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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that television programmes are misleading our children into believing in things that aren't real?

31 replies

wannaBe · 26/07/2008 22:28

talking trains (Thomas and friends), talking building equipment (bob the builder), equipment which can work unsupervised in fact, talking cars (rory the racing car) and so the list goes on.

Television is such a heavy influence on our children, how are they ever supposed to deal with the disappointment when they find out that these vehicles can't really talk?

OP posts:

MingMingtheWonderPet · 26/07/2008 22:30

When we went to Australia DD thought she was going to see the Koala brothers flying a plane, oh the disappointment

MrsSylar · 26/07/2008 22:31

I know!
I bought my 5 yo old a Harry Potter dressing up kit for his birthday and he was DEVASTATED to find out that the cloak didn't make him invisible.

How misleading is that?

Original poster

wannaBe · 26/07/2008 22:33

can we sue?

OP posts:

cornsilk · 26/07/2008 22:46

Smiling mums neatly dressed at breakfast time, clean and tidy houses, it's disgraceful really.

MingMingtheWonderPet · 26/07/2008 22:51

Nicely spoken children who never have a screaming tantrum.
It's just not right!

Bowddee · 26/07/2008 22:55

Does this mean that Santa isn't real?

MingMingtheWonderPet · 26/07/2008 22:57

What about the Tooth Fairy???

Tigerschick · 26/07/2008 22:58

LOL

Rachmumoftwo · 26/07/2008 23:01

What do you mean they can't talk?

Califrau · 26/07/2008 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Remotew · 26/07/2008 23:02

So funny, we can roll our eyes, but the kids believe it. Lets face it at there age they cannot drink alcohol or engage in tabacco, drug taking so they have to still have something.

madamez · 26/07/2008 23:03

Shocking. ANd then you have adults in positions of authority telling them about al these invisible super-powered creatures that they are supposed to talk to and beg for mercy from...

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/07/2008 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

edam · 26/07/2008 23:05

Took ds to a theme park with a 'Thomasland' section the other day - he was thrilled that when Thomas arrived, he really did have rolling eyes. He knows that engines really don't talk so to see Thomas with rolling eyes made a little bit of magic come back.

Bowddee · 26/07/2008 23:18

edam - we were at ThomasLand the other day too. DS LOVED it. So much that having been with his best friend, we had to go back yesterday with his cousin.

Portofino · 26/07/2008 23:20

Surely this is just part of childhood? My dd met Spengebob Squarepants last year in the US and was soooo excited. She is still scared of father chistmas mind you. When I was a kid it was the Magic faraway tree and the wishing chair. I can't remember being too shocked that fairies, elves etc didn't really exist.....

edam · 26/07/2008 23:23

Blimey Bowddee, if we are talking about the same place - Drayton Manor - that must have set you back a few quid. I nearly collapsed at paying the entrance fee once! (Although I am a tight Northerner...)

Bowddee · 26/07/2008 23:29

edam, I cheated. I got an 'Adult & Toddler'ticket the first time (even though the offer was supposed to have finished, but I asked and they didn't question it), then yesterday I had a £4 off voucher for me and spent the car journey brainwashing the kids in to believing that they're still 3.
Shhhh.

edam · 26/07/2008 23:36

Ah, I see. And promise not to tell anyone...

Tried brainwashing ds today re. admission to a different place that's free for under-fives (his birthday was last week). Only for dh to go striding over to the ticket counter and tell them ds was 5!

thumbwitch · 26/07/2008 23:41

not unreasonable to think it but possibly unreasonable if you mind?

Isn't believing in all that part of the magic of childhood? Although I can remember being sadly disillusioned at the tender age of 5 1/2 when my Fairy Queen costme that I got for Crimbo included a wand that DIDN'T WORK .

Reality ain't all it's cracked up to be sometimes - I like the choice of the fantasy lands as well.

tycerrig · 27/07/2008 11:53

I can see what you are saying but think of it this way, what about books? they do exactly the same thing and I doubt anybody would think that reading books would be having a negative effect. I used to think that every old big tree I saw would transport me to an enchaned forest!

ScottishMummy · 27/07/2008 12:09

suspension of reality and fantasy are developmental milestones and fun too.unclench let the children have appropriate fun

sheesh how do you explain santa you know that make believe fat ole bloke who comes down chimney

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 27/07/2008 12:20

pmsl bowdee i was telling dd yesterday that if flamingoland ask her she should tell them that she is only three because all the best rides are for three year olds and she wont be able to go on them if she is four

dd has just told me that dr who and harry potter are all make believe but rory the racing car can talk, though she know not all cars talk just some of them. and the fairies live behind our firplace and they tell santa and mammy and daddy if she is naughty.

motherinferior · 27/07/2008 12:22

This thread is meant to be taking the piss out of the thread objecting to sexism on telly.

Oh, how we larfed. Not.

ScottishMummy · 27/07/2008 12:24

oh one of those dumb ass cliquey threads about threads.oh we laughed

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