WHY IT MATTERS
Audiences quickly recognise recurring personalities within family content. A child may become known as “the naughty one”, “the dramatic one”, “the clever one” or “the shy one”. Repeating these identities for entertainment can influence how the child sees themselves and how others treat them.
1. DON’T LABEL CHILDREN
Avoid turning personality traits into permanent identities.
2. DON’T CREATE A “NAUGHTY CHILD” CHARACTER
Behavioural difficulties shouldn’t become recurring entertainment.
3. ALLOW PERSONALITY TO CHANGE
Children develop rapidly and shouldn’t be trapped by old descriptions.
4. DON’T SCRIPT REACTIONS
Allow children to respond naturally.
5. AVOID COMPARING SIBLING ROLES
One child shouldn’t become “the clever one” while another becomes “the silly one”.
6. DON’T LET COMMENTS DEFINE THEM
Audience perceptions shouldn’t shape parenting.
7. REMOVE OUTDATED CONTENT
Old portrayals may become increasingly unfair as children grow.
8. ENCOURAGE DIFFERENT INTERESTS
Children should be free to explore identities that don’t fit the channel.
9. LET THEM REJECT THE CHARACTER
Older children should be able to distance themselves from previous portrayals.
10. SEE THE CHILD, NOT THE BRAND
Real people are more complicated than recurring characters.
BOTTOM LINE
Children are developing human beings, not characters in an ongoing television series.