Parents once again outraged with ABC Kids

Parents once again outraged with ABC Kids for messing with their children’s routine.

A few months ago parents were up in arms because ABC KIDS dare to mess with their morning routine.

“Don’t they realise this will mean hundreds of kids will miss their favourite show because they will be dropping older siblings at school around the time play School will be screening.”

What could be worse than that?

ABC Kids just announced it’s extending programming hours and changing the channels air time from 5am to 7:30pm, starting December 4.

This means another half an hour of ABC Kids every day, but most parents are furious about the new change. Why?

Because for many Aussie families, Giggle and Hoot’s goodnight song on ABC Kids is part of the nightly bedtime routine, with main character Giggle always going to bed at 7pm.

On a post on the ABC Kids Parents Facebook page most commenters are furious at the channel.

‘No good when kids used the routine and saying goodnight for a 7pm bedtime,’ commented one angry mother.

Another wrote, ‘Not good for our house. Our little boy knows it’s bedtime when Giggle goes to bed at 7!’

‘This will wreak havoc at bedtime,’ one mother added.

ABC Kids have replied advising parents not to panic, there will be an alternative!

“Starting 4 December, Hoot’s Lullaby will air at 7.25pm (or you can watch it any time on ABC KIDS iview). And in place of the 7pm lullaby in December we will play all new episodes of Play School Story Time, offering a bedtime story book by some of your favourite Australians. We hope this can work for those who wish to maintain this time as the end of their TV day,” replied an ABC spokes person.

abc kids

As Family Therapist, Nicole Kingston said on her Facebook page, “Making decisions that cause upset to our little ones is hard, including turning off the TV when they are wanting to watch it. But you are the parent so you can determine when your little one is tired and what time they need to go to bed.”

She continued, “Much to our toddlers disgust, you can turn the TV off before saying goodnight to Jimmy Giggle and Hoot…you do not need to wait until ABC Kids decide to end their program.”

I must say I agree with Nicole. While it is nice to have a routine it is better that parents decide when is the right time for bed, not a TV show.

How does your bedtime routine work?

Share your comments below.

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14 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 29 Nov 2017
    4:47 pm
I agree with the author, as the parent you CAN simply turn of the TV when needed. You aren’t a slave to the TV! If it messes up your personal routine why not think for yourself and record the ending am play it whenever you need!

- - mom252082 said
  - 17 Nov 2017
    8:29 am
Simple. Buy a recording device. Plug it in to your TV and record the show. End it when you like!

- - ella12 said
  - 13 Nov 2017
    2:24 pm
I totally agree with parents should be in charge of bedtime for kids.

- - june11 said
  - 11 Nov 2017
    5:39 pm
When you think about it, how many kids associated Fat Cat and Humphrey B Bear with it being time to go to bed many years ago? In our household bedtime is when we decide.

- - rovermum said
  - 06 Nov 2017
    10:05 am
We’re long past kids tv but I’d suggest it’s up to the parents to take control and not the TV!!

- - tessie said
  - 05 Nov 2017
    1:09 pm
It’s nice to have a routine but what happens when the power goes out? If they have a problem why not video it and then play it at the time. That might solve their dilemma.

- - Ellen said
  - 04 Nov 2017
    4:10 am
Thinking about it, these angered parents sounds like a couple of spoiled toddlers blowing a tantrum because they don’t get their way….great example parents !

- - rachel1970 said
  - 03 Nov 2017
    6:31 pm
really, setting routines around the TV??

- - mom104749 said
  - 03 Nov 2017
    8:07 am
Yes I agree with Nicole too. My children are in bed at 7pm but I’m not complaining that they didn’t get to see giggle and hoots goodnight song. This shows how much this person relies on TV to soothe their children. Why not read a bed time story instead?

- - Ellen said
  - 03 Nov 2017
    7:37 am
Really ? relieving your anger because of a change in the tv program schedule ? If parents think that is so important they should record.
Luckily the television isn’t so important for us or our kids.

- - ashna9 said
  - 02 Nov 2017
    10:01 pm
Parents need to take back control. If you are relying on a tv show to send your child to bed then you’re asking for trouble. Reset your routine or give your child an extra 30 minutes up.

- - BellaB said
  - 02 Nov 2017
    4:14 pm
I really don’t think TV should guide family routines.

- - mom90758 said
  - 02 Nov 2017
    3:36 pm
Quite interesting that so many parents are upset. I can’t believe they all depend on a tv-show to decide how late their kids are going to bed.

- - mom206279 said
  - 02 Nov 2017
    1:30 pm
The complaints on the abckids facebook page are some entertaining reading at the start of every month when they shuffle shows around. Why don’t these parents just tape a few giggle and hoot goodnight song shows and keep playing them at 7? If your kids neeeeeeed that song to get to sleepthen I think you have bigger problems. I do want to know whats going to happen to spicks and specks now that abc kids is going half an hour later though.