Its like a horror movie outside, its terrible. I spend almost the whole time in my bedroom watching TV or drawing. Ricky Allen, 10, from the Ring Cross estate in Islington, north London, doesn't need convincing that a bedroom culture is developing in the face of increased fears for childrens safety. He lives it.
| Because of the trouble where I live, I turn out the lights, pull the curtains back and stay in. |
Now that 80 per cent of people in the UK live in cities, the menace of the concrete jungle increasingly shapes children's experience. Senab Adekunle, 15, based on the New River Green estate, also in Islington, says: Because there's always trouble where I live, I turn out the lights, pull the curtains back and stay in. How does she compensate? When I come in from school, I dump my bag and watch telly.
Joanne Mason, 14, adds that if violence won't kill you in the leafy suburbs of Wimbledon, boredom just might: I watch lots of TV because there's nothing else to do. Like many of the children interviewed, she had no shortage of viewing opportunities Ricky was far from unusual when he said his family had a TV in every room except the bathroom. But while the argument over the remote control may have been relegated to odd occasions when a favourite football team is on a cable channel delivered to the living room set, many children are disappointed by what they are offered by programmers.
Even when I was eight or nine, I couldn't watch children's television because it was so tedious, patronising and condescending, says Karen Loughrey, now l5. I've been watching adult programming since then, she says, though she concedes programmers have a tough challenge catering for such a wide age range in the after-school slot. I've always felt like I've been emotionally mature, concurred Pete Campbell, l7. I was watching so-called adult programmes such as The Buddha Of Suburbia when I was 14. Both cite Grange Hill (tired format) and Blue Peter (rubbish") as the worst examples of programming for those who are too old for Teletubbies and too young for late night viewing.
I really have something against Blue Peter, Rebecca Manford, 15, agrees. I hate it. I prefer adult programmes because I feel theyre more relevant to me than any kids programmes. A lot of them just arent relevant to the lifestyles young people have today. There doesn't seem to be much thought put into how children are going to react to programmes because a lot of the time they're really boring. Younger children are no less critical. I prefer action movies, says Eugene Asare, 14. If there is an adult in a programme for children, they talk to you like a baby. Ricky adds: Some of the kids channels have good things like Rugrats, but the cartoons with robots and warriors are rubbish. I like the ones that are about now, not about things that couldn't happen. Children's TV would be better if there were less talking cats and dogs and more realistic things. Marvyn Benoit, 12, blames children's channels that repeat it and repeat and repeat it for his loss of interest.
However, far from rushing to consume anything that offers the frisson of being reserved for older viewers, younger children are just as discerning in their assessment of adult programming. If I don't like it, I switch off the TV and go and do something else instead. If I like it I watch it, shrugs Eugene.
Even if something is for over-18s, for adults only, if its really good I don't care, explains Marvyn, I watch it anyway. If its a film that's really immature but the listings say it's not babyish I won't watch it. They don't influence me. Ricky has little patience with soaps where a long-lost sister or long-lost brother is always turning up. He prefers the Rovers Return to Ramsay Street because it happens in England. Most felt the nine oclock watershed was ineffectual for today's independent young viewers, though they recognised parents' need for guidance. Ricky indicated that a bit of humour goes a long way when saying no to unsuitable programmes. If it gets to a rude bit, laughs Ricky, my mum will muck about and put her hands over my eyes and say: Ricky, you don't want to see this.
The Fast Show, Harry Enfield And Chums, Shooting Stars, The Friday Night Armistice and Have I Got News For You were the major hits with children of all ages and are unlikely to alarm parents. And the outright winner in the battle for the sofa? The Simpsons! exclaims Marvyn to a chorus of approval. It's not just me that likes it even my grandad watches it."
About the team
This discussion was led by Karen Loughrey, 15, with editors Pete Campbell, 17, Rebecca Manford, 15, Eugene Asare, 14, Senab Adekunle, 15, and reporters Ricky Allen, 10, and Marvyn Benoit. 12. It was published in The Guardian.
