AIBU to want Year 3 given discussion after watching Newsround?

[jesst81]

My 7-year-old daughter (Year 3) is really struggling with anxiety at the moment and I’m wondering if I’m being unreasonable here.
Her grandfather passed away about five weeks ago, which I’m sure is playing a part. We’ve been doing a lot of talking at home about feelings and grief, and generally she’s quite a sensitive child. She also loves learning about the world and is very curious.
Recently the school have been showing Newsround to the class during the day. I understand that it’s aimed at children and that the school say it’s appropriate from age 6+, but lately it has been covering things like the war in the Middle East and the UK’s involvement. My daughter seems to find this really worrying.
The issue for me isn’t necessarily that they watch it — it’s that there doesn’t seem to be much context or discussion afterwards. From what I understand, the children watch it and then move straight on with the day. My daughter comes home with lots of questions and worries that she doesn’t fully understand.
Her anxiety has escalated quite a lot. A few weeks ago she might have had the occasional wobble, but now she’s having what I’d describe as anxiety attacks several times a day. It’s really distressing to see.
I have spoken to the school and her teacher, but the general response has been that it’s age-appropriate and that they try to talk about it later in the week if they have time. I completely understand teachers are busy, but I’m struggling with the idea of children this young watching news about war without the space to process it or ask questions.
Am I being unreasonable to expect a bit more explanation or discussion around it for children this age?
Just interested to hear how other schools handle this or whether anyone has been in a similar situation.

Well it doesn't appear to be a popular opinion looking at this thread but I don't think it's healthy bringing children up in a bubble where the entire world is represented as an unrealistically wonderful place. What happens when that bubble bursts? I'm all with the PPs that encourage discussion.

Our school have stopped showing it to lower school (yrs 3&4) on certain days. I assume it’s because they deem some of the content unsuitable.
I’m lucky that my child is quite oblivious to the stories but I was surprised when they started yr 3 and said they watched it after lunch as I had no idea. I can see why it would be more troubling to some children.

A lot of posters (and therefore the population probably) are also putting a lot of store in Newsround being the authority, being able to put something in context because they're 'journalists' also that its 'age appropriate'

Well that is subjective, its just a BBC programme, nothing more, nothing less, judged by its director and producer to be 'age appropriate'. It doesnt mean it gets it right or wrong and that will be child dependent in any case

So like most things on the telly, it should be left to the parent to deem what is 'age appropriate' for their child.

What then is the point of showing it at all, if there isn't any discussion? (the assembly situation). It's not exactly designed for passive watching, like cartoons or music vids. It almost demands discussion and/or reflection.

Some children have older siblings who watch the news, they talk to their younger siblings who talk to their school friends, who talk to their younger siblings and the resulting Chinese whispers are all over the playground, you can't stop children hearing about what is going on in the world, all you can do is make sure they get a true, age appropriate version that you can discuss and alleviate their worries.

One thing you could do is some counter programming at home. There are multiple YouTube channels and online newsletters that are "good news only' channels. I follow one for my own anxiety. It might help her to see there's lots of good happening in the world as well.

That really isnt the same as having quite a serious toned presenter talking about children being bombed in hospitals.

Kids will natter about something, flitty, flighty, easy come, easy go. They're not holding a seminar with all the listeners sat there with baited breath.

Im not sure people are understanding a lot of the posts here, no one has suggested that kids shouldnt have any understanding of the world around them, its about how and when that is delivered.

There shouldn't be anything that 7 to 10 year olds or indeed any primary school children have to worry about, I don't understand why they are being shown this programme at school, if parents want to show it to them at home that's a different matter

I've just asked my y3 son. He says they watch it but don't discuss it after. (perhaps he just doesn't pay attention!) First I've heard of it. I wouldn't be happy really them showing a BBC news program knowing they are biased and don't tell the truth. I am now concerned about schools progandising our children with their left wing ideologys. I'm going to watch it myself now to see what exactly they are reporting. It seems my son doesn't give a hoot but my eldest was very anxious at that age. When the Russia / Ukraine war broke out she packed a bag of clothes and food. I've since been careful when listening to LBC in the car when the kids are in it. Op tell the school you don't want her to watch it if it's upsetting her, she's your child you know her best.

I think the school is totally out of touch, and doesn't seem to grasp how sensitive kids can be and how much they absord from everything around them.

In my opinion, parents who let their kids use the internet, watch whatever on TV, listen to any music, or have phones and apps with wide-open internet access are being completely irresponsible.

