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Original poster

Primary School writing to parents re. Love Island

58 replies

rockingthelook · 09/07/2019 18:52

Just seen on t.v that a head master of a school in Wales has written to parents advising that they do not let their children watch Love Island because of the impact at school. He said that 8 /9 year old kids are being too negatively affected, body issues, bad language, sexual behaviour etc and this affects the schooling?, AIBU saying who the hell lets their little kids stay up at night to watch this? Surely they should be in bed by 9pm?, why would you think it ok and appropriate?, I struggle to watch it sometimes with my late teenager, a bit toe curling at times (even though we don't miss an episode...sad, I know!) Fair play to the Headmaster, though you would think people would have more sense?

OP posts:
Original poster
rockingthelook · 09/07/2019 20:47

I must admit that I have got involved with it through watching with my daughter, however, what does happen is that we discuss some of the ways in which the 'contestants' behave, what they say, body image, bad language and the way that relationships evolve, boys treat girls and vice versa? To be honest if this is the way young people behave now, I'm glad I'm bloody old and attached, I really can't imagine how hard it would be to always look good and be judged so harshly, horrendous

OP posts:
Summersunshine2 · 09/07/2019 20:51

@TheRLodger you beat me to it Grin

SolsticeBabyMaybe · 09/07/2019 20:53

I actually don't think it's worse than half the rubbish on TV... But definitely not for kids, no!

Yabbers · 09/07/2019 21:01

He said that 8 /9 year old kids are being too negatively affected, body issues, bad language, sexual behaviour etc and this affects the schooling?

I don’t agree with kids watching it, but I’d wonder if this based on actual experience or whether he is making personal judgements. I suspect the latter in which case it is none of his business and not his place to send a letter out.

Chartreuser · 09/07/2019 21:16

I am going to get roasted by but DS10 watches it, on catch up the next morning.

He is the youngest DC, and we do forward through the worst bits. It has led to interesting conversations about consent, especially the Maura and Tom ding dong. We have discussed all the different things the girls (and boys) have done to change their appearance and how it fits in a certain 'look'. Also how different, and much nicer, the girls look without makeup.

Eldest DC has several friends who have recently'come out' so also discussions about how only straight relationships are being shown.

I live in an area with high teenage pregnancy, and know that whilst schools are trying to focus on these issues I would rather discuss with the DCs before it is covered at school. If this is the catalyst then so be it.

Fedupofthedaily · 09/07/2019 21:26

I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.

Talk about it is banned in our office. It’s vapid and disgusting. Hate it. Love the fact that our manager has banned it!

AuntieStella · 09/07/2019 21:35

I'm watching it because this year DD is watching it (for the first time).

It's totally unsuitable for primary age DC, and the longer you can fend it off through secondary the better. But you can have some very interesting conversations based on what's happening.

Rachelover40 · 10/07/2019 03:20

It makes my son watching 'Spitting Image' at a very young primary school age seem quite benign by comparison. The teacher spoke to me, "Does X really watch 'Spitting Image'?", after he said the Archbishop of Canterbury was always having a cup of tea with God.

edwinbear · 10/07/2019 04:04

I don’t watch it and hell would freeze over before my primary aged kids watched it. Mainly because that sort of shit rots brains of kids and adults alike. Frankly I’d prefer DS to play Fortnite than watch that mindless tripe.

edwinbear · 10/07/2019 04:06

we discuss some of the ways in which the 'contestants' behave, what they say, body image, bad language and the way that relationships evolve, boys treat girls and vice versa

You really don’t need Love Island to help you discuss these sorts of topics with your DC.

floraloctopus · 10/07/2019 05:10

YANBU. You'd be surprised what parents let their children watch, I've heard Yr1 children talking about watching 12s before now.

donutrehomer · 10/07/2019 05:21

I had my youngest in primary school when Inbetweeners and Waterloo Road were on. Most of her year 4/5 class were huge fans of Inbetweeners. Which I found staggering and disturbing in equal measure.

The amount of primary school kids that are allowed to watch past 9pm watershed material is truly staggering.

Ive no doubt that primary school kids have seen Peaky Blinders and Game of Thrones.

Crap parenting, I'm sorry but it's exactly that. Bloody crap and lazy parenting.

