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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School letting 8 year old watch newsround

421 replies

rhonyvsrhobh · 24/02/2022 20:06

I think that it is important for children to know what is happening in the world - to an extent.

My 8 year old, primary 4 daughter came home today very upset and worried as she had seen on Newsround which is shown at her school that Russia have invaded Ukraine. She has asked me several times if we were going to get 'hit'. I have tried to reassure her that it won't happen (what else can I say) and not to worry. She then asked me to swear on her life that we won't be affected by it. I said I couldn't swear on her life but not to worry, it won't happen.

She is very anxious and I just don't think something so serious should have been shown to 8 year old children. I feel so sorry for them, they've had covid and now this!

AIBU to contact the school about this or am I being precious?

OP posts:
JustDanceAddict · 25/02/2022 14:02

Surely age 8 is Newsround’s target audience. You won’t be able to shield her from what’s happening in Ukraine at school whether they watch news round or not.

wincarwoo · 25/02/2022 14:14

@JustDanceAddict

Surely age 8 is Newsround’s target audience. You won’t be able to shield her from what’s happening in Ukraine at school whether they watch news round or not.
I'm not saying I want to particularly but it is frightening for some children.
cakewench · 25/02/2022 14:35

I realise you're probably done with the thread now, OP, but just thought I'd add: many children in that year group are aware of the news and are worried about it. They're being exposed to it, whether or not their parents have planned that (someone has the radio on in the car, grandparents, childminders, whatever). I work in yr 3 and yesterday there was a LOT of chat amongst themselves about it.

I imagine Newsround would have been a more clear source as well, as many of them only knew about half of what was going on ('We' are on this side, USA is on Russia's side Confused ) We didn't show it at our school but I think it isn't a bad idea.

metersmart · 25/02/2022 14:39

If she didn't hear it from newsround she would of heard it from the other kids in class. My daughter came home asking if there was going to be world war 3 because that's what the kids in her class was saying.

JoBrodie · 25/02/2022 18:07

This Twitter thread, from my friend Dr Petra Boynton, may be helpful -

"A 🧵for parents, carers and other relatives who want to support children and young people that are anxious about #Ukraine" twitter.com/DrPetra/status/1497264226989232138

Jo

Mrschristmasqueen · 25/02/2022 19:29

HRTFT, and aware it is old news now, however I think it's personal to each child. My son is just turned 8, in year 3, and they watch Newsround at school too. Doesn't bother him or us, he comes home and discusses it with us and we tell him the truth, to an extent. However, a family member has a 7 year old in the same school year and she is very sensitive to things like this and it really upsets her. So no, wouldn't bother me but it may bother some. I dont think we should shield our children from what is going on but at this age it should be a watered down version.

Cherryberrybonbon · 25/02/2022 19:31

Kids need to know a version of what is going on in the world and newsround is for kids. My son has been watching newsround since around year 2? He comes and tells me all sorts of things he’s seen on there it’s good for them. What’s happening in ukraine is terrible but i do think the children need to know about it, we don’t know what repercussions are going to happen in the world from this

linsey2581 · 25/02/2022 19:32

Your being precious. I was 4 when my parents allowed me to watch the challenger shuttle launch. I may have been 4 years old but I can still remember the shuttle blowing up. Yes I know it’s not the same thing as war but it was people being killed live on the tv.

Vynalbob · 25/02/2022 19:46

YABU if its true..... though it is odd. Most sites are blocked in school but BBC cbeebies & Educational games are allowed and its easy to get to newsround that way.... could it be this.... It could also be 'Little Johnny' came in shouting about being bombed and the teacher used newsround as a tool to calm hysteria. If you're worried just have a word... 'we're you watching newsround?...'. I expect there's a logical explanation.

Diva66 · 25/02/2022 19:46

Newsround is fine for an 8 year old. However, where on earth did she learn that horrible phrase “Swear on -someone’s- life”? I hope you have told her that is not acceptable.

MaudieandMe · 25/02/2022 19:46

I agree with you OP.

8yrs is too young to be discussing issues around global politics and war. There's plenty of time for her to learn about the world around us from about 11yrs onwards.

Notsureonusername · 25/02/2022 19:48

Newsround is for children and delivered in a way that is understandable for children. Could you/Or why have you not shown your child a map of the world and showed her where Ukraine is. (Ie a long way from where you live).

Yourcatisnotsorry · 25/02/2022 19:52

Going against the grain but I don’t think school should be telling small children about this or showing newsaround in school. It isn’t on the curriculum and some 8 year olds would be (rightly) traumatized. Best left to parents who know their child best how and when to raise such topics.

angela99999 · 25/02/2022 19:54

YABU

musicviking1 · 25/02/2022 19:54

My children used to watch Newsround every morning at their school then the class discussed whatever they had watched, I thought it was a great idea.

TheBigPeach · 25/02/2022 19:57

They watch the news in my kids school too (different country). my dd can be quite anxious and was earwigging a discussion amongst h and I and got very worked up over it. I’d prefer she was watching the child friendly news in school so that they can learn about it in an age appropriate way. We didn’t have that when I was growing up and I remember the same sense of panic and fear at her age.

