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Original poster

To think that this cartoon really isn't too "graphic" for seven year olds?

225 replies

squirrel42 · 04/03/2010 20:01

Full news story is here: the latest Mail-sponsored "uproar" is over a sex education cartoon being shown at a primary school. Parents were apparently asked in advance if they wanted to view it first, some weren't able to attend the pre-viewing session but okayed it for their children to see anyway. At least one was later angry enough about what their child saw and some other children "copying" what they'd seen (presumbly not completely) that they have removed their child from the school.

I found a youtube link to the cartoon they're talking about here (NSFW obviously since it has cartoon sexual intercourse in it). Maybe it's my wooly liberal side speaking, but I really don't see what the problem is with that clip. You don't see any erect cartoon penises or a close up of "the action" just the general bodily movements, and sex is presented as an enjoyable activity engaged in by adults who love each other. Not quite what the parent says in their DM quote: "It should have said in the letter children would learn how to have sexual intercourse".

I really don't get what is in the cartoon that is apparently so objectionable for seven to eight year olds. Thoughts?

OP posts:
cocolepew · 04/03/2010 20:06

FFS why do 7 and 8 year olds need to know how to have sex?

DiamondHead · 04/03/2010 20:08

Wouldn't bother me - although I couldn't hear it.

ChippingIn · 04/03/2010 20:09

Squirrel - there was a thread on this about a little while ago. It kicked off quite nicely

Personally, I wouldn't want my 7 year old to watch it. I think they are too young, but if you are happy to let yours then that's great - each to their own and all that.

What do I find objectionable - the voice over for a start, the 'stiff' & 'slippery' description - urgh. Other than that, at 7, I just don't think it's necessary to see adults (cartoon or not) having sex.

cory · 04/03/2010 20:09

My only concern is that children will grow up thinking that you can't get pregnant unless involving arrow waving cupids and chasing each other with feathers.

ChippingIn · 04/03/2010 20:10

DiamondHead - you need to hear it to make a call on it I think, the voice over is worse than the cartoon.

cocolepew · 04/03/2010 20:12

I hope DH doesn't see and expects to run around the bedroom. I'm too old.

FranSanDisco · 04/03/2010 20:13

I don't think my 7 yo or 9 yo need to see that cartoon. It seems to suggest everyone should have a go as it makes you feel happy . Mine are happy with a bowl of strawberries and ice cream so I think they can stick with that.

JoeyBettany · 04/03/2010 20:15

I wouldn't care if DS (8) saw it.

TheFirstLady · 04/03/2010 20:15

Personally, I reckon if anyone who couldn't be bothered to come and see the preview shouldn't complain afterwards. I did bother to go and see it, when they showed it at my children's school and thought it was perfectly harmless and quite well done actually. But there are an awful lot of uptight prudes around, I guess.

diddl · 04/03/2010 20:20

I also think it´s fine for the age of children to which it is being shown.

Although I might question if it is necessary for them to learn anything at all at 7/8 years old.

But then at what age do you introduce the subject?

Mine did last year at primary-10yrs old, by which time daughter had started periods to puberty etc was relevant for her.

overmydeadbody · 04/03/2010 20:21

I'm liberal and all, but nah, wouldn't want my 7 yr old watching that. They aren't kids for long, they have plenty of time to learn about sex, no need to rush in at 7 or 8.

At that age, teaching should just be about the biology of it, rather than cartoons riding each other

southeastastra · 04/03/2010 20:22

ds(16) watched a tamer version of that in year 6, which is early enough imo

Original poster
squirrel42 · 04/03/2010 20:22

Cory - I thought the feather bit was quite funny! (someone's been reading "12 ways to spice up your love life" in a Cosmo-esque magazine - who really has a feather handy outside their photoshoots?)

ChippingIn - I saw the article and immediately thought "there's got to be a giant MN bunfight thread about this somewhere" but must have missed the first one. Boo!

