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Original poster

""""""COTTON WOOL KIDS""""""CHANNEL 4""""""""""

115 replies

RTKangaMummy · 10/04/2008 10:48

TONIGHT

OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 10/04/2008 21:46

helloooooooooo SDM

Gov chip us at birth and then no need for passports just scan the chip, and then they can loose the comp discs and we all get cloned

OP posts:
sonicdeathmonkey · 10/04/2008 21:47

luminar - yep, but it's generally from 'extreme anxiety' families, like some of these seem to be. The average family had average kids who turn out fine, it's still only a very minor percentage, just sad if an over anxious parent ends up sabotaging themselves.

And totally agree - GPS is bad enough on cars, wouldn't ever want to track a child!! I'd be a bundle of nerves permanently - constantly having to watch where they were!

sonicdeathmonkey · 10/04/2008 21:49

(and ello RTKM, how's you these days?)

You'd have people illegally swapping their chips with their dogs, see the government try and track anyone then

luminarphrases · 10/04/2008 21:52

i mean i'm a worrier, but jaysus. now i feel like the most laidback parent of all time!

luminarphrases · 10/04/2008 21:54

also, not to get on the MM thing, but as a parent of a younger child, are a lot of 5- 10 y.o's aware of what happened there? or is it more of a boogeyman tale?

LittleBella · 10/04/2008 21:58

I can't believe how stupid and irresponsible those parents are tbh.

And the irony is, that they would probably say the same about normal parents.

poshwellies · 10/04/2008 21:58

Some of these parents shouldn't be allowed to have children in my mind..its mental abuse.

sonicdeathmonkey · 10/04/2008 22:02

I help out with a group of about 20 girls aged 7-11 and none of them seem at all bothered by MM or anything else safety wise. I don't bring stuff like that up because I don't think it's right (we cover personal safety/road safety etc in a general way but I never bring up individual cases) and at the time they barely mentioned it, it was kind of "did you see that thing about that girl who went missing?" "yeah...now, are you going out with that boy at school?". Think the kids make whatever their parents do out of it, if you're laid back then they don't get too stressed either. Ok, even if you're laid-back you might still have a 'sensitive' child but they'll be less stressed than they would be if you were anxious.

My dd's nearly 5 and she wouldn't know who MM was if you offered her a mountain of chocolate - didn't even hide the news when it was on but if I don't make a fuss about something it doesn't seem to bother her.

Heated · 10/04/2008 22:04

It's true we're becoming so over-protective. I actually caught myself thinking, 'what's that child doing walking from school all by themselves?' about 100m from the school gate. They were at least 8 years old, probably older, and I then realised how ridiculous I was being. It's become such a rare sight though it stood out as somehow odd.

poshwellies · 10/04/2008 22:09

Wonders if some of these parents started off with the dettol wipes in the baby changing rooms

luminarphrases · 10/04/2008 22:14

shush poshwellies. i did that for about two weeks. am still ashamed

christywhisty · 10/04/2008 22:17

My DD 10 was aware of MM and of the recent Shannon case but she wasn't obsessed and it didn't scare her.
My DC' have played out since they were little and DD goes to school by herself but it is literally round the corner. DS 12 gets the train to school by himself everyday. He did get mugged by a kid from another school in the park on the way to the station.
It is scary but it's better to teach him how to deal with things than keep him wrapped up in cotton wool

SlartyBartFast · 10/04/2008 22:18

did not discuss madelaine with mine.. i'm sure i didnt...
was shocked at this programme.

on the other hand the 13 year old boy doesnt catch an actual school bus, but where were the other school kids.

tomorrow mine are out doors on the own all day at least that's what i am vowing tonight.

poshwellies · 10/04/2008 22:19

*smiles at luminar

roisin · 10/04/2008 22:30

Crikey what a shocking programme!
For me the scene which has stuck in my memory was the 5 yr-old going round her own back garden and pointing out all the dangers - you could prick your thumb on that thorn, you might hurt your foot here if you haven't got shoes on, there's electricity here which is very dangerous, etc. It was tragic.

My boys have quite a bit of freedom, but ds1 (10) has picked up some anxieties about MM and so on, and doesn't want to go out alone. I want to encourage him to feel safe, without forcing him to do something he's not ready for.

luminarphrases · 10/04/2008 22:32

that's very interesting what you've all said about the mm case. i had assumed that it was similar to what i remember about the aftermath of james bulger but i don't really know any kids of that age.

Christie · 10/04/2008 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pedilia · 10/04/2008 22:45

Jeez how sad

What paranoid parents, my kids play outside every day after school and are out for hours at the weekend.
One criteria when we moved house was that it was in a quiet cul-de-sac so the kids could play outside.

I am proud of the fact that my DC's are real outdoor types and thrive on it!

layman · 10/04/2008 22:54

Ah, I couldn't find the telly bit to post my link to this programme too.

Thanks for posting, thank god it's on Mumsnet.

Proffessor Warwick and Microchipping.

Another article. Funny it mentions Madeleine McCann again.

women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article1788169.ece

poshwellies · 10/04/2008 22:59

Same for us Pedilia..I'm proud that my children go out and mix normally (5 and 13yrs old)

My youngest has been told about stranger danger,how to dial 999,inappropriate behaviour..it touching that makes you feel uncomfortable,traffic awareness and bullying...thats about all I feel that he needs to know.

Am I mad too?

Clary · 10/04/2008 23:02

roisin she was actually 3 which makes it even more shocking.

I was also really upset by any parent who would tell their children that when people snatch you they put a towel over your face so you can't breathe...why would you tell yr child that?

These children are all much more likely to die of obesity related illnesses I fear. Did you note Harry's sister Lilly being pushchaired away from his coach trip, her knees around her ears...

layman · 10/04/2008 23:02

from the bum Times link

From Times OnlineMay 15, 2007

Would an implanted chip help to keep my child safe?
In the wake of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, every type of child monitoring device is in demand

Carol Midgley
If your child could wear an implant ? a microchip that could tell a computer where he or she was at any time to within a few metres ? would you buy it? After the horrific snatch of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from her bed in Portugal, the answer from many parents seems to be ?yes?.

Professor Kevin Warwick, who developed the technology that made it possible for the first child in Britain to volunteer to be ?chipped? in 2002 ? after the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman ? has been bombarded with e-mails over the past few days from parents desperate to keep tabs on their children. As we talk, another e-mail drops into his inbox from a mother of two young children who says that she is deeply anxious about Madeleine?s disappearance and wants to know more about the chip technology.

..............

Really pushing the microchip aren't they?

It's a pity that Missing Children Europe's sponsor is Oracle.

Clary · 10/04/2008 23:03

have to say my kids don't play out as road is not suitable

But they are allowed to go next door to ask for ball back/8yo goes up road to post letter/they ride ahead on bikes on way to park etc.

unknownrebelbang · 10/04/2008 23:06

Found this programme quite disturbing tbh.

I can understand parents having fears, but why on earth would you pass your thoughts and feelings on these issues to your children?

And at what age will they allow their children out on their own?

justme27 · 11/04/2008 08:59

Watching this on sky plus now - feel so so sad - that little girl who wandered round the garden highlighting every danger in the garden.

My dd is only 8m old but I thikn I'm already quite laid back with her (not overly protective) - I want her to be independant and balanced.

As parents surely our responsibility is to shield our kids from the dangers and harsh realities of the outside world but educate them in an appropriate way....

ARRRGHHHHHH

sorry - rant over - feel so so sorry for these poor kids.