce this...could be very helpful.

OP posts:

Aloha · 09/03/2007 21:17

Any film? So if a 14 year old told you they'd seen Billy Elliot you'd be off snitching to child protection then?

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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