BBC’s sex videos for children ‘are like porn’

  • Children are also shown animated cartoon couple making love
  • Video includes information on ‘wet dreams’ and masturbation 
  • MP wants cinema-style ratings on sex education films for teachers

By
Emily Allen

Last updated at 4:58 PM on 12th January 2012

A sex education video produced by the BBC for children as young as nine has been criticised as being ‘like a blue movie’ by an MP who said the material is ‘shattering the innocence of childhood’.

The video aims to teach children aged between nine and 11 about growing up, the cycle of life, feelings, family life and friendship.

But included in the CD-ROM is an animated video of two cartoon characters making love and a computer-generated sequence showing a couple having sex, accompanied by a graphic explanation.

The BBC's sex education video for nine to 11-year-olds shows an animated couple making love

The BBC’s sex education video for nine to 11-year-olds shows an animated couple making love

The sex education film also explains to children about masturbation and 'wet dreams' but critics say it is too graphic for children

The sex education film also explains about masturbation and ‘wet dreams’ but critics say it is too graphic for children

There is also footage of a naked man and woman, used to demonstrate the differences between the sexes, information about ‘wet dreams’ and masturbation, and graphic diagrams of genitalia.

Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom said: ‘This material is explicit. It is shattering the innocence of childhood.’

Mrs Leadsom, who has raised the issue in Parliament, including presenting a petition after being contacted by concerned parents last year, said she was embarrassed by the film, adding: ‘It was like a blue movie’.

She said: ‘Parents don’t feel their views are being consulted. My son was shown it four years ago. I was told it was by the BBC and I was told it was called ‘Living and Growing’ and you just expect if it’s by the BBC it will be okay.

‘I was utterly shocked by it when I saw it.’

Andrea Leadsom

BBC's Sex and Relationship Education

Explicit: MP Andrea Leadsom, left, said the BBC Active’s Sex and Relationship CD-ROM is ‘like a blue movie’

Mrs Leadsom said parents were particularly upset by the computer-generated images of a couple having sex.

She said: ‘You see an erection and penetration and that’s completely astonishing.’

The other scenes which angered parents was the cartoon of two people making love.

She said: ‘It looks bizarre, it’s not
missionary, the woman is on top and there’s a children’s voiceover
saying something like ‘Ooh, it looks like they are having fun.’

‘Why is there a young child appearing to watch them?’

A computer generated graphic shows what happens during sexual intercourse and explains what happens to the body

A computer generated graphic shows what happens during sexual intercourse and explains what happens to the body

The video explains to children about puberty and changes that take place in the body. Children are shown a naked man and later a naked woman in the shower

The video explains to children about puberty and changes that take place in the body. Children are shown a naked man and later a naked woman in the shower

She said parents who had contacted
her trusted their instincts with regards to their children and felt the
footage was ‘absolutely wrong’.

She wants sex education films to be given a film-style rating to act as a guide for teachers.

Education minister Nick Gibb promised to look into the matter too. 

The Sex and Relationship Education
CD-Rom, produced by BBC Active, goes on to discuss the emotional aspects
of relationships including sexual feelings and same-sex crushes as well
as marriage.  

In addition, it covers internet safety and how children can keep themselves safe.

The BBC stands by the film, saying it has been put together after consultation with local authorities and experts in education.

BBC Active told the newspaper: ‘All our resources provide clear guidance on age suitability.

‘They are designed to allow teachers to pick and choose the elements they feel are appropriate.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

– Desperate Dan, Derby, 12/1/2012 20:19
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I pity you. I really do. This rag is full of articles about young girls (Suri cruise, Jackson’s daughter etc). The DM is forever making salacious comments about young teenage stars or daughters of stars. It’s “campaign” against clothing stores is always accompanied by photos. Is that why you support the paper?

If I went to the local park and started showing this kind of stuff to young children I would be arrested.

The DM say this is wrong yet they are forever harassing very young girls saying “how grown up” some 11 yo looks. It is the DM that is disgusting. – Phil, Sussex – Along with many others, I would assume, I haven’t got a clue what you are trying to say or why the DM would be disgusting. I do beleive that the DM has campaigned against certain clothing retailers marketing the likes of padded bra’s for children as young as 7 and 8, and campaigned against the same clothing retailers selling clothes with sexually explicit logos’ to children in the same age group, if this is harassment then all power to the DM. If you and others with the same mind set think that they are wrong to campaign against such practices, which aim to take away the childs innocence and make them “GROWN UP BEFORE THEIR TIME”, then I know who I think is disgusting. As for the aggressive sexual education of children still in puberty, all it’s achieved to date is an explosion in under age pregnancies and sexual diseases.

The saddest thing about all these comments is that so many people think that the sexualisation of young children by the BBC and the state is perfectly alright. What is wrong with these people?
– Marilyn myers, Tunbridge Wells, 12/1/2012 18:40
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Your attitude is typical of those who are terrified of the subject of sex. People like you are the reason we have high teenage pregnancies. Please explain why you are so obsessed with seeing children as sex objects? This is sex education yet you see it as sexualisation of children. You have serious issues.

I am a member of the “Baby Boomers” as we are called.
Isn’t it interesting that our parents, collectively, managed to produce all those babies without ever having to watch “How To” films. It makes you wonder how we ever managed it.
Just as matter of interest our parents and we ourselves reared our children in an excellent manner which is more than could be said of today’s parents, inspite of all the books they read on the topic.
I would expect that soon babies will arrive with an owner’s manual.

Here’s a thing……… They didn’t print my comment. A bit too close to the truth was it DM?

I was fully informed about sex, puberty and reproduction by the age of 11. I read some very good books aimed at young people and their parents and had some pretty good education at school too. I’m now 30, I have never had a pregnancy scare and my experience of sex and relationships has been nothing but positive, fulfilling and enjoyable. My best friend on the other hand went to an all-girls Catholic school where there was very little education beyond “Don’t”. In her school year alone, there were no less than four girls who got pregnant before they were 18. In my year at a mixed comprehensive school, there were none. Go figure.

I’ve used this pack with children for the last 4 years in both church and state primary schools. If used correctly and with full consent of the Parents it is actually a very good resource. This MP is complaining about 6 years too late and will next week probably complain about teenage pregnancies in her constituency.
You can’t have it both ways!

When i was at school (decades ago) in we didnt get sex education…There was only one girl that caused a scandal by getting pregnant at 15 and left early…Obviously we didnt have the internet then and there wasnt so much sex on the tv etc, so we were much less clued up and knew nothing about contraception..And yet there was no where near the teenage pregnancy rates that there are now…..I have never understood that..

Teach kids about sex properly (not just ‘its for when you love someone.. Birds bees’) and they will be better prepared for life. Whether we like it or not children as young as 11 are having sex (which I in no way condone) but if they are going to – then let’s make sure they understand what they are doing, the dangers, and how to protect themselves.
Also having attended a boarding school I remember a 10 year old girl in my dorm crying her eyes out as she woke up in a bed full of blood. Her period had started but she hadn’t yet been told what that was – she thought she was dying. It was very traumatic for her. As far as I am concerned avoiding as many situations like that as possible can only be a good thing.

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