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Primary education

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Original poster

PG DVDs in KS1

15 replies

tepidcuppa · 27/11/2013 19:01

Two film related questions please

Is it normal for children in Y2 to be shown PG films without the consent of parents (or indeed at all)?
Several kids have told their parents they don't like the films and they are scary, but there are no alternative activities laid on.

I've checked the BFI website and PG films are fine for children under eight but may be scary for younger kids.

Teacher friends say they would not show KS1 kids PG films (unless in exceptional circumstances e.g. a relevant clip for classwork).

Is is normal for kids to watch DVDs in the classroom several times a week (three or four) for around twenty minutes at the end of the day. From what I understand the films are not integrated into classwork (e.g. compare how this character in the film is different from the book/from the way you imagined she would be). Even if they are integrated it seems a lot of screen time to me, but I am happy to be convinced otherwise.

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bigTillyMint · 27/11/2013 19:05

Definitely not normal for DC to watch DVD's several times a week at home-time. I would question why they are doing this.

Bad practice to show PG films if they haven't checked with parents that this is OK.

It sounds like you and the other parents should go in and find out exactly what is happening and why.

isitsnowingyet · 27/11/2013 19:06

I disliked the showing of (a lot) of films so much so that our children moved schools. The wind down before the end of term would start around 3 weeks before school was finished. The record was 4 films (full length) in the summer term . I'm all for kids learning at school though, and fine if they have one film as a treat in the last day or so of term. And no I don't think it's reasonable to show PG films to 5 year olds, but I'm sure I'll be in the minority there, as I am a fuddy duddy -it's true!!

JustAWaterForMePlease · 27/11/2013 19:11

I wouldn't even show PG films to KS3!

TeenAndTween · 27/11/2013 19:29

Our school does not show PG films to KS1, or to lower juniors either.

GW297 · 27/11/2013 19:43

They must be U certificates.

Periwinkle007 · 27/11/2013 19:43

mine are only in R and Yr1 but both only mention watching things at wet plays and they are always more than suitable (often a bit babyish but better that way than the other). They have watched other things as part of lessons but always relevant and appropriate.

I wouldn't be happy at them watching them daily during class time. I would have thought a story being read at the end of the day was one thing but watching a film I wouldn't be happy about (unless as you say it is part of a lesson in some way)

Hulababy · 27/11/2013 19:52

I work in KS1.
For "treat" time (1-2 times a year usually, if voted for my the children in a particularly class for achiving their class target):
Without parental permission we only show U films.
With parental permission we could show PG films.

If it is as part of a learning session, its normally only a short film or a clip. In that case, sometimes this might be a PG, and without parental permission, which meets the guidelines/rules. But it would rarely be a full moie and not all in one go - and would be accompanied by teaching sessions before, during and after.

Hulababy · 27/11/2013 19:54

During this term our Y2s have been watching a DVD - "Magic Grandad" which is actually about Victorian times - this has been shown at the end of the day sesson, after assembly and before hometime, instead of story time. 3 x 20 minute films - so yes, in that situation it would be maybe 3 times in the week, ut not every week.
We do sometimes watch Horrible History DVDs in that session too - but again. linked to the topic we are doing.

DeWe · 27/11/2013 21:06

I don't think it would worry me too much really if it's 20 minutes at the end of the day.
But looking at our collection of DVDs, the only U certificate that ds (year 2) would choose to watch are Swallows and Amazon, certain scenes from Pete's Dragon, Chicken Run and some of the Carry Ons (some of them are pg). Most of what he really enjoys are PG. (Narnia, A team, Dad's Army, Wallace and Grommet, Dambusters, Oh What a Lovely War, Goodnight Mr Tom, other Carry Ons...)

Dd2 in year 5 otoh will rarely want to watch anything above a U and often retired terrified from those without support. I'm was taken hysterical out of the cinema with Bedknobs and Broomsticks (also a U). So it doesn't necessarily mean some children won't be upset by them.

I was a little surprised to hear that Dd2 seems to be studying the film "The Piano", which I thought was a 15, in school. However I assume they are watching selected scenes from this.

junkfoodaddict · 27/11/2013 22:17

We'll be watching Charlotte's Web (Y2) at the end of term (Christmas treat) after we have read the book as our class story. Kids love the story. Not sure on the rating though - whether it is 'U' or 'PG'. I think we have shown PG films to our kids before though I can't remember what! No complaints. Maybe we're hardcore!!!

bigTillyMint · 28/11/2013 06:56

Watching a film at the end of term is one thing. Most schools/parents expect that to happen as a treat for the children. Watching a film 3x a week not at the end of term is another.

But maybe there is a reasonable explanation which the OP's Y2 child has been unable to grasp/pass on to the OP.

PastSellByDate · 28/11/2013 10:21

Hi teppidcuppa:

Our school sends a letter our asking parental consent for their child to see a PG film. (We had an incident with Coraline being shown in Y1 - which deeply upset a few children - and their very Christian parents went ballistic).

Common Sense media on Coraline: www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/coraline

So I think my advice would be to approach the school about establishing a DVD/ movie policy

Our school has said no letters home for 'G' movies. G movies only YR-Y1. PG movies only can be shown Y2 - Y5 if a letter is sent home informing parents some or all of a PG film will be shown & asking if there are any parental objections.

This has really worked at our school and given parents piece of mind.

toomuchicecream · 28/11/2013 19:40

I've always had to get permission from parents to show a PG film, even to year 6.

DeWe - The Piano is a short animation (approx. 4 minutes). It shows an old man playing the piano and remembering events in his life. Google for it - it's lovely, and has sooo much to talk about (use of music, flashbacks, camera angles etc etc etc) before you even get to the story line.

SandStorm · 28/11/2013 19:45

clam · 29/11/2013 18:56

I will use Youtube clips to support a specific learning objective, e.g. Vesuvius erupting, and at wet lunchtimes I sometimes put on Horrible Histories or a Horrid Henry or maybe a bbc wildlife clip. I don't at morning break as I reckon they should be able to cope for 15 minutes making their own entertainment. Interestingly, even at lunchtime, only a few will actually sit and watch - they prefer playing board games with each other or drawing. Oh, and I did put on a video story at home time recently, rather than telling one myself, when I was losing my voice.

We are 'allowed' by the Head to show just one film at the end of the Christmas and Summer terms, and they must be U, even up to Year 6. Anything PG requires parental permission. It is surprisingly hard to find films that upper juniors, or even lower juniors, want to watch that are U.

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