American kids programmes

I’m British and I really don’t like my child watching American tv programmes.
Am I on my own here?
It’s just the difference in language, terminology and accent used, all while trying to teach my child to learn and speak British English.

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To be fair my child mainly watched bluey, which is Australian, and then we have miss apple who is the British version of Mrs Rachel.

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We watch Mr tumble and yakadee, they're both quite annoying but my 1 year old loves them and they're educational 🤷‍♀️

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There is Ms Moni, who is the Australian version of Ms Rachel. Her accent isn't as annoying & closer to English than American.

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My mom is from the US & my dad is from the UK, I grew up with both and obviously my dad constantly used UK terminology while I was growing up in the US. I very clearly veered toward US terminology and accent because that’s where I was raised. I don’t think watching American TV programs here and there would have much impact tbh. Maybe short term they’d use certain phrases.

My little boy is also half & half with me being American & his dad being from the UK. We live in the UK now but I still speak very American lol, and he watches a couple American TV programmes. He’s already got a little English accent and uses probably 90% British terminology. All is to say I wouldn’t overthink it x

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We’re American and my son watches a few British programs, like Number Blocks and some show about the solar system that escapes me. I think it’s cute when he uses British words and phrases and when he pronounces things in a British accent. It’s similar to how he picks up a pronunciation that’s clearly influenced by one of his teachers who’s first language isn’t English. He won’t always do it, but right now it’s really sweet.

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My daughter barely watches American shows and I’m not too worried because she’s around English speakers all the time, her auntie is French so she’s around French speakers sometimes too x

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I prefer UK shows but I have a soft spot for Bluey because it's lovely. Obviously it's Australian but I'm assuming it's the different accents and phrases you mean.

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i see this take so often and it makes me chuckle. god forbid a british kid starts pronouncing their t's

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I’m in the US and don’t care what my son watches in terms of language. He watches Steve and Maggie, the Wiggles, etc. he’ll watch things in Spanish sometimes and we often talk about Spanish words for things. He has a daycare classmate who speaks Spanish, and I’m an esol teacher so I teach English for speakers of other languages.

I only see it as a good thing for my kids to be exposed to different languages. They pick up the majority of their speech from people and not screens with the way we do screen time in our house, so it’s never been a concern of mine.

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It doesn't bother me and actually children's neurodevelopment benefits from listening different accents and languages. Besides you know?... Becoming more open and accepting of differences.

You can easily solve it by switching to programmes you like or turning the tv off. There are great british series for children.

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I don't care as long as it's educational. Little one is British but watches both Australian and American shows. Hell if someone knows some good Canadian shows etc throw them my way 😂 I think in the end she will mostly pick up her dads British accent but be exposed to other English speaking cultures

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I’ve noticed children in schools are pronouncing thing with a slight American accent, or saying things like garbage or candy lol

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I mostly put on cbeebies for my daughter, the only thing on there that I've seen that's not British is Bluey. Though she does watch Lou and the Bally bunch (Irish) and pronounces it in an Irish accent like they do.

She will watch films sometimes that are American, like Trolls/Sing/Disney movies.

I'd suggest if you wanna keep media they use British use Cbeebies.

But they may pick up accents elsewhere. My daughter had a hint of south Asian accent for a while cause some of her close friends at nursery are from south Asian families.

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I think that this will probably always be a conversational topic because, there was an article about it many years ago. Lets be honest, we all watched American TV shows and films as kids🤷🏼‍♀️ I absolutely adored Mary Kate & Ashley, Hilary Duff, Amanda Bynes & Lindsay Lohan (to name a few) growing up. Not to mention that, I'd watch Neighbours & Home & Away (well my family did😅). I don't have an issue with my daughter picking up different lingo from TV shows from another country. If anything they'll learn about cultural differences by watching them.

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Welp we don’t do screen time but my little boy is going to end up learning Canadian terms/words as I am Canadian but my husband is British. Sooo it is what it is he’s going to end up saying garbage, sidewalk, shopping cart, candy, stroller etc etc 😂😂😂

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My daughter likes the stupid videos on YouTube of kids playing with Barbie’s etc and they’re mostly American and it’s driving me mad! I try and limit them as much as possible but sometimes with a screaming baby I give in and let her watch them. She asked me the other day if my drink was a soda 🙃🙃

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Not from UK but my kid can watch British, or even another language (spanish) and I’m all for it. I figure there’s more to gain from diversity. But really, I’m only monitoring the content, not the creators.

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What exactly is the issue if they use an American English term for something? If my kids did that with British English I’d think it was cute/funny!

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this is such an interesting take. i never knew accents and stuff bothered people!

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Ms Apple is English

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I have no issue with things like Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House and even Ms Rachel. My daughter watches them and Bluey and has no issues with terminology or her diction.

I have a problem with brain rot like Cocomelon, Like Nastya, Pinkfong and Peppa Pig.

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Ben and Holly! It’s a lovely little show. Puffin Rock too 🥰

Peppa Pig is a brat, bullies her brother and calls her daddy names. Made my toddler a proper ratbag the week I let her try it. She’s banned now

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I'm a teacher and conscious of how many children with English parents speak with such a strong American accent due to the shows and videos they are exposed to. For me it's about identity... would prefer my little one to have an British accent as opposed to US.

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aren’t there all types of regional accents there though? I mean I sound nothing like someone from the southern US or the Midwest but I wouldn’t try to only have my kid watch shows with people who sound exactly the same as my family.

If a kid is starting to speak completely with a different accent vs maybe just picking up a few words or phrases that’s probably a sign to cut back on the screen time.

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love monster, hey duggee, yakka dee, number blocks/alpha blocks/ wonder blocks/ colour blocks, go jetters is one of my favourites and it's kinda American British I think, they're all quite educational and not over stimulating

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