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Janet and John books trigger warning 😳

(23 Posts)
Mollygo Sun 14-Jun-26 13:57:27

nanna8

Is that why they don’t read as early as we did? In the old days if you couldn’t read by age 6 they thought there was something wrong.

We have to remember that according to all the “Continental European schools e.g. Italy or the latest, Finland, do it better” that we’re constantly bombarded with, children don’t need to start to read until they’re 7.
I don’t agree with that but it’s another stick to beat teachers with.

nanna8 Sun 14-Jun-26 13:26:48

Is that why they don’t read as early as we did? In the old days if you couldn’t read by age 6 they thought there was something wrong.

Mollygo Sun 14-Jun-26 13:18:26

Janet and John books are no longer used as reading primers. They were discontinued around 1976 though we didn’t have them in school even back then.
It is certainly worrying if some schools are using those books as anything except historical artefacts.
If they can’t be used as that, then maybe we shouldn’t be showing children washboards and possers, slates and chalk, or pictures of old fashioned desks, or milk served in glass bottles at school, without a trigger warning!

SueDonim Sun 14-Jun-26 13:12:53

mumski

Coincedently I was looking up Terry reading Janet and John for a friend a few days ago.
I'm still giggling. Wonderful stuff.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8U612YLjHQ&list=PL5TsM3EcuG2aImds3GhlMzq4_qSAS6wcg&index=8

Thank you for the YouTube link, I enjoyed that. Popinjay! 🤣

I never read Janet & John books, it was Dick & Dora for me, along with Nip the dog and Fluff the kitten. I do not remember a single thing that happened in the stories so they obviously aren’t trigger-worthy.

BoggledMind Sun 14-Jun-26 13:08:20

Terry Wogan's readings of Janet and John were absolutely hilarious. Sat in traffic in my truck I often wondered if those other drivers laughing their heads off were also listening to them. I'm surprised there weren't fines issued for it - driving while laughing uncontrollably.

I didn't read the original ones, I grew up with the Peter and Jane books in the 60s. If the original Janet and John books need trigger warnings, then Terry's ought to be banned! Unless innuendo and double entendres are beyond people now.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting Terry's get banned at all - they're too good and were a great way of starting the day. We have a couple of Terry's J & J books. I tried reading them to my wife. Difficult when laughing throughout.

Allsorts Sun 14-Jun-26 13:07:34

Grimm’s Fairy Tales, scared me to bits.

MawsRosie Sun 14-Jun-26 12:48:49

NanKate

How many of you remember the hilarious readings by Terry Wogan of the DIFFERENT VERSION of the Janet and John books ? I still listen to them on the internet and am in Hysterics.

Well the original children’s version of these children’s books have now got a trigger warning, how absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. Winnie the Pooh better watch out!

I was often doubled up laughing at Terry Wogan ‘s Janet and John ‘readings’ - unwise as I was frequently driving to work!

But trigger warnings for the originals? Lunatics and asylum spring to mind!

Jaxjacky Sun 14-Jun-26 12:43:51

Anything like that encourages me to read them Galaxy
Years ago, I think it was Ch 4 had films with a risqué red triangle warning, piqued my curiosity so I had to have a look 🙂

Galaxy Sun 14-Jun-26 12:03:40

What do those of us do whose trigger is trigger warnings.

petra Sun 14-Jun-26 11:56:16

Doodledog

I can see how repetition would help, but being boring would put them off, surely?

A journalist in The Times gives a trigger warning for boring.
The museum also warns visitors against James Bond, HG Wells,
one book by Agatha Christie.
Books on the 1st and 2nd world wars have similar notices.

Grantanow Sun 14-Jun-26 11:41:59

Trigger warnings might be needed for Noddy, Rupert Bear and The Coral Island and tales from the Arabian Nights not to mention Tess of the d'Urbervilles but only for those of a nervous disposition (as Auntie BBC advised).

Magenta8 Sun 14-Jun-26 11:33:49

I learnt to read with the Beacon Readers during the 1950s. I can't remember much about them except that the more advanced ones had stories from the Greek mythology which I enjoyed. I don't think the series carries a trigger warning.

I seem to remember that Janet and John were criticised for promoting gender stereotypes.

My DCs learnt to read with the Oxford Reading Tree series.

I don't know which reading scheme was used to teach the GCs but they all learnt to read quite quickly.

LadyGracie Sun 14-Jun-26 11:32:15

I have the books on cd, they are great.
I loved Terry Wogan.

mumski Sun 14-Jun-26 11:30:41

Coincedently I was looking up Terry reading Janet and John for a friend a few days ago.
I'm still giggling. Wonderful stuff.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8U612YLjHQ&list=PL5TsM3EcuG2aImds3GhlMzq4_qSAS6wcg&index=8

nanna8 Sun 14-Jun-26 11:25:04

They need to get a life these people. Bunch of pervs seeing things that aren’t there.

argymargy Sun 14-Jun-26 11:17:33

How fortunate we are that we have no triggers and care nothing for those who have.

Shinamae Sun 14-Jun-26 11:15:22

I well remember learning how to read with Janet and John books…
The world has gone totally mad….

Doodledog Sun 14-Jun-26 11:14:17

I can see how repetition would help, but being boring would put them off, surely?

Sarnia Sun 14-Jun-26 11:13:40

It's only a matter of time for anything in the 1940'-1960's era to have a trigger warning. It's incredible that all of us have managed to reach our ages as well balanced, educated and all round lovely people when we were exposed to such distressing things on a daily basis. smile

Oreo Sun 14-Jun-26 11:05:26

I think that the being boring and repetitive helped kids to learn to read?
Must look out the Terry Wogan ones, bound to be naughty but nice.

Doodledog Sun 14-Jun-26 10:57:58

I dislike trigger warnings, but don't see the harm in adapting children's books to suit the times. Children aren't able to understand that some things have to be interpreted through an historical lens - they haven't been around long enough to see times change.

Janet and John books were used when I was at school. I remember their being very boring. I must look out for the Wogan readings.

Oreo Sun 14-Jun-26 10:53:29

Yeah, all that honey could affect his heart y’know 😁

NanKate Sun 14-Jun-26 10:51:33

How many of you remember the hilarious readings by Terry Wogan of the DIFFERENT VERSION of the Janet and John books ? I still listen to them on the internet and am in Hysterics.

Well the original children’s version of these children’s books have now got a trigger warning, how absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. Winnie the Pooh better watch out!