Children's TV causes nightmares
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Millions of young people are suffering nightmares because children’s television shows are too violent, a survey claims.
They also force children to grow up too quickly and can encourage bad behaviour, it says.
More than 70 per cent of parents with children under the age of seven said their children had regular nightmares because of programmes such as Primeval, Ben 10, and Power Rangers.
According to the poll of 3,000 parents, two thirds struggle to decide which programmes are suitable – and indeed safe - for their children to watch.
The parents included in the survey have called for age certificates to be screened before programmes as well as urging channels to show “family entertainment” such as Doctor Who and Primeval after the 9pm watershed.
As well as causing children distress, some programmes have come under criticism from parents for encouraging their children to misbehave and to also grow up too quickly.
In Horrid Henry, the main character taunts his parents and friends and plays tricks on them. Parents say this advocates cheeky attitudes and encourages answering back.
American Disney drama Hannah Montana has also come under fire – with parents claiming the programme encourages young girls to act too old for their age.
Kathryn Crawford, spokeswoman for www.thebabywebsite.com, which conducted the poll of 3,000 parents, said: “All children suffer from nightmares at some point during childhood. But there is no doubt that viewing unnecessary violence and hostility on television contributes to this.
“There is a great uncertainty about what to allow children to watch – on the one hand, you want them to be accepted by their peers and be able to join in conversations, but on the other, you want to protect them from growing up too fast and suffering with nightmares.”
What do you make of children’s TV? Has your child/children ever suffered with nightmares?
Do you remember any programmes from your childhood that injected slight fear in you!?
By Tasha Usefnia
Posted by Suzybabes2008
RE: Children's TV causes nightmares
Should kids stop watching the Wizard Of Oz? We seem to think it is ok for them to dress up as scary Monsters at Halloween. Just another example of the so called P.C. World gone crazy. I watched Power Rangers when I was a kid and let my 5 year old son watch it now.
Posted 15/05/2009 23:52:44
Posted by Hebsie
RE: Children's TV causes nightmares
How the hell is primevil a childrens program !! I agree with the Horrible Henry thing children copy what they see and when that is what we allow our kids to watch then how will they know what is right. I'd give that Bella from the tweenies a slap too Jumped up little s**t
Posted 12/12/2009 19:31:40
Posted by char char xx
RE: Children's TV causes nightmares
hebsie thats harsh ant it . yhh i agree that kids do copy things they watch but then u just teach them that thats not the right thing to do . i watched them kind of programes wen i was little n it ant done me any harm and i woyuld let my kids watch it
Posted 21/01/2011 13:58:57