The News and little ears.....

Going Forward

Driving today whilst the News at One came on, the headline was about the mother who killed her 8 year old. (http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0707/629071-diane-ward-court/)

I had my 4 year old behind me, and I had to turn down the radio, for obvious reasons. I know the new has to be reported, but it's often done in a very blunt fashion.

We've all heard warnings before on radio for "protecting" childrens ears from far less serious topics, why should "The News" be any different?

pablo128

True. I have had some awkward questions emanating from my back seat due to the news being on.

solomafioso

So what, you want to censor the news now? F*ckin' parents. :pac:

How about instead of having the news on, you actually had a childrens show or music from a disney movie?

It's news. It's going to report harsh sh*t.

Ditch

Didn't Chris Rea make a song about exactly this ....?

strobe

Going Forward wrote: »

I had my 4 year old behind me, and I had to turn down the radio, for obvious reasons.

...not wanting to give up the element of surprise..?




























(I'm a bad person)

Chattastrophe!

In my opinion it's up to you to protect your child from things you don't want them to hear, e.g. by having your own music to play in the car.

It's not like those who broadcast these stories are doing so in a gratuitous manner ... it's in society's best interest to be informed of what's going on in the country. Including criminal acts.

I'd hate for the news to be censored like you're proposing ... ultimate nanny state!

whirlpool

Don't have the news on when the kids are in the car.

It comes on on the hour, every hour.

(or on the quarter-to-the-hour, if you listen to Spin news, which is basically just One Direction updates anyway.)

/endthread.

solomafioso

whirlpool wrote: »

Don't have kids /endthread.

FYP.

Dyr

"I'll f**king murder you if ye do'nt shut up, ye wee pup"

parenting 101

893bet

Jesus wont someone think of the children.

Some parents think the world revolves around them and their brood I swear. Do you really want a warning? are you serious? Your post must be in jest. No one could be that self centered?

mickydoomsux

Let's just bubblewrap all of existence for your little darlings because all us adults should have to live in a child-proofed world.

893bet

Bambi wrote: »

"I'll f**king murder you if ye do'nt shut up, ye wee pup"

parenting 101

Can you mind your language or post a warning before you curse incase the OPs child is reading beside them?

Come on like.

Pwindedd

I'm struggling to see where the OP says they want the news censored.

Going Forward

893bet wrote: »

Jesus wont someone think of the children.

Some parents think the world revolves around them and their brood I swear. Do you really want a warning? are you serious? Your post must be in jest. No one could be that self centered?

I hope your post made you feel as good as it made me.

IvyTheTerrible

God forbid that parents should use a bit of their own cop on and not put the news on in front of their small children, ah sure let the state take care of it!

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Going Forward wrote: »

I had my 4 year old behind me, and I had to turn down the radio.

That's terrible, are you ok?

Tail Docker

You turned down the radio. Problem solved. It's hardly rocket science. Or should the whole world be edited to suit your 4 year old?

iguana

pablo128 wrote: »

True. I have had some awkward questions emanating from my back seat due to the news being on.

Isn't answering awkward questions actually a massively important part of parenting? The world is actually a tough place an awful lot of the time and bridging the gap between a toddler's expectations that world should always be sunshine and lollipops and raising an adult who is fully prepared for reality is achieved be answering awkward questions with honest discussion. Underestimating our children and sheltering them as much as is common now is something that plays a huge part in creating narcissistic, self-entitled adults. It does them and society a disservice.

Going Forward

Going Forward wrote: »

Driving today whilst the News at One came on, the headline was about the mother who killed her 8 year old. (http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0707/629071-diane-ward-court/)

I had my 4 year old behind me, and I had to turn down the radio, for obvious reasons. I know the new has to be reported, but it's often done in a very blunt fashion.

We've all heard warnings before on radio for "protecting" childrens ears from far less serious topics, why should "The News" be any different?

The thing about the news is that it has to be put across factually. You can't employ euphemisms or make veiled references.

You already protected the child by turning down the volume, and there isn't much else to be done. Bad news is always going to sound like bad news.

Try audiobooks.

