Monday, February 23, 2009

One-Armed CBeebies Host 'Scaring' Children

Quite disturbing that parents are complaining on BBC forums about this young lass. I remember the kids show The Story of Tracy Beaker on BBC cast a girl as a main character who had Cerebral palsy, and thought it was good for a kids show to do something like that, to show a young audience about things like disability etc...

Click pic above for story.

11 comments:

Graeme Neil Reid said...

My three year old and one year old don't scream and carry on when she's on the screen. Some people need to get a life.

Steve said...

I think she's quite lovely and our little boy is totally unphased by her limb. I have more of a problem with the guy - he's as wet as a flannel and completely limp. She knocks spots off him.

crookymike said...

I've been watching them with the kids for weeks and I never actually noticed she was missing part of her arm. I just noticed that she was quite cute.
Steve's right about him though.
I'd rather the kids saw someone with a disability as being "normal" than the constant stream of "beautiful people" (shouty and thick)that we get bombarded with as adults.

Nik Holmes said...

Well the minute she appeared both myself and my two boys stopped what we were doing and took in what we were seeing. It was shocking, it was unbelievable and I couldn't understand it. Poi and Chris had finally been sent packing, leaving only Sid from the original line up when I first started watching CBeebies with my kids a few years ago. Oh Poi, how you will be missed with your outstandingly tuneless singing.
As for the one armed lady, well my kids reacted the same way I imagine most kids would, they asked questions. They knew this was something different they were seeing, and upon receiving what I hope was a satisfying answer they once again learnt that different does not equal 'stuff of nightmares'. Had the stump been bloodied up or had a chainsaw on the end, yes perhaps unsuitable. As it was perhaps these concerned parents should worry about why there children should have such difficulties understanding concepts such as this, and be grateful that there is a way to explain to them such things at home and in their own time.

Though i must say Crookymike, I can't believe you never noticed for weeks! Noticed she was cute though...

AktoMan said...

According to the article, 9 people complained "officially". I wonder how many millions of people watch the programme?

Without sounding like I'm 'ranting' - what sort of a democracy are we living in if 9 vs thousands and thousands are listened too? I don't see why the licence payers money should be wasted until the moaning lobby get more people onto their side.

And the 'news' also made it to the New York Times

Andrew Glazebrook said...

I haven't watched CBeebies for quite a while now as all my kids have outgrown the programmes, but when they did watch I always hoped that Sarah-Jane Honeywell would be on presenting the show called Tikkabilla. :)

Back on the subject there was a coloured guy in a wheel chair who I used to see quite a lot on BBC called Ade Adepitan, who's both a presenter and wheelchair basketball player. He is in a wheelchair is because he contracted polio at the age of six months. He was awarded an MBE. He was made a Member of the British Empire for services to disability sport in 2005.

Michael Grant Clark said...

You know Konnie (late of Blue Peter) has an artificial head. I didn't notice for years.

crookymike said...

If she did have a chainsaw attached to the stump, she would easily be the greatest television presenter EVER!
When she said it was bedtime, my kids might actually listen.
Groovy!

I. N. J. Culbard said...

My son who is three saw his first punk the other day, complete with tartan trousers and most importantly an impressive multi-colored fanned mohawk. I had a great deal of fun explaining that one, and I have to say, my son was quite impressed.

Not watched Blue Peter with him yet but I'm sure that if he did notice and he was curious he'd ask and a parent I'd explain.

So... I'm beginning to wonder about these parents who complained. Don't they speak to their children?

Nik Holmes said...

My son saw his first full on Old School Punk at about that age too, on a visit to York. Needless to say he thought it was amazing and seems to think he'll see one everytime we visit York now. Vikings just don't hold any sway...

julie gardner said...

I cannot believe people are being so horrible to the new presenter on cbeebies, I have a two year old and he has'nt even noticed, people are very cruel, she does a great job are disabled peole not allowed on tv or should we lock them away like years ago, people are not all perfect some people have nothing better to do than complain, parents should explain to there children and maybe this would be a better world rather than cruel.