superjules Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 On the way home from Nursery yesterday, DD age 3 said, "Mummy, we did music today and I learnt a new chicken song!" "That's nice sweetie, can you sing it for me?" "McDonalds, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut!" I've spoken to her teacher this morning about it. Maybe some people think it's cute and a catchy tune. I feel it's inappropriate for a school going for "Healthy School status" to be teaching 3 year olds chants about fast food joints. I have huge issues with McDonalds, one of the most ethically corrupt and morally void corporations in existence and don't get me started on KFC. Incidentally, none of the establishments mentioned in the song gave permission for their names to be used, but none of them took legal action because the song portrays them in a positive light. Am I over reacting? There's a hundred nursery rhymes they could have chosen from, why teach them this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I wouldn't be impressed either Bad enough they are saturated without encouraging it in pre school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I quite agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 What a terrible thing to be teaching 3 year olds when there are lots of lovely rhymes to choose from. What did the teacher say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 There are a hundred other songs they could be teaching - like you say, never mind the moral issues around these companies what about healthy food and teaching about nutrition? Our mother and toddler does music at the end and the last committee had a load of non-traditional songs in it, like the McDonalds ones. Luckily one of the first things the new committee did was get rid! I think you'd be right to complain and ask that it's not used again Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I'm not sure the nursery should be teaching them these songs but they will be singing and dancing to them at every party they go to! Personally I love these kind of songs - first on the dance floor to anything remotely silly me. I've also used this song in some lessons - to bigger kids when we then had a food tasting of all sorts of healthy and unhealthy options. Yes I do teach ICT we were doing a research and spreadsheet project and I did a whole lesson at the beginning on food labelling (guess what they were researching!). Acutally it was a fantastic project - shame I am now teaching boring rubbish to KS3 that has just been printed off a website (not my choice!). Oh and we actually have a retail park near us which contains all three fast food outlets virtually next to each other so we all sing it when we go past. Do we eat at those places? I love pizza and therefore wouldn't go to Pizza Hut, Been a veggie since I was 11 so no KFC but McDonalds can be an easy option when I want to feed James whilst we shop - but he always chooses fish fingers (which he never gets at home) and they are much better than the fish bites they serve in my local sports centre. Oh and our favourite McDonalds has a huge indoor play area and a McCafe - real coffee from a proper machine, like costa, and real cake cut from a real cake, and a free refill and some lovely sofas. Its a perfect rainy day treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 There are a hundred other songs they could be teaching - like you say, never mind the moral issues around these companies what about healthy food and teaching about nutrition? Our mother and toddler does music at the end and the last committee had a load of non-traditional songs in it, like the McDonalds ones. Luckily one of the first things the new committee did was get rid! I think you'd be right to complain and ask that it's not used again Mrs Bertie Now non tradional songs is a whole different issue. At last years nativity James school sang a wonderful song "No room at the inn, sorry we can't let you in..." I thought it made a refreshing change from "Little Donkey" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Jules, I wouldn't be overly happy about Stefan being purposefully taught that song either. It's one thing picking it up from TV or at a party, but it's quite another to be taught it in a educational sense - UNLESS - there is a valid reason why they are doing it. If it is to bring awareness to different types of food and to teach healthy eating habits (not to mention the poor work and animal rights ethics these fast food companies employ, or the huge amounts of fat and salt and smell enhancing ingredients they use) then I could maybe see my way to agreeing to it. On the whole, I don't think it's a good choice. There are far batter 'silly' songs out there to sing with a group of three year olds. You have every right to make your feelings known, there may be other parents having the same concerns as yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 Thanks everyone. I'm off there now to find out what she's learnt today. Altogether now, "I'm a Barbie girl, In a Barbie world!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Thanks everyone. I'm off there now to find out what she's learnt today. Altogether now, "I'm a Barbie girl, In a Barbie world!" now i like that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 My friends little girl, who's 2, had us in stitches last week. She stood in the middle of the sitting room swinging her hips about singing something about Elvis the Pelvis! We'd no idea where that one came from, but it was hilarious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Jules, you might want to offer to take the hens (and some eggs) into school for the children to meet them, talk about healthy eating and free ranging animals. I did that when Rosie was studying healthy eating - it was 2 years ago now and some of the children still come up and ask me about the girls.. so it stuck! It'd be a nice counter-balance to the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Kids are great, I love the stuff they say. Barbie girl is a favourite of my 5 yr old so I hear that at top volume several times a week. As for the non traditional songs at mother and toddler I'm trying to think of some examples - we were singing the theme to Fifi and the forget me nots, - I can't remember the others (memory of a goldfish ) but they were just rubbish, not even proper songs. I don't have a problem at all with non traditional "proper" songs, every song was non traditional to start with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 We've been singing 'Peter Rabbit's got a fly upon his nose' recently. Not one I was familiar with at all. A great, cheerful song though with good actions to go with it. My Fave is Wind the Bobbin Up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I wouldnt be amused at all. its differnt when songs are picked up in the playgound or whatever, but in the class room I dont think its appropriate. I mean laws have been put in place whereby there is a watershed for showing junk food advert while children are watching so as not to promote it. By teaching songs like that in lessons, they are promoting fast food and again making it