No Pants

They should have to give a warning, but then be allowed swear during the broadcast. That way it all balances out.

iguana

iguana wrote: »

Isn't answering awkward questions actually a massively important part of parenting? The world is actually a tough place an awful lot of the time and bridging the gap between a toddler's expectations that world should always be sunshine and lollipops and raising an adult who is fully prepared for reality is achieved be answering awkward questions with honest discussion. Underestimating our children and sheltering them as much as is common now is something that plays a huge part in creating narcissistic, self-entitled adults. It does them and society a disservice.

Four is a bit young to take in the nuances of mental illness, and the manslaughter of a child by it's mother.

Arthur Beesley

They should have spelt it out instead.

HeidiHeidi

LexieOnRale wrote: »

That's terrible, are you ok?

...hun?

caustic 1

Mine are grown now but don't recall them being that engrossed with what was on the radio at that age, maybe music yeah but not a boring person talking, they just lose interest.

Yellowblackbird

4 year olds don't listen to the fvcking news. :rolleyes:

iguana

Candie wrote: »

Four is a bit young to take in the nuances of mental illness, and the manslaughter of a child by it's mother.

It depends on the child but overall most parents drastically underestimate their children's ability to deal with reality. The child doesn't necessarily have to understand the nuances and I'd expect the discussions about an incident like the Ward's to happen on and off over the years, while the child figures it out. But the child will hear about these things, there is no way to keep control of that, the only thing that you can control is how they process that information and you can only do that with open honest discussion, letting the child take the lead and not lying to them or hiding things from them.

At five I had numerous involved discussions with my parents about things like WW1, 2 and the potential of 3. Up to and including the nearest likely bomb target, what would happen to people who lived in our vicinity and how suicide would be the best option for our family due to where we lived. And I can't even begin to imagine how much healthier that is for a child than hearing the beginning of a story about a mother killing a child and seeing your parent rush to turn it off. Just think about what the imagination of a four year old is going to come up with to fill in all the questions that creates!

humberklog

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and threw them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

humberklog

humberklog wrote: »

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and through them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

I didn't know that and I really wish I hadn't just read it.

pablo128

iguana wrote: »

Isn't answering awkward questions actually a massively important part of parenting? The world is actually a tough place an awful lot of the time and bridging the gap between a toddler's expectations that world should always be sunshine and lollipops and raising an adult who is fully prepared for reality is achieved be answering awkward questions with honest discussion. Underestimating our children and sheltering them as much as is common now is something that plays a huge part in creating narcissistic, self-entitled adults. It does them and society a disservice.

My 5 yr old recently lost her grandfather, and was upset about it for a while. So any time death was mentioned she would be asking questions. Now while I've no problems answering any of her questions as honestly and diplomatically as I can, it wasn't good for her at the time to be dwelling on it.

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

4 year olds don't listen to the fvcking news. :rolleyes:

You might think that. Until, like an above poster has said, a little voice from the back seat says, 'Daddy, what's rape?'

Tail Docker

humberklog wrote: »

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and threw them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

I'm not sure I'm old enough to read stuff like that. Where's the volume control?

caustic 1

humberklog wrote: »

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and threw them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

Jesus.

folan

seriously, are we that ****ed up a nation that we have to censor the news so the precious little ones dont become scared?

its news, pretty standard format. its usually on on the hour and half hour. or, stop listening to newstalk

Plazaman

I doubt a 4 year old in the back of a car takes in a news reports as usually they are in a world of their own. Maybe they recognise words they are familiar with so they might hear blah, blah, blah, mother, blah, blah, 8 year old, blah, blah.

Now if a news report comes on where Barney was shot by Santa Claus who then was set upon and killed by the Teletubbies, turn that shít off straight away.

lazygal

I've already trained my two year old to shout 'BOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG' really loudly and repeatedly when the angelus is on to distract her from the images of a jewish guy being tortured to death and random people staring off into the middle distance. It's the little things that make parenting worthwhile.

floggg

humberklog wrote: »

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and threw them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

I refuse to believe that's possible.

I know it was reported because I just googled it, but...just no.

Birneybau

humberklog wrote: »

I've a 10 year old daughter and would usually explain what was going on in the news (if I have it on in the car). Except one time recently enough when a news item came on the radio in the car about a rape in India on a bus. The item went on to describe how an accused reached into the victims anus, pulled out her intestines and threw them out the travelling bus' s window.

