How the other Kids Live

[purpleme12]

Anyone watch this?

Yes, I thought it was rather sweet. The programme makers didn’t play up the various differences, or press any of the parents on their misconceptions about their children. I just came away thinking what lovely kids they were.

I am just watching it over lunch. I love the ginger boy - such as sense of humour.

It was very sweet. I only saw the first half so didn’t see how the play dates at Brendan’s and yasmins house went. I loved Tom saying he was 10 and his brother Billy shaking his head “no”

I really enjoyed it. Great to see kids just accept differences once they understand.

Is it just me that it wouldn't occur to me that kids wouldn't accept other kids of they're different

Yes purple I thought so too. When the show started and it was introducing the children I was wondering why it was necessary to have an arranged play date for them to meet because IME children generally do know at least a few children of different religions or with a disability of some sort. Unless they grow up very rural, small country school but these children didn’t, they lived in a city. Do their parents really not socialise them outside of school?

I thought Brendan's mother was a bit overbearing. I think she may actually be causing a lot of his anxiety.
They were all nice little kids though.

I think Brendan is the baby in his family so I suspect a bit of over babying going on because he is the youngest.

Can I ask overbearing in what way?

Brendan did not come across well at all he was rude and very immature in his reaction to Tom. His mum obviously played a big part in why he was that way though.

But maybe had hasn't met anyone with special needs before?
Not saying he behaved right but he's still young and if he hasn't met anyone like that I guess you can sometimes not understand and therefore behave wrong

@purpleme12, she kept asking him was he okay, was he worried, nervous etc and he seemed fine until she actually mentioned it.

Sorry I meant rude to the Mum about the pizzas. Yes he may not have met anyone with special needs before , but he was ten. Am probably being a bit unfair as like pp said he has been babyed.

Brendam just seemed like a normal little boy to me and yes clearly youngest in his family.

It was lovely to see the twins together. It reminded me of mmy concerns when pregnant with my twins as quite often one or both can be disabled - it is not necessarily great news to be expecting twins, I certainly felt a bit concerned although they are fine. and I am sure had one had down's syndrome we would have managed. I know someone else who has twins and one suffered lack of oxygen at birth and has disabilities.

A lot will be edited out on these programmes so it may not reflect what did happen but they all seemed very nice. I thought it would haev been ice to get Brendan to get the Muslim girl watching him pray actually so we saw both religions in action.

I thought the dad of the first family they visited was quite funny with Brendan. Like when Brendan tripped over a toy and yelled “whose left that there” and the dad says “err, you I think!” I did get the impression Brendan was a bit spoiled and didn’t handle himself well with Tom. There was a slight meanness to the way he went telling tales trying to get Tom in trouble.

I agree that Brendan didn't come across well at first with Tom, he didn't have a lot of tolerance when he couldn't understand him. Saying that, I liked his comment on people's homes, he said it doesn't matter what people's homes are like as long as they have the basics such as warmth and comfort (I'm paraphrasing), that was a nice thing to say.

It would be nice for most schools to have an additional learning centre or suchlike so that all children can play together regardless of disabilities, from experience it makes for a kinder and more accepting child.

I think Brendan came across dreadfully and, as a result, so did his mum who has clearly failed to teach him much about the world beyond his front door. Some of his questions about Muslims were awful- his has thus child who lives in a multi-cultural city not encountered Muslims before to the extent that his asks whether they'll have "Muslim toys"??

Towards Tom he was dreadful. A total lack of empathy for him. Honestly, if I were his mum I'd be embarrassed at myself for raising him with such a limited view of the world.

his has thus

How has this even! Predictive text doing its own version!

I don't think he came across dreadfully sure not as good as the others but he'd have to be a lot worse than that to come across dreadfully I think

Poor little Brendon. He was good and nice. Whether parents should have a right to decide if their chldren take part in these kinds of programmes is another matter.

I don’t think he was dreadful either, just a bit babied and it didn’t stand him well when faced with a situation he was unsure of. He kind of fell apart when he didn’t know what Tom was saying to him and decided Tom was being mean, and then tried to cause trouble for Tom. He just needs a bit more practise and guidance on dealing with situations like that so that becoming defensive and mean isn’t his default.

Jasmine’s family were lovely.
Jasmine was a lovely girl, full of enthusiasm

Brendan was rather annoying and I cannot believe that he has grown up in Birmingham and has not heard of 'Muslins'. Must admit the lego crucifixion thing freaked me out a bit I loved how accepting Jasmine and her family were. When the twins' Mum said they were delighted with their family I felt all warm inside, Tom I imagine will have the best care and available resources with them.

Brendan went to a catholic school hence the questions and the Lego scene. He was relating everything to Catholicism which is seemed very knowledgeable about. What struck me was how bright he was and he was very open to understanding the Muslim religion. But a little naughty at times like most boys of his age.
The twins were lovely and the Downs little boy spoke well and had been really helped by having a twin brother. But I felt that brother had been forced to take on all that responsibility for him and will have to do that for life. I can’t help thinking that’s cruel. But as s result he is a extraordinarily compassionate little boy.
The Muslim family were very obviously firm but fair and their kids felt very happy and safe and were beautifully behaved.
I really enjoyed it. The kids were young enough not to have absorbed too many preconceptions so were fairly open minded which was lovely to see.