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5 yo fear of movies and characters becoming a huge problem

6 replies

Serignan · 13/04/2026 18:07

Hi there. Was hoping someone could help! My, once happy and carefree, 5 year old has developed a fear of movies/tv shows and dressed up characters. The problem is that at her school they watch a tv programme at the end of each day, and she will only watch very babyish shows because she has seen a character she was scared of on a tv show/pantomime. She will now not chance watching anything! This is making it very difficult for me to get her to want to go to school. If it rains, it’s worse, because she knows that at wet playtime they watch tv shows/movies on a large screen. Her fear is taking over her life- she checks the weather forecast for rain each day then, if it is due to rain, sits silently eating breakfast. She cries every day in school. I asked school if she could do something different during movie time and was told she couldn’t, they said avoidance is feeding the fear, which I get. I just feel like it’s ruining her day and I don’t see an end to it - the possibility of a movie will always be there in school, I can’t take that away from her. She’s very intelligent and switched on, working above where she should be in school, but has always been extremely sensitive. I have tried so many different approaches but nothing works. The only thing she said she will be happy with is if she knows she doesn’t have to watch tv shows/movies in school, but that’s not possible. It’s such a life limiting fear! We can’t go to cinemas or theatres as she absolutely refuses, cries, tries to run out etc. I’m not sure what to do!

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Lottie6712 · 13/04/2026 18:21

I think that's odd the school won't let her not watch a film? I worked at a state school where a child wasn't allowed to watch TV and we accommodated that

Serignan · 13/04/2026 18:26

Lottie6712 · 13/04/2026 18:21

I think that's odd the school won't let her not watch a film? I worked at a state school where a child wasn't allowed to watch TV and we accommodated that

I am also a primary teacher and I must admit, although I understood the schools reasoning, I did just wonder why she needs to watch it?! I’m guessing staffing?

OP posts:
2UNDR2 · 13/04/2026 19:22

I'm really surprised they let them watch an hour of tv at the end of each school day, especially in light of the new screen time guidance. This certainly isn't commonplace in schools.

Could you try and change that? Appreciate it doesn't necessarily solve the problem, but might make her like school again if it wasn't taking place.

TinyMouseTheatre · 13/04/2026 22:20

Is this in the UK @Serignan?

patriciahedge · 14/04/2026 08:53

You should start with old school cartoons, when we were young. those are funny and not like today's character. you can start with Tom and Jerry. and other cartoons like these. BTW, this is schools fault that they shouldn't have shown something like this to children. Plus, don't let this gap to increase it can cause anti social behaviour

TinyMouseTheatre · 14/04/2026 16:41

Only asking about whether you’re in the UK as it seems really odd that the school are getting them to watch TV.

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