apear 'fun' which makes it appeal all the more to children. My son has the occasional junk food meal like this, but I avoid making a big deal about it as being a treat, cause in a childs mind that makes it appeal as something more special than normal healthy food. I prefer to make a fuss over if I make something like a fruit salad so that is then considered a treat. Making fastfood apear as fun in songs etc does not eaxclty help suport the parent who is trying to do the oposite. What did the teacher say? and have you spoken to any of the other parents at your daughters school to see if any of them are saying anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Don't forget it's not all bad A nice egg McMuffin will be made with a Free range egg! http://www.bhwt.org.uk/didyouknow.html When I'm telling kids about battery farming and free range eggs (NOT as part of their ICT lessons but because I keep my BHWT bag on top of the filing cabinet and they ask about it!) I always use McDonalds as a good example of how free range can be used whilst costs remain low - other retailers should be learning from this example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 superjules wrote: I have huge issues with McDonalds, one of the most ethically corrupt and morally void corporations in existence and don't get me started on KFC. I My feelings exactly You should try and watch the DVD 'Maclibel' about a couple who tried for four years to sue MacDonalds, they succeeded in part but it really opened my eyes as to the nastiness of the company. I am afraid I never took my children to Macdonalds, except to use the toilet I was horrified last Christmas when I was shopping for some playfood for a 4 year old to discover that you can buy little kits of burgers,fries, milk shake thingies all with the MacDonalds logo on them, so kids can get the message from a really young age grrrrrrrr Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I do agree that there are better songs they could have chosen - although if you investigate the history behind most 'pretty' nursery rhymes, it's usually political and not very pleasant! The indications are that your daughter thinks this is a song about chickens, not about fast food! It's a popular song with with children because of the movements to accompany it. I don't have children, but I used to work with cub scouts and this was always a favourite with them. You were right to voice your feelings to the nursery, but I don't agree that by teaching this to the children they are encouraging them to eat junk food - it's just a silly song, in my view. Unfortunately, I think there is probably worse to come. My personal pet hate is to see nine-year old girls singing pop songs with sexual connotations and gyrating to music ... but it's almost inevitable these days, even if you don't let them watch MTV you can bet one of their friends will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 What did the nursery say when you questioned them? I love the idea of taking the chickens in. I don;t need to worry about that as Ash goes to a fab nursery and he loves it. It is in a converted piggery on a working farm and the kids go on walks around the farm and the farmer talks to them about the animals. The kids help look after kune kune pigs guines pigs rabbits. They have chickens and regularly have chicks and have had ducklings too. they grow their own veg and herbs which the chef uses in their food and the food they buy in comed from a local organic farm shop. they are a bit out of the way but I feel its well worth it. So if they sang Pizza hut I wouldn't bee too concerned although I honestly believe they wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Unfortunately, I think there is probably worse to come. My personal pet hate is to see nine-year old girls singing pop songs with sexual connotations and gyrating to music ... but it's almost inevitable these days, even if you don't let them watch MTV you can bet one of their friends will! I totally agree with this Olly - I went to see a presentation at Rosie's school last night, but her class, so all 9-10 year olds; they were wearing their own clothes. One girl there has a nice little figure, but was dressed like a lap dancer Rosie was shocked and so was I - this really sends out the wrong signals from a girl so young, and there's no way that she is emotionally equipped to deal with the 'unwanted' attention she's going to get when dressed like that. I overheard one of the parents commenting that she 'looked like jail-bait' Call me old fashioned.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Oh and 6 year old girls arriving at parties with make up on! James would tell you that's not the Chicken Song. The Chicken Song starts "Wave a chicken in the air, stick a deckchair up your nose" Mind you he will also tell you about the B side, which seems rather off in the modern day, without explanation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 superjules wrote: I have huge issues with McDonalds, one of the most ethically corrupt and morally void corporations in existence and don't get me started on KFC. My feelings exactly You should try and watch the DVD 'Maclibel' about a couple who tried for four years to sue MacDonalds, they succeeded in part but it really opened my eyes as to the nastiness of the company. I have it on DVD. And "Supersize Me". I read "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser a year or so ago. It's a very difficult read, but a real eye-opener. There's a version of it available for children too. I spoke to DD's key worker at nursery. I said I thought it was inappropriate and that I wasn't comfortable with it and she said she will pass my comments on. DD tells me everything (whether I want to hear it or not!) so I'll find out about it if they sing it again and if necessary I'll take it further. I'm just surprised it's happened at all because there is a huge emphasis on healthy eating at the school. DS is in yr1 and they had food and nutrition as a topic last half term. Thanks for all your suggestions. I might offer to take a chook in once the bird flu panic has died down. They hatched chicks in reception class during last spring term though, so the novelty may have worn off!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 James would tell you that's not the Chicken Song. The Chicken Song starts "Wave a chicken in the air, stick a deckchair up your nose" Mind you he will also tell you about the B side, which seems rather off in the modern day, without explanation. Very un-pc but I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I have a great song I learned when I was about 3 my mum was a nursery school teacher and she taught me it It goes: "Ooops, word censored!"ody loves me Everybody hates me I think I'll go and eat worms Big fat juicy ones Small lean skinny ones See how they wiggle and squirm Bite off the head Suck out the blood And throw the skins away Everybody wonders how I can eat them One, three times a day Shall I go away now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I shan't repeat the 'run rabbit' one then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
