MODERN FAMILY
HOW much should you shield children from the news? How do you explain what they are seeing?
When the story of television presenter Ant McPartlin’s drink-drive arrest was being reported on breakfast news on Monday morning I started coughing and trying to avert the kids’ attention.
I felt awkward about the questions they would ask about one of their favourites.
This is not something we always do. After years of trying to shield them from “bad” news and turning down the television or radio when something not very nice comes on, I now take a more open approach.
They are starting to show a greater interest and even with our youngest’s limited access to the internet and limited interest in newspapers, he is picking up on plenty of news headlines, so it is important for us to guide him through.
John Craven is no longer at the helm, but our kids enjoy watching the newfangled Newsround every night, with its mix of serious stories mingled with more weird and wonderful pieces.
I’ve learned a thing or two from their background pieces which provide a breakdown of news stories in a manageable bite for our youngsters.
Despite being in the business of news, I am still shocked on a weekly basis by events. It as shocking for adults, making it all the more difficult to explain to a nine-year-old, but not something we should shy away from. Quite the contrary.
According to a recent survey, over two thirds of parents actively prevent their children from watching the news. Violent images of conflicts or acts of terrorism were the most common reason parents gave for switching off the television, followed by topics such as serious crime.
However, many kids from early teens onwards immerse themselves in violent video games (if you are still supposed to call them video games) and this inevitably leads to desensitised reactions when dreadful images from places like Aleppo appear on our TV screens.
But I have to admit that I agree with the mums and dads questioned who said one of the biggest factors was the fear of being asked difficult questions by their children.
Around half of the parents surveyed felt that 11 to 12 was about the right age for introducing children to the news.
I was nine when Bob Geldof made one of his first trips to Ethiopia to open the world’s eyes to the dreadful famine going on there and a bit older when one Saturday afternoon, we sat huddled around the television in disbelief as the Hillsborough tragedy unfolded.
Those images have stayed with me into adulthood, but it did help me learn about the reality of life and that it was not all Disney fairy tales with happy endings.
There is still a duty to monitor their news intake, but that has to be balanced with preparing them for adulthood too.
It is unfair to cheat children out of the truth, and important that they learn.