Parents say one-armed cbeebies presenter is scaring their kids

[blond1e]

Just read this on the news.

Do you think your child would be negatively affected? My kids asked why the lady didn't have a hand and I said obviously something had happened in order for her to have lost her hand and the conversation went no further. To them she's just a lady like any other but minus a hand.

I can't see how it'd be a good idea to never show kids a disabled person. I think well done Cbeebies - she seems lovely enough.

[Dormouse]

I agree, I think it's brilliant that she's doing Cbeebies - surely kids have to learn that all people look different. Cbeebies are quite good at that sort of thing anyway, with disabled people in a lot of their programmes, but a disabled presenter is great.

[jamsandwhich]

Personally I think she's great (hopefully they will get a bit better when they settle in a bit, still a bit new and cheesy). My two will grow up not knowing any different and that it is a normal thing which is good - if they ever ask I will explain it as best I can.

My opinion is that it is the parents who find it awkward when the kids ask questions - if the kids really are scared then it is a good thing that the parents need to explain the realities of it.

[Scottishnellie]

I think thats ridiculous. Surely it's easier to explain about people having disabilities in the comfort and privacy of your own home having seen it on tv, rather than wait to have that conversation on a crowded bus or something where they spot something in person?

news story (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Disabled-CBeebies-TV-Presenter-Cerrie-Burnell-Accused-Of-Scaring-Children-After-Complaints/Article/200902415227818?f=rss)

[icho]

i hadn't noticed tbh.

i was/am more annoyed with how patronising they are! [think i like chris and poi]

[mummytotwo]

Surely if she is scaring the children then the parents need to educate the children so that they aren't scared.

My son hasn't even noticed :D

[hflower74]

What are people like for goodness sake!

I noticed the lady for the first time a week or so ago and asked my daughter how long the new lady had been on cbeebies? To which she answered, ages. Then about twenty minutes later my daughter suddenly noticed she only had one arm and commented on it to which i said that some people are born like that as sometimes parts of the body dont grow properly or work properly which is why some people use wheelchairs when their legs wont work and that was the end of it. No big deal.

Although i must admit i do find the one arm quite distracting but my daughter doesnt so it can only be a good thing to have more disabilites on childrens programmes so they can see them as the norm.

[SuzyWoo]

I never even noticed for ages, but I don't think she's a very good presenter tbh. BUT, I always say that with the CBeebies presenters and they so grow on me. It's good for children to see we are all different.

[daphne~sparkle]

What a pile of nonsense -
I have a male friend with one arm - lost in an accident when he was young its near enough the same place as the presenter - would these parents expect him to hide from them incase he scared their bubble wrapped children?
TBH I have found that young children are much more accepting of disabilities than uneducated older children and adults. In my opinion having her on the cbeebies channel which is aimed at pre-school age is great.
What kind of society are we living in that people cant explain to their children that some people are different :rolleyes:

[kenziekoo]

I think its normal for kids to question difference but they should be educated that we are all different in lots of way, it is great that the bbc aren't discriminating against people with dissabilites and that everyone has the same opportunities. Any parents that complain need educating themselves and may find themselves in trouble for there own discriminationatory behaviour!!!!

[lizzie18]

my son hasnt noticed !! x

[princessa]

My girls haven't noticed either. I had, and a couple of weeks ago I googled her just out of interest to see if she'd had an accident or had been born with one arm, and the digital spy site came up where a person had started the topic, saying that their 3 year old would have nightmares because of it! I can't imagine what kind of imagination a 3 year old would have to have nightmares because a woman has one arm!

[Zaul]

The parents who are saying their kids would have nightmares/be upset are obviously uncomfortable having to explain why some people are disabled/injured.I haven't seen her myself-probably due to to fact my DDs a bit past this stage-but good for the tv comp taking her on.

[Coupon-madder]

Some parents are so stupid aren't they? :mad:

It makes me soooooo annoyed that anyone could possibly complain about a presenter who isn't 'perfect' physically! What is the matter with those flippin' dim parents that they can't use it as a little discussion about how everyone is different and some people have an arm or leg missing when they are born but it doesn't hurt them.

What would those parents do if they took their child to playgroup and one of the kids there had a disability? Would they ask that the 'offending' child be removed?? :confused::mad:

[Grace & Favour]

I think you've got to hand it to her . . . . . . . .






Oi'll get me coat

[frexy]

Heard the women in question on Jeremy Vine show today and she was so good in taking about her disability.

more power to her.