I've learned now to turn the dial pretty quickly if the story is inappropriate.

What news station would broadcast that, honestly?

Linka

solomafioso wrote: »

So what, you want to censor the news now? F*ckin' parents. :pac:

Be careful now with that big tarred brush of yours.

Going Forward wrote: »

Driving today whilst the News at One came on, the headline was about the mother who killed her 8 year old. (http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0707/629071-diane-ward-court/)

I had my 4 year old behind me, and I had to turn down the radio, for obvious reasons. I know the new has to be reported, but it's often done in a very blunt fashion.

We've all heard warnings before on radio for "protecting" childrens ears from far less serious topics, why should "The News" be any different?

If in the car I would generally keep the volume down very low or switch over all together. I think there is a time and a place for explaining to an inquisitive mind some of the terminology they might hear. Explaining the word 'paedophile' for example, to a child while they're facing the back of your head is not ideal. It needs gentle explaining in order to avoid scaring the hell out of them. I don't believe in sheltering a child, but it does need to be age appropriate and it is best you're facing your child if they ask what something like that means.

cloud493

Maybe instead of censoring the news, you should turn it off when you've got young ones in the car.

No Pants

Just say that the 8 year old must have been very bold and stare meaningfully at your child. That should keep them quiet for five minutes at least. *

* Even I'm only joking.

cloud493

Birneybau wrote: »

What news station would broadcast that, honestly?

RTE. RTE love scaring kids.

Going Forward

cloud493 wrote: »

Maybe instead of censoring the news, you should turn it off when you've got young ones in the car.

I don't want it censored, nor do I wish to leave the radio off till they're 18.

I'm suggesting that on days when news items are of an obviously violent or adult nature broadcasters could issue a simple MA warning beforehand.

The strange thing is is that on TV it's done for the likes of Eastenders but not the Six One.

caustic 1

If the little darlings not out of nappies is watching the Six one news or Eastenders then I'm afraid you as a parent are to blame for having programmes of adult content on whilst they are up. You know your own child and what they can cope with, however news items are going to use hard hitting dialogue and footage in order to get their message across, therefore not for children of certain ages.

Duggy747

They should have Benny Hill theme running the in background when reading the news, complete with a silly slide whistle.

looksee

*Here is the News. As usual, parental discretion should be used as there may be some scary bits.*

Custardpi

Didn't the BBC used to (they possibly still do, couldn't be arsed checking) have a sanitised version of the news called "Newsround"? If there's something similar on today perhaps you could watch that with your child so that he/she is eased into the world of current affairs rather than having ridiculous warnings/censorship on the adult version.

Going Forward

caustic 1 wrote: »

If the little darlings not out of nappies is watching the Six one news or Eastenders then I'm afraid you as a parent are to blame for having programmes of adult content on whilst they are up. You know your own child and what they can cope with, however news items are going to use hard hitting dialogue and footage in order to get their message across, therefore not for children of certain ages.

I agree, and mine dont watch them, but why don't both carry the MA warning?
The news is often far worse than EE.

Custardpi

Going Forward wrote: »

I agree, and mine dont watch them, but why don't both carry the MA warning?
The news is often far worse than EE.

What's an MA warning? "This next item is not suitable for those not educated to a Masters level or beyond. Other viewers should switch channels now to avoid having their minds blown"

Agent Smith

Its a Pretty slippery slope you're going onto when you want them to start censoring the news....

Agent Smith

Custardpi wrote: »

What's an MA warning?

Only Your MA should watch this :pac:

humberklog

Birneybau wrote: »

What news station would broadcast that, honestly?

RTE1, News at 1. Aine Lawlor (I think) was sitting in for S O'R. They went live to a British journo live from India where he briefly outlined some of the the prosecutions claims. The presenter did apologise, they were quite shocked too.

The One Doctor

What kind of person actually listens to the news anyway? Is it in the hope that we might finally be told some good news? Or is it a morbid fascination with death and corruption?

I guarantee that your life will improve when you stop listening or watching the news and ignore print media. Mine certainly did. None of it is of any relevance to us.