Children v Adults on TV

[loolaalol]

How are my children going to understand that my job is to love and support them when telly constantly tells them I'm the enemy?

Does it really tell them that?

There again, if you are going down those lines it tells them pigs can talk, men can dress is funny suits and fight baddies, and vegetables can talk.

I wouldn't worry too much. Surely its your actions which will show how much you love and support them not what they watch on tv

Seems to be the underlying message in a lot of TV programs. Kids know best and adults are stupid. surely I'm not the only one to see this?

i don't really see that in the TV my DS watches. His favourite programmes are team umizoomi, numberjacks and peppa pig

I think the best way forward is to stay calm and not show that you feel threatened by it.

Most traditional children's books also rely on the concept that the adults around are either dead or clueless. It's simply a story telling device: it enables the child protagonist to have adventures and find his/her own solutions rather than have everything sorted by a competent parent.

This doesn't stop any parent from being both alive and impressive in real life.

If you stay calm and consistent and unflappable, your children will soon learn that maybe the parent on their favourite telly show is a bit useless, but you are not.

In the long run, they will judge you for what you are, not from somebody in a story. If you want them to think you admirable, you have to be admirable. That's not a job somebody on the telly can do for you.

As well as a story telling advice, it's also a way for children to feel empowered - like they can know what they're doing without having to run to an adult all the time. (You can read up on the theory - it's called the mantle of the expert).

loolaalol Fri 18-Oct-13 15:04:44
"How are my children going to understand that my job is to love and support them when telly constantly tells them I'm the enemy?"

Because hopefully they spend more time watching you loving and supporting them than they do watching Peppa Pig misbehave on television.

I would say though that ime the parents who have the most discipline problems are the ones who worry endlessly that their children do not feel enough respect for them. Insist on good behaviour. If good behaviour is mutual, respect will usually follow.