QueenBeee · 10/07/2019 05:48

and although it's easier just to let dc do, watch and say what they want, it's not a great way to parent and won't help them mature into decent adults
Having no boundaries in childhood could be contributing to the anxiety problems imv.
Not just bad parenting but society has changed so anything is ok.

Soontobe60 · 10/07/2019 05:59

On the other hand my daughter (8) has spent all day drawing and writing about GoT - which she has never seen so I would take what kids say with a pinch of salt
I've never watched it, and couldn't tell you a thing about it. So how come your DD can?

timeforakinderworld · 10/07/2019 06:13

Soontobe - I've never watched it either but she has a ninja warrior with a magic backpack filled with various weapons and chocolate who has a pet dragon . I think she has probably heard a little about it but is basically making it up as she goes along. Her story sounds more Dora the Explorer than G of Thrones!

Grandmi · 10/07/2019 06:19

That’s awful to think that there are actually parents out there who allow their young children to watch such utter crap !! How to definitely screw up your child’s perspective of what they will think is normal aspirations!! Thankfully my older children do not watch it ...they all think it is fake,pretentious rubbish !!! And no they are not boring nerds

Zoflorabore · 10/07/2019 06:28

I'm no snob but I couldn't think of anything worse to watch, I don't watch anything to be honest. Dp doesn't watch it and neither does 16yr old ds.

My dd is 8. She wouldn't have a clue what love Island was. She prefers to watch trashy kids programmes on YouTube and I would be shocked if her friends watched it ( but probably suspect one or two in her class who do )

It promotes such negativity to young people. Ds recently asked if he could have his ( lovely white ) teeth whitened! He said loads of people are doing it on Instagram.
These influencers and celebrities are encouraging this young generation to constantly strive to look better and appear "perfect" and I don't want mine to think that way.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I don't care. Kids these days have enough to deal with without the constant pressure all around them.

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/07/2019 06:33

My dd is yr6. Some of the children are watching it at her school. I’ve told her no way and she isn’t interested anyway.

stucknoue · 10/07/2019 06:39

It's inappropriate for younger kids however the headteacher is unlikely to get any parents to change. My 18 year old watches it and it's awful

Justathinslice · 10/07/2019 06:58

YABU to watch it
YABU to think most people have sense

continuallychargingmyphone · 10/07/2019 07:00

I don’t think it’s any of the headteachers business.

Beansandcoffee · 10/07/2019 07:13

My 17 year old was watching it one Saturday night. I walked into the lounge to join him and he turned it off as he couldn’t watch it with his mum. Result as I got the remote control back.

INcrediblySadToo · 10/07/2019 07:13

*promotes such negativity to young people. Ds recently asked if he could have his ( lovely white ) teeth whitened! He said loads of people are doing it on Instagram.
These influencers and celebrities are encouraging this young generation to constantly strive to look better and appear "perfect" and I don't want mine to think that way. *

WEll, yours already is. So stop judging others and get YOUR child off instagram.

OP. I find schools can be really patronising and over stepping of their boundaries, but I do find it worrying that enough of the the primary kids were discussing LIthat it’s been brought to the HT’s attention.

I get that a few parents on here watch it with their DC and it’s a good way to discuss certain issues (and yes of course you can discuss them without watching, butbit is easier to have a catalyst for discussions) but I bet the majority of kids are watching are watching lone, or W, th parents who don’t visit see any issue with the way the ‘contestants’ (or whatever they are) behave.
IVe never watched it, the adverts alone are bad enough.

I don’t know who watches this brain melting tripe ?

Mind you, I’m not not exactly reading classics & watching well made documentaries myself, houses renovation TV is pretty harmless chewing gum for the brain

BogglesGoggles · 10/07/2019 07:17

This is precisely why we don’t have TV. Only dramatic readings of Yeats and trips to the Opera for my little Hugo.

But in all seriousness not having a TV is really great when you have children. Has made life so much easier.

Zaphodsotherhead · 10/07/2019 07:53

But it isn't just TV! I've never watched Love Island, but when I pack the newspapers up at the end of the day, activities from the show are BIG PRINT HEADLINES in the newspapers. There's even a fucking Love Island scratchcard! Which is selling like hot cakes even though it's a bloody scratchcard, because it's got Love Island on it and people do that 'knee jerk' response to a name they recognise.

So kids are seeing the name in the papers and on the scratch card dispensers when they go in to the shop for their packet of crisps, and wonder what the fuss is about - so they watch it.