Should the 'Watershed' be extended to a later hour?

Question

Older kids between the ages of 10-16 just do NOT go to bed at 9pm anymore, (on a school night 'perhaps')...Don't you feel the sex, voilence on tv is just too adult for this age group...
What do you do, turn the TV OFF then get asked why, or do you sit and feel uneasy in fear of what's coming on 'next'?...Hmmmmmmmmm...

Answer 1

I have a 10 year old who goes to bed at 9.30 and a 14 year old that goes to bed at 10.30. I sometimes sit watching TV with them and find myself having to switch over because there is something on which is unacceptable for children of that age to see. I even stop my 14 year old from watching 18 DVD's as I think in this day and age they grow up far too quickly as it is without being subjected to graphic sex and violence you see today.

I think the watershed should be 10pm, afterall, Coronation Street shows a murder, Eastenders shows affairs and stuff, you just cant get away from it.

Answer 2

I, personally, think you should turn the tv off. Or change the channel. Or put in a video. If you think the sex and violence on tv, the language, the subject matter, or whatever is inappropriate for your child, then TURN IT OFF. Let's face it--networks are a business, and they show what people want to watch. If you don't like what they're showing, don't watch it. If enough people agree with you and stop watching, the network will stop showing it.

What's wrong with saying "Because I'm the parent, and I don't think this show is appropriate for our family?" In fact, why do you have to explain yourself at all? You are the parent--isn't that reason enough to turn off the TV, go to bed, clean your room?

So, no, I don't think the 'watershed' should be extended. I *DO* think that if more people used the power button on their remote to stop watching programs they considered 'objectionable', then that will have the long term effect of creating higher quality programming at all hours. Alternatively, if people LIKE sex, violence, and adult language and content and keep watching those shows, then that's what the networks are going to show. Whether or not your family watches such things should be up to the adults in the household--not the government, the networks, and certainly not the children.

Answer 3

When my nephews are up we don't watch a lot of tv. After homework etc. is done we allow them to do something like bored games, maybe play a couple of games on the computer (as long as we can see what they're doing) they're 11 and 13. We're stricter then their parents are on what they can and cannot do but we also make them go outside when it's not blue cold and run and play like kids are suppose to do so they're worn out by the time 9:30 or 10 p.m. comes. We also set up a rule that they had to be in their rooms by 9:15-9:30ish they could read or do whatever drawings they wanted til it was 10 then it's lights out usually.

Answer 4

So, have all of the adults got to sit up 'til 2 in the morning just to see some grown up TV? The watershed is at 9pm and if parents (myself included) don't want the kids watching then they can either be sent to do something non-TV related (such things do exist) or they be sent to bed at a decent time.

The water shed is fine where it is.

Answer 5

I would say extend by 2 hours ,i know what you mean by kids not being in bed at 9pm my two are getting too old to be put too bed that early , but i still think they are too young to watch all the sex and violence ,We turn on to the Disney channel nothing nasty happens on there or they go to their room and watch a DVD which are all PG or U rated,Sometimes the news is a bit explicit talking about paedophiles and rapists don't think kids need to hear about that or am i being silly.

Answer 6

I agree. You are the parent and should make the judgement. When I was younger the tv shows were not like today. Then we wonder what is wrong with the youth of today. Too much violence, sex and other inappropriate behavior on tv and all around. How do you get away from it? You dont, you have to explain to your child there are things on tv and in the outside world that just are not appropriate. Its ashame that we have to though. I totally agree.

Answer 7

There are a lot of important issues here. We are exposing our children about sex and violence etc in a very arbitrary way and yes it does make me feel uncomfortable especially when I get a 9/10 yr old child coming into my class and find out that he or she was watching something completely unsuitable.

Yes it is the parents fault but one way or another we all end up dealing with it. I remember one 10 year old girl who used to crawl under and through everyone else's chair shouting out every known sexual swearword (well, known to me anyway!). You can only treat these things with calmness and firmness, but they leave you with a nasty taste afterwards.

If we raised the watershed it would give a clear indication that dramatic experience of adult themes is undesirable. I sympathise with people who want to watch something exciting before then but things get repeated or you can record and there is always Sky plus etc

Answer 8

I agree both with Debbiecat and Mark it is fine as it is there are lots of other things they can do besides watching TV it is down to you the parent to decide what's on and if suitable, check the TV guide

Answer 9

Why don't they go to bed at 9pm anymore? Children and teenagers need more sleep than adults.

I'm sick of seeing children up at 10pm - they can go to bed at 9pm and READ A BOOK for an hour if they're not tired.

Answer 10

The question you need to ask is "Do I need parenting lessons as I am unable to keep my 16 year old watching TV at 10pm?"

The answer is YES!.