Film shown in school - Opinions please

[rebl]

My dd has been quite upset about a film she watched in school yesterday (Nanny McPhee). She is 4. She says Nanny McPhee (the character) scared her. DD says she told a teacher but was told that she would have to watch it because everyone else was.

Now, I've never watched it so I can't easily pass judgement. But I have looked it up and its a PG. The definition of a PG is it shouldn't contain scenes of a disturbing nature for 8+ but for younger and more sensitive viewers parents should decide whether it is suitable. She hates even scarey bits in the disney films! We've not yet introduced her to not animated films for this very reason, she scares very easily and then doesn't sleep and goes on and on about it for days.

What I don't know is whether to let it lie or say something when we go back at the beginning of next term. DH and I both feel that given her reaction and the fact she actually told a teacher that she should have been allowed to do something else in a different classroom (colouring or whatever). She certainly shouldn't have been made to watch it if it was disturbing her because she's well under 8 and it was clearly unsuitable for her.

But am I just being PFB?

My (quite sensitive) 4 year old watched Nanny McPhee in the cinema with us. I don't recall anything scary in it (and I can be a bit PFB about these things, I even covered her eyes at one scene in Tangled ). Did you ask your DD what exactly scared her in the movie? If it was how Nanny McPhee looked then I think the teacher has a point, there are actual people who look as awful as that!

I think one film on the last day of every term is ok(ish). Seems a bit much (in terms of length) for a four year old though.

Rebl, my ds1 has a phobia about movies, particularly anything Disney (I know, I know, its odd, but its a long story I'm not going into here). He has never been made to watch anything he didn't want to at school. If they are putting on a film for any reason eg on the last day of term - then he is allowed to take a book into another class or join another class's activity.

They do watch some educational films and documentaries on occasion and he has been fine with those, its only feature films he has a problem with. The only time there was a problem was when they were studying Roald Dhal and watched the BFG. He tried to watch it but was too scared, so he was allowed to do something else.

In my opinion, if a child doesn't want to watch a film because they are worried or scared and its a film that's being shown purely for entertainment and nothing to do with the curriculum, they shouldn't be forced to. I would probably have a chat with the teacher and ask if she can be excused to another class next time.

Mine have watched bits of films a few times (don't think they've actually watched anything all the way through) and DD didn't like Monsters, Inc apparently so watched on her teachers knee!

You won't get any warning of film watching mostly; ours were allowed to take DVDs on the last day of term, but others have been because a teacher was ill, or there was something special going on that day.

And mine hate Nanny McPhee too!

I think Nanny McPhee is only very loosely based on the Nurse Matilda books. Same characters but the stories seemed quite different.

Sometimes they show films, or parts of films, at DD's school when it's too rainy to play outside. I would really prefer they play games or other indoor activities instead. Of course the children love it.

We watch very little tv at our house. I think it's all too easy for adults to start using it as a babysitter, which is just about what is happening at school. I suspect they show films because they don't have enough staff to lead indoor activities at this time of the day, or perhaps it would require a lot of work to rearrange staff lunches for cover.

Only a few of the other mums share my views on this issue. Most of them seem to think it's not ideal, but not very important either.

Yes, of course, but couldn't they stagger them more?

Sometimes we show a film at the end of term as a treat. It means you can get on with small tasks for a bit.
I wrapped 5 minieggs in cellophane with a ribbon x 32 whilst they watched a film. I also stripped two walls and prepared display materials to go up on them. I could have done it after school or in my lunchbreak, but I felt indulgent.
Everyone enjoyed the film, if one had been scared I'd have let them opt out but Y6 tend to be well 'ard.

Wet lunchtimes it's more a system for crowd control as there are not enough supervisors for one per class and like it or not, the TV generation will stare happily at a screen without fighting, playing football in class or getting into squabbles for 45 mins.

I'm not sure I'd have a problem with it. I don't think there is anything wrong with children being a bit scared by films. If it is a 'U' rating then it is not exactly a horror flick! I think you would make a bit of an arse of yourself if you raised it at school TBH.

I think they need a break from me and I from them by lunchtime.

I don't understand why people get excited about films in school either. But then I am the type of parent who uses the television as a babysitter, so I wouldn't.