DanceItOut · 25/02/2022 20:04

Newsround is aimed at children. It’s perfectly normal for your daughter to be upset and anxious, adults are upset and anxious. All you can do is reassure her and be honest to an extent. Tell her it’s ok to be scared but since there is nothing that she can do the best thing she can do is try to carry on as normal unless there becomes a reason to do otherwise.

tinkletinklelittlestar · 25/02/2022 20:07

Yes a bit precious. We aren't made of rock though, are we? Definitely worth you and your daughter watching Newsround together to help you both. Let's face it, the world can be really shite and it's a balance of protecting our little darlings and making them aware of what goes on in it.

mamabear715 · 25/02/2022 20:14

Sorry all, I agree with OP.
Why, exactly, do children NEED to know about things like this? It's not their concern, they should be playing, not watching this kind of stuff, & I for one would be fuming if school showed something that I'd purposely kept my kids from seeing on the news, breakfast tv or anything else. Because it's not just on the news now, is it? Anything that happens is wall to damn wall, all day every day.
My kids are older, but they all remember catching glimpses of things like 9/11, for example.
It really shakes kids up.. they remember for YEARS. It can be really traumatic for them.
Mine weren't wrapped in cotton wool by any means, but I do think they should be allowed a childhood.

LaughingCat · 25/02/2022 20:17

The whole situation is just awful - it’s terrifying enough for adults, never mind a kid that should feel safe and secure.

But Newsround is designed for 6-12 year olds. It’s the best source of age-appropriate information, which given the proliferation of massively inappropriate material on the internet about it…probably was the best way your child’s school could protect and inform your kid.

It still breaks your heart though, when the world itself scares them so much at an age when they still think you should be able to protect them. I don’t envy you at all and I really hope she works though all the anxiety soon.

OchreDandelion · 25/02/2022 20:19

it is frightening for some children.

Absolutely. Very frightening. Especially so for the Ukrainian child in my class who is worried about their grandparents and who has also somehow picked up at home that the UK will be targetted next.... And who told that to the child whose dad is in the UK army who then panicked about their dad's safety...

Why are they watching television at all...

Well, my class barely ever do. During wet play, they love to colour, play Uno, etc. But sometimes it seems the right thing to do. We looked at where the Ukraine was on the globe, we watched Newsround, we allayed fears and addressed misconceptions (a lot) and then we prayed for the children involved.

I am a human, in front of 30 little humans, trying to do my best by them in fairly unprecedented times. I have had a complaint - to the Head teacher - about what I did from a mum I suspect is like the OP.

I won't lie, the complaint hurt. I would like that mum or the OP to have walked the last two days in my shoes and told me how they would have handled it.

OchreDandelion · 25/02/2022 20:23

@Yourcatisnotsorry

Going against the grain but I don’t think school should be telling small children about this or showing newsaround in school. It isn’t on the curriculum and some 8 year olds would be (rightly) traumatized. Best left to parents who know their child best how and when to raise such topics.
What would you say to my scenario above? I would rather not talk about it but the children were already talking about it and some are directly involved? How could I leave it?

(genuine question, I honestly don't know what parents think I should do.
I cannot make it go away).

saraclara · 25/02/2022 20:23

@mamabear715

Sorry all, I agree with OP. Why, exactly, do children NEED to know about things like this? It's not their concern, they should be playing, not watching this kind of stuff, & I for one would be fuming if school showed something that I'd purposely kept my kids from seeing on the news, breakfast tv or anything else. Because it's not just on the news now, is it? Anything that happens is wall to damn wall, all day every day. My kids are older, but they all remember catching glimpses of things like 9/11, for example. It really shakes kids up.. they remember for YEARS. It can be really traumatic for them. Mine weren't wrapped in cotton wool by any means, but I do think they should be allowed a childhood.
How are you going to prevent them knowing about this? Even if you don't have a TV or a newspaper, or let them access the internet, other children will talk about this on the playground. If they're going to hear anything at all from any source, then they need a trusted adult to explain and reassure. Newsround is a trusted source at child level, and it told children to talk to their parents or a trusted adult if they are worried. That's best practice. It's absolutely impossible to keep this sort of news from children, so it's important to be open and available to them when they do hear about it.
Jeannie88 · 25/02/2022 20:26

Sorry but yes precious. Real world, shown and discussed within nurture of school. Kids do need to know what is going on and of course it will upset them, like it did us, that's how empathy is developed.

Slipperfairy · 25/02/2022 20:29

This feels like covid all again. All the 'traumatised' kids. No, stop projecting on to your kids. Kids in Ukraine don't have much fucking choice about being involved. Kids should know what's going on in their world, not just their own little happy bubble.

And if you sit and explain things to them, maybe they won't be 'shaken up', but grow into aware and compassionate adults.

I have one child getting their news from the Internet and other pre teen friends. We talk about sources and historical contexts.

I have another child who hears the news bulletins. She's younger, so I explain, factually, what is happening.