The News

[Linnis]

Do you let your children watch the news? Like seeing the latest video from Iraq or the news from London? Do kids really need to be exposed to all the horrible things that happen?

I've heard opinons we should prepare our kids and others that we should protect them. I could understand if you have teenagers but I feel under 12 is a little too young to be trying to explain why things like bombings happen.

With the same thing in mind, do you let your kids watch violent movies? At what age do you think they can start watching those types of movies? Does anyone here follow the guidelines at the beginning of shows and movies?

What do you think? What do you allow your kids to watch and not watch?

Lots of questions I know. Thanks if you answer them.

 

[andiesmama]

Andie's 3 and her tv consists of Noggin and NickJr! lol Unfortunately somehow she has developed a love for SpongeBob (bleah!) but I honestly don't see the harm in that.

If she comes in the room & there's something graphic on tv that my DH & I are watching (news, or another tv show) we'll turn the channel because even tho she might not know exactly what's going on, I like to think I can shield her for a little while longer from the "bad stuff" in our world.

 

[JustMandy]

I do not let Dd (4 1/2) watch the news or movies rated higher than PG. I am also regularly reminding Dh that his violent video games are not for children's eyes. There's been lots of research showing that although kids can distinguish between real life and tv/video games, kids who are exposed to them are more agressive and lack self control. Besides that agruement, I think if the world (standardless and evil) says something is too graphic, scary or sexual for kids to watch then I KNOW I will not approve!I feel like Andie's mom, the longer I can protect her (and keep from having to explaining adult situations to my kids) the better.

 

[Katydid]

I think that all depends on age and maturity. With my husband being deployed to Afghanistan 3 years ago, and then Iraq last year, my oldest did see select bits of newspapers for both. When he was 5 we showed him pictures of the towers (none with the people falling out or anything) but showed him WHY daddy was leaving. Then last year, at 7 we showed him more of the news stories on Iraq so that he would see why daddy was going there. Justin, we showed him on a map where Iraq is and I explained about the bad people that daddy had to stop. So, for me, it is a necessity, not something I wanted to share with them.


But, as far as watching the news on a regular basis, my kids have no interest whatsoever anyway and usually walk out if it is on.

 

[lucypevensie]

We do let them see things in the news sometimes. I guess you just have to use your best discretion, take into consideration how sensitive the child is, how knowledgeable they are. A few days ago when London was bombed I had the coverage on for a while. The DCs did ask what that was all about and I explained it in general terms, and they were satisfied with the explanation. They know about Hurricane Dennis (yet they also know how far away Florida is from Wisconsin). But I still think that even if they are able to handle some news stories that doesn't mean that it's OK to leave the news on all day long.

What My kids DO get scarred of is those freaky commercials for scary movies. I always change the channel when one of those comes on.

 

[jenelis]

I let my seven year old watch limited news. i turn if its too graphic or sensitive. she knows about the London terror bombings--- 30 second news previews took care of that. And she saw lots of 9/11 coverage as I couldn't stop watching (my mom was in NYC and took the WTC tour on 9/10) and I hadn't heard from her that day--- so... that was the result.

I think there's a point to letting them see what you know they can handle, but shielding them from news they don't need to see.

 

[Linnis]

My nephew may be different because he's lost a parent(she hasn't been in his life for 4 years) so he thinks his dad could get hurt or killed and not come back so any rain storms gets him worrying. He has no concept of distance yet though, like I can tell him England's 4,000 miles away and he asks if that's on the otherside of the small land made lake outside of town, so it's easier to sheild him from it.

 

[Princessperky]

I don't watch the news, I get it online or from DH, but I don't have a problem with DS hearing us talk about it, I like that he gets our views (we wouldn't be talking if we didn't have some) As opposed to the cut and paste version that news comes in.