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Original poster

To think that the kids programme 'Tracy Beaker' is really not nice??

77 replies

Love2bake · 19/06/2008 13:23

My DS (7) likes this programme, but I find the character Tracy really rude. She is always shouting at the other kids AND adults and I find the attitude just horrible.

I had a talk with my DS and suggested to him that we didn't have it on any more because it's just not a nice programme. He agreed with me.

I actually can't beleive that the BBC show it.

What do other parents think of it??

OP posts:
southeastastra · 19/06/2008 23:03

i dont understand the hatred towards tracy b its a bbc show aimed at ten year olds

nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 23:04

i watched tb til i was about 16

pipsqueak · 19/06/2008 23:05

agree TB has ghastly attitude though and as my dd thinnk she is very cool and copies everything TB banned in our house too

southeastastra · 19/06/2008 23:10

mary whitehouse is alive and well

pofaced · 19/06/2008 23:11

Gawd! We LIKE Tracy Beaker books because it shows protected DDs that life isn't always as lovely as theirs. In particular, we've discussed glam-but-irresponsible mother versus McDonald's-loathing-square foster mother Cam and how appearances can be deceptive and that sometimes dull grown-ups do know what's best.

We've discussed the nature of unconditional love, why being cool isn't necessarily the best aspiration etc. My 3 very secure, sheltered DDs have learnt a lot about life from JW... but there was one about domestic violence that precocious DD bought in school book sale and really distressed her - but that was a result of poor parental supervision on my part as it was too much for a 9 year old (Lola Rose if anyone wants to avoid)

Please see my name for my general life view... and I don't even like FCUK!

squilly · 19/06/2008 23:20

I think the Mary Whitehouse thing does kick in a bit when you've got kids. I'm not prudish (far from it!) but I do think there are certain things I'd rather dd didn't watch.

So far we've been lucky. Everything has been age appropriate and we've liked it too. Whether that's because DD is being compliant now, at 7, but is storing up a whole truckload full of rebellion for when she's 11, I don't know. I kind of hope not, but figure if she is, there's no point worrying about it now.

snice · 19/06/2008 23:21

Banned here-DD(6) is always trying to sneak a look when she thinks I'm occupied elsewhere in the house. Little does she know that I have an in-built radar that allows me to shriek "What are you watching-is it suitable?" from any part of the house.

We love Raven here-especially the Scottish man with the weirdy hair-do. I do find myself shouting "come on -don't be so wet" at some of the contestants though.

southeastastra · 19/06/2008 23:25

i think that the more children are exposed to things on tv when young does open their eyes to wider problems in the world. the vietnam war was always on the daytime news before trumpton or whatever when i was little.

southeastastra · 19/06/2008 23:26

with kenneth kendall

Fennel · 20/06/2008 08:51

There are loads of TV programmes I don't let my dds watch, and just a few books I don't encourage them to read, but I'm still particularly keen on JW books. I've read a few of them (none of the teen ones about sex) and, as some of the other posters say, it is a good way to introduce discussion about "difficult" issues which children are actually exposed to, even in primary school. Bullying, loneliness, parental separation, death of a parent (my dds have experienced their aunt dying and their cousins having to deal with this. It's not nice, but books where children struggle with these issues are quite helpful).

DP is enjoying JW too, he's reading the dds Glubbslyme at the moment. About a toad and the historical treatment of witches and women in general. We are all finding it interesting.

As for learning "bog off", my sheltered little dd1 learned far worse language at 4 off her real life friend with a difficult family background and care experience. I thought it was a small price to pay for the benefits of the friendship with a lovely but wild child.

BouncingTurtle · 20/06/2008 09:03

My stepson used to watch it when he was 4 - when he came to stay with us he would asked to watch "The shouty girl", as he called her, we had to ask his mum what he meant! It didn't last long before he got bored of it, but I honestly don't think anything rubbed off on him!
He did say she was very naughty

OrmIrian · 20/06/2008 09:05

I like Tracey Beaker as a programme I must admit. It's funny and human. But I find some of the children sooo unbeleivably unpleasant to each other. Maybe children are like that when adults aren't around. I don't know but I do wish sometimes they'd get their commupance a bit more for being so horrible.

edam · 20/06/2008 09:07

As people have said, TB isn't really aimed at or suitable for young children. And I do think there is a analogy between parents in previous generations banning Just William or ITV and parents today banning TB for the 'right' age group - children's literature is supposed to be rebellious and about breaking rules, it's a safe way to explore those issues. Although the experience of watching TV is very different to reading, of course.

