Madeleine McCann info shown before Shrek, anyone else cross about this?

[WideWebWitch]

I was. I have chosen NOT to tell my nearly 4yo about this. I haven't discussed it in detail with 9yo ds either I CHOOSE not to put the news on in our house. I really resent this being shoved at my children before a U cert movie. Completely inappropriate imo.

i do often wonder why whoever took madeleine didn't take one of the twins. surely it would be less risky taking a child that can't properly speak? although i suppose a 3/4 year old would understand not to scream etc.

however it is unlikely she is even alive now. i hope i am wrong.

Will have to avoid it then as will upset both my dss.

Mothers and fathers, PLEASE READ:

Use this opportunity to educate your child. If your child is at an age mature enough to watch Shrek, then they are mature enough to be aware that occassionally, people decide to "snatch" other people's children for various reasons. This will teach them to be aware of their surroundings and to fight and scream if anyone ever tries to "snatch" them.

Our societies are too complacent about the abuse of children and it is time a fight was made. I think Odeon made a stand and I personally commend them.

My children are 4 and 2. I don't think they are ready for Shrek, but I do think that my 4 year old is of an age to know of potential dangers and that when Mommy or Daddy say, "Stay close," there is a reason. I have also told her and acted out scenarios to show her that if someone comes up to her, anyone, to yell, kick and scream. She enjoyed the skits and has been better about staying at my side.

I wasn't a member of this chat group before this, but when I read about the complaints I felt compelled to write. Just think about it if it were your child. You would want everything done to get him or her back. Those of you complaining I suspect think somewhere in the back of your minds it won't ever happen to you, as did all parents of children "snatched" away from them.

I applaud Odeon for keeping up the attention on a lost child and for not letting it fade. Thank you Odeon for supporting the McCanns.

I have skimmed this thread but I tend to avoid any McCann threads as I find it too upsetting.

My DS (aged 7) knows nothing about her. I have made sure he doesn't. We live in Australia so it hasn't had the massive attention that it has had in the UK but it can still happen here obviously.

I have a couple of points:

My son knows about people who snatch children. He knows because I was nearly a statistic at the age of 7 when I was nearly lured into a car - but I ran and ran and ran. I was told by my mother that if I got into a car with a stranger I might never see my family again. That is all she told me. It was enough for me to run when it happened to me. I didn't need the name of a Madeleine or to learn any fighting/screaming techniques.
All I have told my son is that I was nearly taken by a stranger when I was 7. That he must never go with a stranger. Isn't that enough? I personally believe that at his age he does not even need to know the name of Madeleine. He knows it happens. He isn't stupid.

He is however, by nature, a very anxious child. I read recently that there is a rise in anxiety and depression in young children. Is this possibly because of the graphic nature of the world children see around them these days? My DS went to an exhibition about Volcanoes ...
He didn't sleep for weeks thinking that he was going to be blown up by volcanic activity. This could conceivably happen in Auckland where we lived at the time (Auckland has 49 Volcanic Cones and we could see a dormant volcano from his school) but he didn't sleep and wanted more than anything to move to Australia. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he was more likely to be bitten by a poisonous snake in Australia than be caught in a Volcanic Eruption in New Zealand!
I won't worry him or cause him anxiety about the fact that at any time someone could come in and snatch him from his bed. The very place he should feel and be safe. He would be a basket case if he believed that he wasn't safe at home.
He does not need to know this.

Also my 3 year old DD has no idea yet about people snatching children. It is MY job as her mother to keep her safe and close. It is NOT her job to take on board such horror and stay close ... she doesn't have the maturity or sense to think "Oh, if I walk away too far I might be snatched" She trusts me to be watching her.
Isn't that the way it should be?

RJ Startkey, your child "isn't ready for Shrek" but should be warned fo the dangers of abduction? Hello? I think you've got that the wrong way round personally.

RJ Startkey
I do not have to be a parent who believes that it wont happen to me for not wanting to spend nights and nights settling me terryfied 7 yr old

she KNOWS not to go with strangers
She has been told that bad people might try and take you away, you must only go with people mummy or daddy has said you can.

that scared her when we broached that subject and we had to cope with her feelings then which was fine and understandable.
she is very good with not talking to strangers and tells her friends too who are also learning about strangers.
I do not need odeon deciding to tell my daughter about something that will be of no good to her.
If they want to show it before films (and I am all behind the idea to keep it in the public eye) then show it before an adult film.

bit of a result

all the comments so far are pro the advert.
Think some Mumsnetters need to get on there!

wow, mumsnet in the times again

eg - we are selfish:
"those parents are being totaly selfish and selfcentered,i have a daughter and i sp[ent time talking and explianing about what happened to Madeleine.Yes my daughter got scared but i was there to resure her,yes it took alot of my time but i would not have it any orther way.What if it was there child just think about that what would you do?I say continue with advertising campaign.Some people are just compelty selfish."

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It's one thing for a parent to have a ghoulish interest in this but to subject a young child to it on a huge big cinema screen is just plain wrong.

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RJStarkey - your child is not ready for shrek but is ready to act out stranger danger scenarios? what on earth happened to your childs innocent childhood?

Anyroad, any lessons on not going with strangers are irrelevant in this case as the odeon ad uses the phrase 'snatched from her bed'. So even though your dc will know not to wander off, he/she will still be terrified of someone breaking into his/her room and taking him/her.
Sorry, but that is one worry my child can do without. Hence why I am opposed to the odeon ad and will not take my dc to see shrek at the moment.

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ghosty you are absolutely right - it is my job as a parent to protect dc, not the dc's job to be aware of all dangers and become anxious bundles of nerves as a result. Ds (7) has been told exactly the same as you - no more and no less. Dd (4) has not been told anything, it is my job to keep her witing sight as much as possible and assess any dangers.

The cinema ad presumably does not touch upon the fact that MMC was snatched from her bed whilst her parents were out. So are children who see this ad going to assume that even with mummy and daddy downstairs/down the hall they are not safe? In which case the ad is definately not appropriate.

your son - ds has been told the same as your son [sigh]

'Last night the Odeon group of cinemas said that it would no longer show the advertisement before Shrek, although it would continue to screen it at other times.'

Job done.

I believe that if it was your child missing you wouldn't have complained about it. I understand that it has been differcult for you who had chosen not to tell your children, but if it was my child missing I would expect everyone to help me get her back!!!

Yes but womanfromdenmark (fab name!), all the parents who take their children to Shrek are probably already aware (very very aware) and all the children - what are they going to do, get out their magnifying glasses to do some junior detecting? Wrong target audience imo.

Thank you hippipotami ... I guess you are right ... maybe it was not such a good idea with all the children who's seeing that movie ... I guess we all just so bad want Madeleine to be found safe and well. I am living in Denmark and I'm doing all I can to help from here ... Madeleine was abducted and it was my wake up call ... I have never cried so much before! I just want her to be found!

This thread made sky news anyway..

I hope with all my heart that none of you ever lose your child and know the desperate, hopeless feeling that would push you to absolutely anything, anything if it lead the remotest chance of getting her back.

The children you are protecting are the same age as Madeleine.

Yes, and we have every right to protect them.

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