I once helped out a friend who was going through a really rough divorce. Her narcissistic ex-husband ended up retaliating against her with lawsuits specifically aimed at her. It was a super stressful period. I'd spend a few hours each day with her very young daughter, and both my friend and I decided to block all internet access for the child, along with any content not meant for young children, including TV and movies. She grew up without exposure to outside media because it just wasn't good for her young mind and delicate nature at that age.

About a year later, I was picking her up from her very posh school, and all the parents were waiting for their children. One parent mentioned how exceptionally well-behaved and pleasant the child was. When I simply said it was down to her mother's parenting, everyone was eager to hear more. I explained that the child never had access to content inappropriate for her age, that might give her bad ideas, or unrestricted internet access, and so on.
Now she's 13 and attends one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Her behaviour is still excellent. And surprisingly, I discovered that the school itself doesn't give the children internet access. They have their own controlled online environment, which is essentially focused on schoolwork. And all the children there are amazing and well-behaved.

Looking back over the years, when I see kids who become 'problematic,' it's usually the same story: they either come from a challenging home environment or they've been allowed access to music, movies, and the internet from a young age that's meant for adults over 18. It's important to remember that once something is broken, it's hard to fix.

Another example:

A friend was managing a UHNWI household with three kids. The 8-year-old girl was acting really out of line – twerking like a ghetto thug, dropping F-bombs, and even using the N-word at school. It was pretty bad to witness. It was obvious she was watching music videos with explicit content. My friend was at her breaking point; the child was constantly rude and disobedient. I suggested she take away all her devices and internet access, and really stick to her guns about making the child follow directions, do her chores, and behave. At first, it led to a ton of crying, yelling, and fights. My friend held her ground, but the parents, who were generally nice but made poor decisions, would always give in and let the child have her devices back as soon as they got home. Eventually, though, my friend's persistence paid off, and the parents started limiting the child's access, which did start to lead to better behavior.

So, parents who let their kids have access to adult-oriented phones, internet, and TV are going to face the fallout from that. Some people might not agree with me, and that's totally fine. People are allowed to have their own views, but I'm really firm on this point.

There are children living and dying in these unstable countries. Meanwhile in the UK children are too fragile to even watch age appropriately filtered versions.

I wish more children were being brought up politically aware and watching/listening to the news. We are not doing them any favours trying to hide what is going on. Or calling everything anxiety.

Actually I think it is a pretty balanced thread and OP has decoded tp watch it with her DD which is almost certainly the best outcome.

It seems odd that Newsround should be so controversial. In the John Craven days back in the 70s/80s you just watched it in the afternoon before Blue Peter or Crackerjack or whatever, and then more than likely watched the 6 o'clock adult news just before dinner, and if you had any questions, you asked your parents at the dinner table and got whatever answer they deemed appropriate!

Have you bothered to read the thread at all in your eagerness to berate UK children.

The news is the news, you doughnut! How are they supposed to make it link to the curriculum!

Of course children should be learning in an age appropriate way about the world they live in! Just be grateful your daughter is only learning about it, not living it as some people's kids are!

There were features of mine too. I just left the room though.

I am sure all that is true, but nobody is suggesting news round is equivilent to unrestricted internet acsess.

@jesst81 recently retired teacher here. I wouldn't show newsround to Year 3 for the very reason you've highlighted. It's an excellent resource for older pupils Yrs 5 and 6, because it does cover difficult topics.
So, my advice is to ask for your child to be withdrawn if it does have war related content, or better still not show it to Yr 3 if this content is going to be on.

You sound bright, calling someone a doughnut! I don’t think I’ll listen to your opinion now.

If you think children's knowledge of the world should come from the playground, that's your opinion. Some of the exaggerated, gory stories my DC brought home that little Jimmy told them, that I then had to debunk would make your hair curl!

Could you give a link to that programme?

Have you ever even watched Newsround? It's mostly space exploration, democracy and recycling, and the tone of delivery is far from serious. Very, very little really 'serious' content is covered.

Meanwhile, my dd learned all about Ian Huntley (in a prison, an environment in which her dad will be working) getting his head bashed in with a spiked metal pole as we passed by the Tesco news stand the other day. 🙄

Yet again, another poster making something up that someone didnt say

Where did I say or even imply that childrens knowledge of the world should come from the playground?

Why lie?

Totally agree.

This is it, the news is everywhere. The only way is not to teach them to read.....

Avoiding difficult subjects doesn't reduce anxiety, it increases it, as does painting your child as anxious and "unable to cope", "needing protection". Talk it through and be reassuring. Tell her she's strong enough to cope with this.