We had a mother once complain about a talk about a horse dying, and this was during an assembly, it made her daughter of 10/11 so upset! Dont do it again was her comment,well guess what death does happen and to some nice people as well as horses.

[Siaron]

OMG I can't believe I've just read that news story - how utterly narrow minded and biggoted some people are - I can just guess what kind of household that man's daughter is going to grow up in. DD is too young to have noticed (let alone ask!) but I noticed the first day she was on.
I'm physically disabled and use a walking stick to get around with (which DD loves pinching and walking with - even though it's twice her height!) and I'm likely to be in a wheelchair by the time she is 8-10 years old. I wonder if this man would stop his daughter playing with my daughter incase I gave her nightmares for having a walking stick.
My blood is boiling about this and I'd love a few minutes with the pillock!
xx

[princesskerry]

My two boys are too young to notice, but I had but only when it becomes noticeable if she is waving etc, and today she was colouring in and the items were moving because she wasn't able to steady them with a free hand.
I agree both presenters are a bit cheesy, but my children like watching them so thats all that matters.
Today in Sainsburys Jayden said hello and reached out to a lady going past in a wheelchair, she said hello to him really cheerily and then for a brief second I saw a look past her face and I think she thought he was pointing her out because she was in a wheelchair until I pointed out it was in fact the basket on her lap which had a big bag of grapes sitting on the top in which Jaydens hand was trying to reach. Lol!
Kids so innocent heh! :smile:

[heatherks]

havent noticed the show yet but really ignorant of the parent to complain that she gives their kids nightmares instead of explaining to their child

...we often see people in wheelchairs having lost a leg or both in some cases and my daughter is intrigued how they get around ..

and my english teacher at school only had one arm

[far canel]

Children are not born prejudice or racist etc, they are taught it, and these parents are presicely doing that.

[holliemon]

Slightly off topic but when my DD was in reception class at school she befriended a girl who had come from the sudan - her parents were doctors in the local hospital - I once asked her what the differences were between them and she pointed out height, colour of eyes, hair was different, talk differently etc and at no time was the colour of skin mentioned - kids aren't bothered about things like that it just shows prejudices come from listening to others.

[pookienoodle]

I feel so sorry for the kids being brought up by such ignorant parents.
Children rarely notice disabilities and when they do they will accept the explaination without question,they won't see a disability as scarey unless this is suggested to them.

My son quite proudly tells his nursery friends "my daddy has a stick" he thinks it's great.

Any decent parent would welcome the opportunity to discuss this in their own home as opposed to an embarrasing public situation,but as we all know,not all parents are decent.

[sandhabibi]

My ds hasn't mentioned it.Noticed this morning the camera has kept her body only in view from elbow so it doesn't notice, or maybe thats coincidence.

[Zaul]

Slightly off topic but when my DD was in reception class at school she befriended a girl who had come from the sudan - her parents were doctors in the local hospital - I once asked her what the differences were between them and she pointed out height, colour of eyes, hair was different, talk differently etc and at no time was the colour of skin mentioned - kids aren't bothered about things like that it just shows prejudices come from listening to others.


My DD was very similar when she first met an Asian girl who'd started in her class.Told me she was good at art too,that she was very shy and had beautiful black hair.Didnt occur to her that this girl was any different other than being new to the school.Must have been a week later before she meantioned the girls name and I twigged as it was obviously foreign.Prior to that she referred to her continuously as 'The New Girl'.Must admit I was quietly proud of DD.They are now at different schools but are still in touch and visit now and then.

[Darkangel709]

Some parents are soooo bl**dy stupid its unreal...i think its because they are uptight about people with disablilities and have issues with them themselves...instead of saying to the kids what exactly is a disability, they decide to not talk and make a bigger issue out of it than it really should be. My dd knows about people in wheelchairs and people with disabilities....she asked me the other day about a boy in a wheelchair, he must have been about 9. So i said to dd why dont you say hello he wont bite only because he's in a wheelchair doesnt mean he cant talk. He had spinabifida it turns out. The mum was really please that dd talked to him as if nothing was wrong, and the boy was chatting as dd was asking why he was in a wheelchair etc as they do...and he answered them i know people look down on people with disabilities and find it difficult to talk to them but just saying hello instead of staring at them will probably make there day.