MUM23ASD · 20/06/2008 09:12

well...to add another angle to this....

my son's are autistic (2 also have ADHD) and though tracey beaker isn't autistic...my sons' behaviour is like Tracey's.

I actually USE tracey beaker books and programmes to SHOW them how they appear to others!!!!! (as part of autism is the inability to see anything from anothers point of view- or how their behaviour imapcts on others)

Also the bits wher she 'imagines' in a cartoony way- is EXACTLY how i have to TEACH my ds2 to think before he acts... I actually ask him to imagine a 'think bubble above his head' like tracey does...and imagine what will happen...imagine the consequence....and then decide what to do.

so...just wanted to show you that sometimes there is more than 1 way to view a tv show....and finally.... (just to add dimension!!!) ... IF Tracey beaker had ADHD ...would you all be as judgemental....cos as a parent of 2 with ADHD.... i can 100% say that how tracey behaves is VERY TYPICAL in the lives of many families i know who have children with Special Needs

Fennel · 20/06/2008 09:16

It was Grange Hill in my childhood which caused problems. My friend's father threw out the TV for a year after hearing swearing on Grange Hill.

UnquietDad · 20/06/2008 09:24

Surely the kids at the Hill were the only schoolchildren in the country who didn't swear?!

pofaced · 20/06/2008 10:38

I think Kids' TV presenters' shouty voices and nasty non-specific accents are more damaging to kids than a drama based on a Children's Home! Personally I hate those "pour a bucket of cold baked beans over someone's head" type programmes and think they set a poor example to kids as they are "real life" as opposed to the fiction-based Tracy Beaker...

My DDs are older then most people posting here (8-11) and don't really watch TV much so my views are based on TB book and "turn off that drivel" view of a lot of TV

Miyazaki · 20/06/2008 15:11

well-chosen talkname

2sugars · 20/06/2008 15:16

God, don't get my Mum on Tracey Beaker. We do watch it in our house, except when she's round. And no, I don't like it. Especially as it's on when it's getting dressed time, especially as H automatically puts the TV on for them in the morning and then gets showered/has breakfast, leaving me to it, and especially as they know the scripts verbatum.

Alambil · 20/06/2008 16:42

I love Tracy Beaker! as does DS - but he's 5 and doesn't understand it at all.

TBH my axe to grind is with the fecking Tweenies - that Bella one is SO rude and obnoxious; bossy, controlling, whingey - goes straight through me!

Divastrop · 20/06/2008 17:31

tracy beaker has been banned in our house since dd1(then aged 8)announced 'id rather live in a care home than live here'(i'd told her to go to her room for being rude to me),which mightily pissed off dh who told her what care homes are like in real life rather than the nicey-nicey poncey crap they show on that programme.

i dont understand eveyone saying that TB is rude and obnoxious though.her attitude and behaviour are pretty tame compared to what i see daily where i live

i hate most CBBC shows though.'the slammer'-wtf??a show set in a prison!,'hedz'-i find it funny myself but it goes way over ds1 and dd1's heads as they know nothing of sleb culture at age 9 and 10.

and dont get me started on basil brush.loud,annoying,and racist.

Mutt · 20/06/2008 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MUM23ASD · 21/06/2008 16:20

...and when are the teletubbies going to learn to speak and count properly????

squilly · 22/06/2008 14:16

What? The Teletubbies can't speak properly?? Next you'll be telling me that the Night Garden isn't a real place. And that Dipsy does nothing for feminism in the noughties, just cos she wears a frilly skirt and giggles a lot.

you people...tsk. Shame on you

pointydog · 22/06/2008 14:53

dipsy is the bloke with the large hat