Parents of the land rejoice – it looks like CBeebies is safe! For now, anyway.
In case you’ve been on another planet (I often feel like I am) CBeebies was under scrutiny as part of the BBC charter renewal, and when it looked like money could be taken away so more kids’ TV programmes could be shown on channels with adverts more than 157,000 people signed a petition to stop it.
The government announced this week it’s going to scrap the plans, and is going to run a public consultation in the autumn instead. Which doesn’t actually mean it isn’t going to happen, but does mean we get to have our say.
I could have a rant about why taking money away from CBeebies is a bad idea, or I could write an open letter, but what with ‘meternity’-gate it’s been a bit of a ranty week so I decided to lighten the mood and write a poem about it instead.
This is only my second poem since I was at school (the first was when I was preparing to stop breastfeeding BB) so bear with me. Here goes:
An Ode to CBeebies
Dear Mr Prime Minister
I’m imploring you not to administer
Budget cuts to kids’ TV
On the BBC
Admittedly there are characters
Who make me want to scream
Like Topsy’s mum
And Justin’s ‘fun’
I’m not just being mean
But they are all forgiven
Because they give me time for me
To drink hot tea
And have a wee
Without a child upon my knee
The fact there are no ad breaks
Pushing shiny plastic tat
Spares mums and dads
From little brats
Shouting ‘I want this and that’
And let’s not forget the presenters
Who brighten up our day
There’s Andy for mums
And Rebecca for dads
In fact, there’s a whole array
If you stop and think a while
You’ll see that I am right
We can’t all afford a nanny like you
So it’s really quite a plight
CBeebies is invaluable
There are too many reasons to list
As well as being greatly missed
We’d all go round the twist
Seriously though, I do think channels like CBBC and CBeebies offer something special that commercial channels simply can’t replicate – high quality children’s TV that doesn’t brainwash kids with adverts.
What do you think? Are you a fan of CBeebies? Or do you prefer the likes of Milkshake and Tiny Pop?
Linking up with…
I so hope that CBeebies stays with us !!! #picknmix
Oh god if CBeebies is cut then my life isn’t worth living!!! My three youngest are OBSESSED!! I’d never get any work done if it wasn’t for Mr Tumble and friends!! #picknmix
We love CBeebies! It is an absolute life saver for those times when it is raining and you cannot bear any more messy play….I hope it never goes away! #picknmix
This was a joy to read. Thanks for posting it.
It can’t go, the only thing my youngest will watch it Topsy and Tim and while it annoys me, it’s the only peace I get!! Parents unite it can’t go!!! X #picknmix
CBeebies certainly helped to keep me sane when my kids were younger. Now they spend their time watching Cartoon Network etc and I hate the adverts… It would ruin Cbbc/Cbeebies if they put adverts in. BBC quality TV for children needs to keep its quality and educational value.
Being from America, I’ve never heard of CBeebies but I do hope they keep it on the air because it sounds pretty entertaining and educational which is a plus. Your poem was good, by the way. 😉
This is so great! We don’t have CBeebies but we do have a station of uninterrupted kids shows. Can’t imagine live without it! Great poem!
#KCACOLS
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Too right! We really do need to hang on to the last vestige of children’s TV that isn’t shoving plastic tat at us via copious amounts of adverts! Thanks for sharing. #KCACOLS
I haven’t had to put this on yet for Josh as he’s still so young but I am glad to hear it won’t be cut cause I can imagine Mums everywhere would be gutted if it wasn’t on TV! Anything for those few minutes of peace and quiet 🙂 xx #KCACOLS
As a relatively new Mummy I have recently discovered what a saviour CBeebies is! Great poem, hits the nail on he head 🙂
#KCACOLS
Hand on heart, if CBeebies went away… My sanity would go with it. What are sick children going to watch while they recover?! #KCACOLS
Hee hee I love this, it’s awesome!! I love CBeebies for all of the reasons above. Well I have a love/hate with it – Topsy and Tim, Justin, hmm, I’m just not sure about them you know! But I SO love Peppa Pig! x x
cbeebies was an amazing gift when mine were really young, now they are too cool and will only be seen watching cbbc or citv, funny things! Whatever it is I’m fine if its gives me 5 mins to do something:)
Your poem is really good!
mainy
#KCACOLS
I’m CBeebies all the way! The Bedtime Hour is a huge part of our end of day wind down, and we love watching a bit in the mornings too. I love the no adverts, and the routine of the same programmes at the same time every day – it’s kind of comforting (even if they are annoying!) #KCACOLS
My kids are a bit old now for Cbeebies although they used to love it! Mr Tumble, In the Night Garden, Mr Blooms nursery etc. My eldest quite likes CBBC still so it would be such a shame if they stopped them just because there are no adverts. Isn’t that quite appealing to children anyway, not getting into a programme and then suddenly an advert starts and they have to wait 5 minutes again for the programme to start and they have have forgotten what they where watching! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday x
Ha brilliant!! And yes Topsy’s Mum! #passthesauce
I’m a Disney Junior fan myself (and so is Eden), but I hate that they want to get rid of Cbeebies. It’s a great channel. Hopefully it will stick around #KCACOLS
goodness i didnt realise this! mind you, we are milkshake fans here haha! #KCACOLS
Love your poem very creative. I have several kids shows that made me what to scream when my children were little. Now they don’t even like TV, ya! Thank you for the cute poem, loved it. #KCACOLS
Totally agree, I love the fact they have no adverts. And brilliant poem, I’m rubbish at poems! #picknmix xx
This is a fab poem!! And yes I ADORE CBeebies…I love the fact it’s always on (not that we have it on all the time but it’s nice to know it’s there!), I love the variety of programmes – he’s always learning something (well mostly) – and the lack of adverts is brilliant. Although my son’s impression of the Vanish Gold advert on milkshake at the mo is proving much fun! #KCACOLS
My kids are big fans of Nick Junior at the moment, but all the adverts do drive me mad as now even my 2 year old is saying “I really want that”! Every now and then though, I sneak Cbeebies back on and I love it! Loved reading your poem too, it’s great! x #KCACOLS
Hahaha…loved the poem which is all so true! Some of the shows can drive a mom crazy but it can also give a mom five minutes of peace. Thanks for sharing #PasstheSauce
I love your poem it’s great! I’m not a cbeebies fan sorry. It was always Disney Junior in our house and now the Disney Channel, I prefer Junior to be honest though #kcacols
Popping back from #justanotherlinky. Thanks fit linking up xx