[tiger]

It's hard to believe how narrow minded some people can be. I wonder how these parents would feel if they lost an arm and their child was scared of them. As has been mentioned the attitude comes from the parents not the children.
I don't seem why people with disabilities shouldn't work in any profession that they choose.
This is why I think it's great that the last paralympics had so much more air time than previously. People with disabilities shouldn't feel that they have to hide away from society.
I know a lady who is in a wheelchair as the result of a car crash. She is a very strong person and so people tend to see the person rather than the wheelchair. She is not a disabled person but a person with a disability. It must be very difficult for people who are not able to communicate so well.

[Scottishnellie]

Children are not born prejudice or racist etc, they are taught it, and these parents are presicely doing that.

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

[Angel]

I attended a Primary School myself, where one of the teacher's had only one hand which I think he was born with.

This was not particularly scary for me as a child, or any of the other pupils.

[Darkangel709]

I had a drama teacher called mr cochran he lost his hand in a racing car accident and his nick name was stumpy.....he was great.....he used to play loads of tricks on us and we all loved him. Didnt matter that he had a disability.

[Mrs Lady C]

Why are some people so ignorant towards people with disability's? My 2 year old watches cbeebies and I don't see anything scary about this presenter!!!
I find with my son who has special needs autism etc is, people in general do not accept him for how he is because you cannot see a physical disability, I do feel most people in general are far more accepting of people with a physical disability than they are of somebody with a mental disability iykwim. My son has been treated like s_ _ _ by lots of people, children and adults including family members and even my neighbours because of their own ignorance. :(:(:(

[vickn]

i think its great what cbeebies is doing, my little lad hasnt even noticed something is different, he watches something special and doesnt seem to pick up about things on there either as he has always watched it it seems to him normal that not every is teh same and why shouldnt it!!!!!

this morning on the way to school he mentioned his friend didnt have a daddy but she has too houses her mummys and her nannas
once upon a time this was not the norm and children with out fathers wernt looked upon very nice but thankfully this has now change and hopefully soon people who have disabiltys will be seen as the norm, not something that has to be hiden away!!

[DIVA1977]

I think its good that the BBC are showing what an equal opportunity employer they are.
And i agree if kids grow up seeing not ev1 the same, they wont think people like ceri are abnormal.

However as presenter i think they both awful. Bring back Chris and Pui them two were awesome and DS14 months loved them.

What was scary however was whatever was going on today at 12.30 right before Balamory. I was getting my son his lunch and next minute i hear him cry out , a really pitiful cry so i rush in and hes sitting on the floor.

Seemed ok, and then he turns looks up ( TV on wall) at Tv and almost screams/cries again. I think the male presenter was dressed up with black affro style wig on making a truly awful racket and my 14 month was scared witless. Took me good few mins to calm him down and not much phases him

[littlemissnaughty]

Good on the bbc for showing equal opportunity's but tbh I think she is a terrible presenter. My DD absolutely hates them both and would love to see Chris and Pui Pui (as she calls her) back. They were really good presenters and really gelled together. I was so shocked to find out that Chris was Gay though I thought he was quite nice :D

[DIVA1977]

Good on the bbc for showing equal opportunity's but tbh I think she is a terrible presenter. My DD absolutely hates them both and would love to see Chris and Pui Pui (as she calls her) back. They were really good presenters and really gelled together. I was so shocked to find out that Chris was Gay though I thought he was quite nice :D

All the good men are married hun and all the sexy ones are gay. Often kids TV presenters are :focus:

I totally agree they both hopeless (ceri and co ) DS loves Juston aka Mr tumble. Likes Sid and Andy alot too.

But i find them ( ceri n co) nauseating

[littlemissnaughty]

All the good men are married hun and all the sexy ones are gay. Often kids TV presenters are :focus:

I totally agree they both hopeless (ceri and co ) DS loves Juston aka Mr tumble. Likes Sid and Andy alot too.

But i find them ( ceri n co) nauseating

Why do kids love Justin so much, I think he is awful. Did you know he was Jake in Tweenies?

[Dolly Daydream]

Why do kids love Justin so much, I think he is awful. Did you know he was Jake in Tweenies?

Good God was he :eek::eek:

Heard an interview with someone who knew him on the radio a while back and they said in real life he wasn't a nice man but Ds used to love him :D

[jamsandwhich]

However as presenter i think they both awful. Bring back Chris and Pui them two were awesome and DS14 months loved them.

What was scary however was whatever was going on today at 12.30 right before Balamory. I was getting my son his lunch and next minute i hear him cry out , a really pitiful cry so i rush in and hes sitting on the floor.

