Do you let your 5yr old watch Ben 10?

[Blahrahrah]

As the title asks.

If not, why? At what age would you?

And if yes, again, why? What age did they start? Did you notice a change in aggressive behaviour? Or behaviour in general? Do younger siblings watch as well or do you move them out of the room?

Just having a discussion with DH about this so would be interested in your responses.

Yes - age 5.

Cause he watched it, enjoyed it, and if at any point he got scared he said 'I don't like this' and we turned it over.

Made no difference to his behaviour.

DD was in room, but wasn't interested, so not an issue.

He's now 6 and has lost interest although not in the merchandising as all his school frioends have Ben 10 Alien Force stuff.

DS1 was five a month ago and he has watched Ben 10 a few times, but he isn't really interested. He does enjoy Batman and Transformers cartoons and he watches power rangers on TV.

He has seen the first Spiderman film, but he only pays attention when spidy is swinging on his webs. All other films he has begged to see (Ironman etc) I have said no to.

With regards to ben 10 etc, he plays them in school with the friends that watch them, so he is being exposed to them anyway. I don't think there is much harm in letting them watch them.

In regards to his behaviour, he has got more aggressive since starting school, but I don't think that this is to do with TV. I think it is just his age.

Hope this makes sense!

Hmm, Okay. Thanks. Younger DC is only a year younger so would probably watch it too, and then it is well, do you let your 4yr old watch it, iykwim? Gah! I suck at this whole TV watching thing! I think I will just throw it out the window!!

Cheif - yes, I hear you on the friends thing!! He likes super heros in general and will ask for iron man stuff when he doesnt even know who it is and has never seen the movies or ads! (He saw branded stuff in Tesco and just recognised it as a 'super' !! Is that good marketing or what!!!)

IMO, at 4 most things go over their heads anyway. DS laughs at the Simpsons, and I just hope he doesn't get the jokes!

yes

TBH I wasn't too happy with ds's reaction to Ben 10, IMO it is pretty violent and the aliens are horrible. I also disliked the adverts around it though. It felt insidious because it wasn't plain appalling like the Turtles or Batman which were easy to ban. DS started being reluctant to go to bed alone around that time but tbh that could just have been his age I suppose. I was fluffily indecisive as it was DH'S FAULT HE HAD STARTED WATCHING IT no i'm really over that, it was of course a joint decision, but after about 6 months I got my act together and stopped him watching it (plus any other commercial telly tbh). He was still keen on some of the books and things but I didn't mind that. If I were you I would avoid it.

PS it was not difficult at all to ban the Turtles etc, ds didn't complain at all after the first obligatory whinge.

nope it is banned in this house. but have let him have a few books of it recently (a treat for practising his reading so hard off his own bat to help with his reading). A simple i will not have it on in the house and i will not negotiate has surficed, but then he has watched one or two episodes and he does find it scarey. So that helps to.

It was the violence I was worried about. We briefly let him play Batman Lego on the xbox and we definitely noticed an increase in hitting etc so I do think he is susceptible to it. Dh said he would be fine, and I let them, but after seeing their behaviour and then banning it, even DH has noticed an improvement and has said I was right!

I just wondered if it would be the same behaviour changes if he watched Ben 10 iyswim?

Yes, when he started Reception. I gently discourage Ben 10: Alien Force, though. I haven't noticed any change in behaviour (whereas when he watches Peter Pan, say, I definitely do). I don't let him watch Power Rangers.

ds has watched it from under the age of 3. He has had no bad reactions to it and has lost interest a bit as he is now at the ripe old age of nearly 4!! I quite like Ben10 myself but loathe Power Rangers, etc so we dont watch it.

Yes DD watch ben 10 started at 3.5, no violent behavior ever. Sometimes playfight "hong kong" fu with dad or boys in the parc but they don't touch each other IYSWIM. She knows hitting is wrong and won't do it, she sometimes comment that people on TV are naughty becuase they fight...
They are old enough to understand the difference between reality and imagination/tv at that age.

Mamaloco - I disagree not ALL children are able to understand the difference betwen reality and imagination at that age. it is very child dependant so will some wont so it is always going to have to be on parental judgement of the child's capability.

My DS is 5 and started watching Ben 10 about 4 months ago and I've not noticed any change in him at all.

He has watched power rangers for about a year and he did start copying that but we talked about how he could play a non-contact version with his sisters and he was fine with that.

Yes, ds2 was heavily into it from about 4 and a half through into being 5. Now he's a very old 6 and a bit he's over it...

No change in his behaviour - just his usual noisy annoying self...

I let him - he watched one episode but hasn't asked to watch it again. He prefers Scooby Doo.

He chats about Ben10 in the playground but currently isn't into it. His mate used to watch it but his mother banned it cos' he started saying school was rubbish ( off an episode) of Ben10) and he re-enacted some violent scene with his little brother who got scared silly.

Is it violent... DD watched it from 4 and still does. I havent spotted her outside torturing small animals yet.

I have never watched a minute of it to know if its violent or not tbh (neglectful mother)

yes and power rangers etc. No problems from it either.

NO.

Yep, we have now moved on to Ben 10 Alien Force.

DS1 appears quite untraumatised.

yes, and Power Rangers and Turtles (on very old VHS), but not Transformers as he doesnt like them

Mind he also watches Care Bears from the same box set :) Little softie

Mine to DreamTeamGirl except he does like transformers and lurves my old Smurf and Gummibear videos.

My Ds1 is scared stiff of it - he's 4.3. I've only seen clips, but it is a bit monstery - but i wouldn't say violent.
Probably depends on the 5 year old

DS has only really just got into it - he's 6 and suddenly obsessed with it unfortunately. I hate it personally but as I was banned from watching TV myself when I was younger I'm very reluctant to ban it from him completely. Plus as others have said, it is good for his reading as he has some of the books.

I don't notice he is any more aggressive as a result - he was pretty testosterone fueled before!!