Hi wise Moms. I wanted to get your opinion on this. Over the weekend my son and I were playing board games on our living room floor. We were done playing chess when my son started to pretend the game pieces were real people. He seemed content playing by himself so I decided to watch my favorite cooking show. Well while checking out the listings I saw a title on the health channel “Your Child Ate What?” It was about young children that swallowed things from rocks to batteries. Curiously I turned it on and started watching the program. My son saw on the T.V. kids his age and started to watch it with me. Before you knew it we were both engrossed in the program. My son, being 4 ½ and always curious was asking a lot of questions about what was going on, why the child was at the hospital, how the Doctor got the rock out, etc. He didn’t want to take his eyes of the screen and became impatient when the commercials came on. Now mind you my son watches little to no T.V. The most he watches is the cooking channel with me or the discovery channel when we watch programs about space/solar system (his favorite) so I was intrigued that he was so fascinated by this show. At the dinner table last night my son was telling my husband about the little boy that swallowed the rock and how the Dr. saved the little boy. My husband couldn’t believe that I let him watch it. He felt that he was too young to watch something like that because it might scare him. There was nothing graphic at all and I explained it to my husband, but my son saw the kids in distress and going to the hospital. What do you think? Should I have not let him watch it and wait till he’s older to watch stuff like that?
Thank you ladies! Now I feel better about letting him watch it with me. Next time the show is on and my husband is home, I plan on having him watch it too. Oh and I told my husband about those that commented that our son may be a future Dr. and he actually smiled when I told him. All is well and he’s not upset anymore =-)
I watched it too and I think it was appropriate. Like you said, it wasn't graphic at all. If anything, it will teach kids why they shouldn't put things like that in their mouths!
I think you were good to use it as a learning tool. "This is why you shouldn't put things in your mouth honey..." Your son got to see the consequences of putting things in his mouth that are not food, so I think it's good. If your son wasn't scared to watch it, then chances are, he won't be scared later.
As long as your son was not distressed by what he saw I think that it probably was ok.
My 6 year old came in the other night, because of a bad dream, and watched the end of The Buisness of Being Born with me. She did watch a lady give birth but since she seemed interested and not scared I let her watch it with me.
Really medical stuff is real and natural! Maybe you are raising a future Dr!
.
My son is the same age and I actually saw that show. My son was nearby and I asked him to go play somewhere else while I watched it. Knowing my child I decided not to let him watch it. I wasn't concerned about the distress and going to the hospital ,but that my child would try it even though he saw that the little got sick.
Overall though I don't think it was a bad program for a 4 1/2 yr old to watch, especially since you were there with him and could explain what was going on. Just depends on the maturity of your child.
I think you being the mom would have been aware if the program was distressing your son. And when my son was 4 when he didn't like something on tv or thought it was scary, even when we watched Planet Earth, he would say something as I am sure your son would have told you if he was scared. It clearly interested him and probably without you around will decide not to put something tempting in his mouth because he learned what happened to the kids. I think since your husband didn't watch it he is assuming the worst that it was scary. If your little guy wasn't scared then I would drop it and go with your instincts. Also all these educational programs even Discovery will flash a notice advising parents if a program might disturb young viewers and this one didn't.
I think you were fine. My kids 8y and 3y watch stuff like that all the time. Family time is watching Mike Rowe on Discovery's Dirty Jobs,Deadliest Catch, or Ice Road Truckers. Its all real, its all good.
M.
I think it was o.k. that you let him watch it. It sounds like you talked about it with him and explained what was happening. It sounds educational to me. Trust your instinct, It sounds like you are an attentive mother If you felt it was inappropriate you would have turned it off.
this may be a late response, and haven't a chance to read the other comments. but i would be thrilled to see how intrigued my son would be about how THE 'super'DOCTOR saved he little boy! And hope i could somehow influence my boy to think about how some day he too can have a noble job that helps others, maybe even be a doctor too! your husband is silly to not see the positive in this.
I think you're fine. I wish I would have seen it so I could make my son watch it with me! I'm constantly explaining why things like rocks can't be eaten, and how the doctor would have to get them out! It's great that you're turning everyday things into learning experiences for him.
I think it was fine for him to watch. I too have a 4 1/2 year old boy and as long as he wasn't frightened by it I would let him watch it. You said that it wasn't gory or bloody and it was very informative for him. It allowed him to learn alot. It will give him knowledge he can use too. It will be a great reminder as to why we don't put stuff in our mouths.
It seems OK to watch, but I wonder if some kids who see that show may want to try to eat some of those things too to see what happens. Probably not, but there are some kids who will do anything for attention and I wouldn't want their little minds thinking, what would happen if I tried to eat that?