Seemed ok, and then he turns looks up ( TV on wall) at Tv and almost screams/cries again. I think the male presenter was dressed up with black affro style wig on making a truly awful racket and my 14 month was scared witless. Took me good few mins to calm him down and not much phases him

I agree - they are not good but hopefully if they are here to stay they will get better with time!!! I was watching this and am not surprised your little one was scared - it was absolutely awful, was embarrassed for the guy as it reminded me of that girl who sang 'ymca' on x-factor!!!!!!

Good on the bbc for showing equal opportunity's but tbh I think she is a terrible presenter. My DD absolutely hates them both and would love to see Chris and Pui Pui (as she calls her) back. They were really good presenters and really gelled together. I was so shocked to find out that Chris was Gay though I thought he was quite nice :D

Can't believe he is gay - ahhh well never mind, my affections will move elsewhere:rolleyes:
And wasn't Pui Po out of the teletubbies??

[hflower74]

Found this info online, for all you Chris and Pui lovers!

Chris and Pui have been busy developing a new series for CBeebies called Show Me Show Me. This will be broadcast on CBeebies in summer 2009 as part of the Discover & Do zone.

[mum2-2girls]

Unreal - 9 Official Complaints????? I truly cannot believe some parents are so stupid.
My DD1 (4yrs) noticed right away and often asks 'how does she??' questions about it, shes curious. DD2 (2yrs) hasnt mentioned it since she first noticed.

Kids will be kids and are naturally curious about people who are different from them. DD1 came home from school once and told me that she had a new girl in her class, with a black face and different hair, for about a week she would go on about the girls curly hair and how different it felt, but she had never met anyone like that before.

[YooHoo]

Can't believe he is gay - ahhh well never mind, my affections will move elsewhere:rolleyes:
And wasn't Pui Po out of the teletubbies??

I would have been really shocked if he was straight, I thought he was really camp:D Have you seen him on Step Inside?
Pui was Po on the Teletubbies. I once saw them both on ready, steady cook and they were lovely. It must be hard to follow such good presenters but I'm sure the 2 new ones will settle in quickly (hopefully!)

[michelle111]

I can believe some people complain ,there are some real idiots out there and unfortunately they pass on their ignorent veiws onto their children...
My ds's swimming instructor has no legs ,well he has false ones (and metal springs things for his marathon running)....the kids dont bat an eyelid in fact they think its a plus when he takes his legs off to get in the water because then he is the same height as them without his legs
Kids should be taught there is no normal we all vary in different ways and thats ok !! we would all be alot happier if we all could accept that for ourselves has well as others.

[Deedee]

I tried not to say anything but I have to!
I've seen this new girl on beebies, ok, not as bad as some they've had, sure she'll settle in...BUT...if the Beeb really are trying to make sure our children are exposed to allsorts of human (iykwim) then why are there no GOD DAMN UGLY presenters? Disfigured etc,

I physically recoil at some horrors on the street, perhaps if I had seen "ugly" people whilst I was growing up I may know how to behave! :rolleyes:
When I wake up and look in the mirror sometimes I want to hide from the world --- usually the morning after the night before! :D lol

[navara]

Now there's talk of banning Captain Hook and Long John Silver:eek:

[princessa]

http://tv.sky.com/cerrie-speaks-out

[frexy]

saw her picture in the paper today and she seems very nice.

[Mrs Lady C]

I was reading an article about cerrie in a magazine recently and the one thing that really struck me in the article was cerrie talking about how unusual it is for kid's with the same sort of disabilities as her to see somebody like themselves on tv. I thought she is absolutely right, it has to be a good thing for disabled children to see people similar to themselves on tv. :)

[jamsandwhich]

I was reading an article about cerrie in a magazine recently and the one thing that really struck me in the article was cerrie talking about how unusual it is for kid's with the same sort of disabilities as her to see somebody like themselves on tv. I thought she is absolutely right, it has to be a good thing for disabled children to see people similar to themselves on tv. :)

Totally agree couponlady and, it is also good for kids without any disabilities too - might stop them growing up into ignorant adults!!!

The more disabled kids are integrated into 'normal' society the less of a taboo thing it will become and eventually (in an ideal world) everywhere would be accommodating because it wouldn't be different.

Having to push a double buggy around - which is infact the same width as a standard wheelchair - is difficult enough and have walked out of shops before - after telling the manager I will spend my money where I can actually get to the things I want to buy - and gone somewhere with better access. Mothercare is the worst offender.