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AIBU?

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Original poster

Newsround Irresponsible talking about war to kids

53 replies

Crouchendmumoftwo · 02/05/2017 07:55

Is it just me or does anyone else think it is totally irresponsible that Newsround was talking about an impending war with North Korea showing dramatic images that I feel would create worry in a child. My son said mum America and North Korea are going to have a war. Is it really necessary to show this to young children in the morning?

OP posts:
rjay123 · 02/05/2017 07:56

Just don't watch it?

Ifailed · 02/05/2017 07:56

It is a major news event, why wouldn't it be on a news show?

Sirzy · 02/05/2017 07:57

Don't let them watch it then?

Ds is 7 and very interested in what's going on in the world so newsround is perfect for him as the reports are aimed at young people so easier for him to understand

treaclesoda · 02/05/2017 07:57

It's Newsround. It's a programme about the news. If they're not going to talk about world events then there is no point in the programme existing.

harderandharder2breathe · 02/05/2017 07:59

YABU

If you don't want your child to hear about things in the news, don't let them watch Newsround. Cause it's, yknow, a news program.

Or maybe talk to your child about these things yourself?

Biggreygoose · 02/05/2017 08:16

Yabu

Giving my age away here - one of my earliest memories is watching the tanks roll over the dunes in front of the burning oil platforms during gulf 1. (I responded by making a stickle brick tank). That along with the IRA mortaring downing Street.

Rightly or wrongly I watched those on the 'grown up' news. It's a good reminder that the world isn't always a particularly nice place. I am sure news round would put a more child friendly spin on it than the 'proper' news. If you want to avoid that then you need to stop him watching any form of news.

wonkylegs · 02/05/2017 08:17

YABU - if you don't want them watching then news then don't let them watch a programme called 'news'round
If you don't want them over-reacting perhaps talk & discuss what they have seen. Learning to critically evaluate information is a key life skill which seems to get overlooked by many - talk to your kids about what they see and they will start to develop this and start to understand what they see rather than just accept it at face value or be scared by it.

LedaP · 02/05/2017 08:19

The clue is in the name 'news -round'.

If something bothers your child. Turn it off and don't let them watch it. Thats what most people do.

shrunkenhead · 02/05/2017 08:19

I wouldn't let dd 8 watch proper news but trust that Newsround reports things in a child - friendly way. Have to admit this morning's episode concerned dd enough to ask me if we were going to have a war...

Believeitornot · 02/05/2017 08:20

Well as long as the parents are on hand to explain this to them.

I remember being terrified when the gulf war was on the news and I was in primary school at the time. I would look out the window for planes overhead - this is because the reference point I had for the war was WWII and the London blitz etc.

So we should be careful how we explain war to children and do it in an age appropriate way. Children, even the clever ones, haven't emotionally matured yet to appreciate the subtleties and complexities of a nuclear war with North Korea. Can you imagine a child looking up the last time a nuclear bomb was dropped I.e. Hiroshima and there is the chance that they extrapolate that to a war with N Korea.....

I genuinely think that we tell children too much too soon and not in the right context.

Believeitornot · 02/05/2017 08:21

If something bothers your child. Turn it off and don't let them watch it. Thats what most people do

But how can you do that if they've already started watching it? My two dcs wouldn't let it drop if I suddenly leapt up and switched the tv off mid reporting of a specific story on news round.

News round is aimed at older kids but comes on CBBC which my 5&7 year old watches as some of the shows are aimed at them....

Sirzy · 02/05/2017 08:23

Then turn it off before it comes on believe

Believeitornot · 02/05/2017 08:24

Why Sirzy? Some of the reporting is fine.

AuntieStella · 02/05/2017 08:24

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/39762137

It doesn't look that dramatic to me, given that the target age range for the channel on which it is broadcast is 7-13.

If your DC is not ready for this, then you'll need to ensure they do not watch it for now. You might like to watch a number of other CBBC programmes too, as here are several with themes more suited to the upper end of the age range which you might similarly want to limit.

RedBugMug · 02/05/2017 08:26

yabu
I think it's important for dc to be informed about the world's events in an appropriate way rather than getting scared on the playground by other dc's talking about it with half truths and scaremongering.

MrFMercury · 02/05/2017 08:27

Newsround have information online about what to do if the news worries you. They present news in an age appropriate way. If you don't want your children to watch it then change the channel or turn over.

JigglyTuff · 02/05/2017 08:28

It's scheduled television on a channel which is aimed at older children. It's entirely appropriate. Think of it like a PG film. If it's going to scare your kids, don't let them watch it

Sirzy · 02/05/2017 08:29

Well if you don't want them watching everything on it the logic says don't let them watch it surely?

You can't pick and choose what news a news show reports!

NotCarylChurchill · 02/05/2017 08:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LedaP · 02/05/2017 08:33

But how can you do that if they've already started watching it? My two dcs wouldn't let it drop if I suddenly leapt up and switched the tv off mid reporting of a specific story on news round.

Its newsround. I am 35 and watched it when i was a kid. Everyone knows what it is. Its the news.....its not rocket science to figure out they will be discussing such a big issue.

Believeitornot · 02/05/2017 08:37

You can't pick and choose what news a news show reports!

Well obviously not but I'm allowed to complain if I don't like it!

Tv companies get things wrong.... they're not the experts at how to target things appropriately - a lot of the time it's glorified trial and error.

My children aren't allowed to listen to the news on radio m, nor will I let them read the paper because I know it's aimed at adults. But newsround is aimed at children. I take the point about a PG rating, but why take the risk with something like explaining nuclear war Hmm

megletthesecond · 02/05/2017 08:40

Yabu. Newsround tries to present it in the most watered down way possible.

HermioneJeanGranger · 02/05/2017 08:42

Because it's in the news!

You know it's in the news - if you don't want them hearing about it, don't let them watch a news programme.

NataliaOsipova · 02/05/2017 08:43

YABU. It's important for kids to grow up understanding the world around them and watching the news is a perfect way to start to,do this. Yes - it's not always nice, but the world isn't. I have actually met a few adults who claim not to watch the news/read the paper because "it's all depressing". I always (secretly) think that they'd have done well to have been exposed to it as children.

Original poster
Crouchendmumoftwo · 02/05/2017 08:49

Totally understand it's a news programme for kids and I usually let him watch it, I came down and saw great big missiles being shot into the air and very alarming images - I was alarmed!

I remember being petrified in the 80s about war and I just try and shield my son from really heavy news to be honest. I just think that some things could be softened a bit for kids as they can get very anxious. He has only just forgotten about Killer Clowns!

Interesting that the majority of you don't mind so maybe I am too sensitive about it.

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