Straw pole: Would you let your almost 5 ds watch...............

[busybusybee]

Casualty???????????

No chance! far too gory, and tackles all sorts of adult issues. Plus he goes to bed at 7.

I wouldn't let dd watch it, and she is 9

Errrr, no.

No, never - neither my nearly 6 or nearly 8 yr olds are allowed to watch what is clearly adult viewing like casualty or any of the soaps for that matter. They only end up having nightmares after anything remotely worrying!! Am appalled at how many of dd1's classmates watch them though.

Ha ha nulnulcat, we had that with strictly come dancing.

no

dd gets worried watching Hilltop Hospital let alone a 'real' programme!

nooooooooooooooo

mine always watch the news with us. I'd rahter they watched it with us, and we can explain anything they're worried about than leaving things to their imaginations (if you ever leave the house and walk past/into a shop selling newspapers they'll see the pictures on the papers and "wonder", not to mention the news they'll here on the radio while in shops/out and about).

I developed a phobia of escalators when I was younger (which lasted for just over 20yrs) because I "knew" about the Kings Cross fire, and "knew" that it started on an escalator - but didn't know the 'facts'. I just thought that every escalator was going to burst into flames, and this progressed onto getting my shoe/clothing stuck in it.

Mind you - I don't let them watch soaps as they're cr*p

So what do you tell a 4 year old about murder, or rape, or arson? I can see the principle behind what you say, QoQ, and would certainly agree with you in the case of a much older child (11-ish?) but looking at my 3.5 yo I couldn't possible imagine deliberately exposing him to violence and cruelty. There's time enough for reality to kick in when he's older.

I really like Newsround - it covers a lot of the "big" news stories, but in a very sensitive way. DSs (6 and 8) are interested in current affairs, but I would be very unhappy about them watching adult news.

I remember when Eastenders started, and there was big discussions amongst adults as to whether it was suitable viewing for us ... I think I was 16 or 17 The storylines have definitely got tougher and scarier, and I'm horrified that little children watch them.

No way. Wouldn't want any of mine watching and they are 13, 11 and 8. I haven't watched it since DS1 was a baby and I began weeping uncontrollably at a story line where both parents were killed in a car crash...DS1 has just started watching The Bill but turns it off if DS2 comes in - he's very protective.

Don't think any of mine have watched it at that age but tbh if they were up and it was on then yeah i'd let them watch it.

I don't think Casualty is as bad as Eastenders tbh.

Eastenders is just shite IMO.

Greensleeves, I know what you mean. Years ago my friend's dd somehow heard about the murder of Rachel Nickell ( he was about 3 or 4) and got extremely upset as he knew there was a boy his age without a mummy and asked about it for months on end

sorry my friend's ds

No!

No, definitely not. Again, ds is 11 and even then I would be wary.

ks, I haven't watched it for years, but it certainly used to have similar subject matter to ER, just much more... well, crap.

No, I wouldnt let myself watch that gloomy drivel.

No, 'cos little kids should be in bed by then IMHO. My littlest is 7.5 and I wouldn't let him watch it. BUT (Big controversy here) he plays 18's on play station!BUT he's in his room, not bed, by 7/7.30ish and lights off very soon after.

Stands backs and waits...

Why? because his brothers do and he tells me it's not real, mum. BUT Caualty is "real" people and "real" blood and it's sometimes scary.

I started having problems with the news during the foot and mouth epidemic, I really didn't see the necessity of broadcasting grisly pictures of heaps of dead animals, especially at a time when children are up and around.

My ds is only 3.5 so he gets to see Thomas, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam (and Postman Pat) videos. Occasionally when he's ill he sees CBeebies so stuff like Balamory and the Wiggles. And films like Robin Hood (Disney version) and Jungle Book. And documentaries about trains as he's train mad - and Football Focus on a Saturday cos his dad is watching it. But nothing else.

No.
It's cbeebies 'our planet', which DS, 6, loves. Then story then bed.
At the weekend he likes to watch 'You've been framed' or equivelent.

There's plenty of time for them to see rubbish on TV later in life (Like Mummy does now. I agree on the CSI front, sad I know but I just have to see it).

Some of the children in DSs class watch the Simpsons. I've never been a fan so wouldn't let them but I thought it was an adult cartoon.

No not unless there was a special reason but mine are in bed by then oldest is 8

I do let him watch planet earth though which is on later but we record it