Why I’ve banned Bing
My children don’t watch an enormous amount of television, they never really have. The main reason for that is because we are usually out and about doing things, and don’t have much time for sitting in front of a screen.
I’ve also written before about my concerns over the impact of screen time on behaviour. That said, as Libby approaches her first term at primary school, I worry that I’ll be disadvantaging her if I don’t let her use technology. As a result, I invested in an iPad so that she would know how to use it, because she’ll be working on one at school.
Since then, she has been playing on children’s educational apps and has also been watching a little bit more television. Both girls like to watch cBeebies in the mornings before breakfast. They watch it in our bed, so we know what they’re watching. This also means we can help them to work the iPad, monitor each programme and discuss any issues it throws up.
Why I’ve banned Bing
Both girls have their favourite programmes, but if there’s nothing in particular that one of them wants to watch, they often default to Bing. Let me tell you a bit about Bing. He’s a giant, talking rabbit, who is looked after by a little woollen creature called Flop. Flop looks like he’s perhaps supposed to be an ant.
There are various other characters that appear on the programme, including Sula the elephant and her carer Amma, Pando the Panda and his carer Padget, and Bing’s cousins Coco and baby Charlie. The stories are all very low-key, nothing much happens but they all result in something that Bing sees as a bit of a drama.
I checked out the Bing website, and apparently, the stories are supposed to be reflective of the trials and tribulations of being a pre-school aged child. Flop is supposed to be the voice of reason, helping Bing to deal with situations and cope with negative emotions. And the programme is supposed to help children to deal with their own issues.
Our experience
Well I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t help. It doesn’t help in any way, shape or form. It’s awful. And what’s more, it is making my daughter awful.
We have always brought the girls up to know that they can express their feelings and tell us anything. But they also have to behave politely and respectfully to parents, teachers and other children. If they don’t like something they’ll tell us, and we’ll put things right if we can, or explain why we can’t.
What they don’t do is whinge, whine and strop. Until now. Since starting to watch Bing, Libby has started to behave terribly when she doesn’t get her own way. She mimics Bing’s voice, and even comes out with some of the phrases she’s heard on the programme. Coincidence? I think not.
So my question is, which came first – the chicken or the egg? Bing or the bad behaviour the programme claims to be dealing with? In our house, Bing came first and bad behaviour followed.
So from now on, Bing has been exiled. Lia is still allowed to watch it occasionally when Libby is out, as her behaviour hasn’t changed. Libby has been banned indefinitely – and probably forever. Since the ban, her behaviour has improved slightly, but she seems to have got into the habit of whining. So at the moment, she is having no screen time at all.
It’s quite nice to alter our routine, spending more time playing with their toys or outside. But I know that screen time will soon creep back in. I just hope that the Bing-induced behaviour doesn’t last, because I want my little girl back. My polite, kind, generous, confident and happy little girl.
And Bing can bog off.
I’ve purposely searched what parents thought
of Bing as I agree I believe my daughter has picked up on his BAD BEHAVIOUR
I didn’t mind so much when she was around 18months and under but now at 21 months the programme frustrates and angers me.
– He gets away with rude, spoilt behaviour
– doesn’t talk properly (how is that helpful to kids? Yes the parents get that little ones say words wrong but we help them correct themselves. Kids learn for TV so why on earth confuse them??!)
– Doesn’t seem to learn from behaviour
– Flop – I appreciate he’s the voice of reason and a calm approach to parenting BUT not useful in every scenario when Bing is being damn right being rude!
What’s wrong with a calm STERN voice and lesson now and again eh?
This programme seriously needs a review or banning!
It’s a catastrophe in my opinion.
I’m glad my child is not in front of the screen as much as most.
Would love there to be a study on this…
Lucy,
Devon
Age 26
Thanks for your comment Lucy, it’s frustrating isn’t it? Thankfully my girls are too old for this now but I don’t miss it. Interestingly, my eldest still has problems with picking up behaviour from certain television programmes so even at 9 years old we’re still a little careful about what she watches. I’m also glad that they don’t spend too much time on screens!
Nat.x
I agree this programme needs to be banned in 2021 I’m googling Bing bad influence! just shows that it needs to go the fact that this blog was written in 2016 and parents are still struggling with it.
My son who is 26 months said knockted it instead of knocked it and I know he hasn’t got that from nursery. Bing is so miserable and spoilt Flop doesn’t help either not putting him right.
I’m so sorry to hear that it’s still annoying people! Really glad that my girls are past that stage now.
Nat.x
I loathe this show. The constant whining; the ignoring of all adult-figures until AFTER the damage is done; the complete failure to take responsibility in the end of show recap (always ‘a thing happened’ never ‘I did a thing’); the abject failure to illustrate cause and effect. It’s as if the creators are aiming for a generation of politicians. I get what they were going for, but I firmly believe that on balance they fail and are doing more harm than good.
The ‘Suprise Machine’ episode is flat out revolting – thanks for trying to teach my kid that gambling/loot boxes is/are great and spending money on something you don’t want is ‘fun’, that’s super helpful! So much joy for all involved whenever he sees one out and about! I could write a book without even getting into the creepy lore subtext.
I love Rylance, but not enough to let this toxic rubbish teach my son that nothing is ever his fault and that whining should be his default response to every situation. Try some joy and curious wonder for a change you miserable… Ahem, sorry. In short: Bing is poison – keep it gone. IMHO.
Oh gosh, it has been ages since my two watched this and your comment brings it all back! Thank goodness they have grown out of it now.