I suppose it is all down to the divide between the "provide full factual information as soon as they start asking" versus "why do they need to know that until they're 12/13/14/15" approaches. I definitely agree TheFirstLady that it's a bit late to kick up a fuss if you choose not to or couldn't get to the preview and just agreed without watching it first!

OP posts:
FranSanDisco · 04/03/2010 20:25

I think they need to know when the are emotionally ready. To go off and act it out would mean they can't handle the information. There is a vast amount of difference in maturity at that age.

paisleyleaf · 04/03/2010 20:42

Do you have DCs squirrel? How old?
I would think that even people who are fine with it for their 7 year olds would appreciate that other parents might object - hence the preview.

I didn't see the other thread, and hadn't heard of or seen that video til now.
I don't think 7-8 year olds need to watch it.
I agree with Southeastastra that year 6 is early enough.

emkana · 04/03/2010 20:53

My dd is nearly nine (Yr4). She doesn't engage with the other sex on a level that makes watching that video necessary. I think Yr 6 would be about right.

Original poster
squirrel42 · 04/03/2010 21:07

I don't have any children myself (yup - I'm one of those dodgy childless interlopers on MN!) and yes I fully appreciate that some parents may object, so I get why they had the preview and could opt-out of their children seeing it. But while I accept parental choice and individuals maybe prefer their children didn't see it at age seven, I still don't see why objectively it would be considered too graphic for that age range.

I'd say it's the same sort of thing as a PG film; that classification says that eight year old children would generally not be dsturbed but some parents know that their child would get upset at particular themes or images and so opt to wait until their child is older for them to see it. I'd say that cartoon was generally PG-ish.

OP posts:
paisleyleaf · 04/03/2010 21:17

It really is like society is hellbent on sexualizing children too young.

TheFirstLady · 04/03/2010 21:27

Knowing what sex is is not the same as "sexualising". The video is not saying, "this is what to do, now get out there and do it". It is very, very clear that "this is what adults do when they want to show they love each other". There is NOTHING in that particular video that suggests otherwise.

bernadetteoflourdes · 04/03/2010 21:29

Well said paisley leaf!

TeamEdward · 04/03/2010 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TottWriter · 04/03/2010 21:40

Well, I don't see anything wrong with it. Yes, parents should be encouraged to watch it first - perhaps there should be two dates to view the film to get around those who might have a prior engagement, because as someone else has said, children vary in maturity at that age. Mind you, those who don't see it will probably hear about it later.

I don't see why people have this bee in their bonnet about sex. The more you enclose it and taboo it, the more the rebellious children will want to find out what it's like. And the very first thing that video said was that it was something grown ups do when they love each other. Young children will pay attention to that crucial bit of information a lot more than children already experiencing puberty who have some idea of what goes on anyway. Putting it off means they're more likely to focus on the intercourse itself. I was about nine when I had 'the video', and all it said about sex was contained in pretty graphic illustrations, as common in biology textbooks. Sex involved synchronised swimmers dressed as sperm swimming around a womb shaped pool. Helpful it was not. At all. I just got mightily confused, and honestly, for years just assumed that the penis poked through the cervix into the womb. hmm

And you know, one of the things which put me off the whole thing for a good few years was my mum presenting me with a pink neon book entitled 'sex tips for girls' when my periods started. By bringing it out into the open like that, she took away the mystery and allure, although it went a bit the wrong way as I was so freaked out I never opened the book and so most of what I knew about sex until I lost my virginity came from reading romance novels on the sly. And isn't that a good way for children to learn..

TottWriter · 04/03/2010 21:41

Gah. became a link. My bad.

pigletmania · 04/03/2010 21:48

Thought you had to be 18 or over to watch porn. Why the hell do young children have to watch cartoons on how to have sex . To me this is planting ideas into their minds, leave children as children. All they should be concerned about is playing and being a child not adult issues.

MillyR · 04/03/2010 21:58

I'd let my 8 year old watch it, but I can understand that people who live in cities might have kids who don't understand what sex is.

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