AMBER Alert Broadcast During PBS Children's Show

[robinb]

My 7-year old was watching Dragon Tales this morning at 7:15 AM eating her breakfast when an AMBER Alert broke in. A 3-year old boy was missing in Green Bay, WI and was thought to be with a man. The alert continued with a description of the boy, the man and his name and the car that he was driving.

My DD was, of course, full of questions. I had to explain an AMBER Alert to her and how a small boy was taken by someone and how the police are trying to find the boy. She asked a few follow-up questions, most of which I just had to answer "I don't know, honey." The whole thing scared the crap out of her. I do talk about Stranger Danger and "bad touch" with my 7-year old, but I do not talk to her specifically about abductions, sexual assault and murder.

I am torn about the appropriateness of displaying an AMBER Alert during a children's show. My guess is that 7-8 is the upper age for PBS morning fare with the average being more in the abducted little boy's range of 3-5. Do 5 year olds really need to hear about a small child being taken by a man? Does the scary real world have to intrude on the fantasy world or Barney or Sesame Street?

OTOH, I think it's important to get the AMBER Alert out to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

What do you think? Should TV stations that broadcast AMBER Alerts only do so during adult programming? Or, is it worth scaring a bunch of pre-schoolers to get the important information out?

FWIW, the AMBER Alert was a false alarm. There was some confusion about which caregiver would have the boy this morning and the boy was dropped off safe and sound at the police station.

 

[summerrluvv]

I think the safety of the missing child is more important than scaring a child that is watching TV. If they waited until adult programming to come on to display the Amber Alert, the child could be dead by then.

 

[Hillbeans]

I agree - I think the possible abduction of a child is worth cutting into the programming that many children and adults watch in the morning.

I would imagine if it were my child missing, i'd want it done, so I can't say i'd not want it done for someone else during my son's tv time even though it may bring up an uncomfortable situation with my child.

I can see why you would question it though.

Oh, and Summerluv - CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY! I must have missed the announcement and i'm usually up on these things!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think as long as no inappropriate details (of a violent or sexual nature) were given, it is actually a very good time to air it. I'm sure there are still a lot of parents out there who do not talk to their children about what to do if someone tries to abduct them, so this might open up some needed conversations, too.

 

[Princess89]

I honestly think its a good idea to have the Amber Alert during children's programing. I say this only because at some points during the day the children are occupying the TV and its a way for the adults to know that there is an alert. I know my DD has on Disney channel from about 8-12 not constantly watching it but in the background. I miss so much because she has the TV tuned into children's programming. There was an Amber alert in our area, my specific town, and I had no idea until DS came home from school and told me. It ended up ok, but still I had no clue and still think that if I had known, maybe I could have somehow helped in my journey's around town that day, keeping my eyes open.

 

[lesroi]

I would assume that it is run because they figure at 7:15 am, there is generally a parent connected to whatever child may be watching TV, and that parent may be able to help them find the missing child.

I think there is NO PROBLEM running an AMBER alert during ANY programming. The safety of the stolen child is of utmost concern.

I am sure you would feel the same if your child that was normally watching TV at that time was in a car with a child predator, right? I didn't see where your child asked you to explain graphically all of the things that *could* happen if a stranger abducts you. I also see that the alert did not even contain any information that would be "scary" to a child. I think you are definitely projecting on this one.

I see no problem at all with running an AMBER ALERT at this time.

Tracy

 

[Hannathy]

If they are going to do Amber alerts they have to be on everything! I also heard the amber alert but am amazed that when I tried to find details this Am couldn't. I turned to 2 local channels and neither had anything I then tried 2 local tv channel web sites and neither one had anything up ! that is crazy what good did it do me to know there was an alert but not for what? Gee silly me had I known to turn on PBS instead of the news I could have found out.

 

[bgirldeb]

They put weather alerts our PBS station, too.

Kids watching TV are supposed to be monitored anyway, so this would still be a way to get the message out to their parents.

As far as sheltering kids from news like this,

My grandmother was very blunt with my sister and I from an early age about knowing about bad people that are out there. She told us about Adam Walsh, and how his body was found. Knowledge is power, but I still look back on it and think 'Wow, Grandma used to scare us silly', but it helps to develop a healthy fear of strangers, and to be on guard. My grandma was also in a wheelchair from sever Rheumatoid Arthritis, and felt otherwise helpless to protect us

Unfortunately the way the world is, it's better for kids to know things like this happen.

 

[bicker]

It is likely that the system that puts Amber Alerts on-air doesn't have anything to do with the time-of-day. When the alert is issued, it is broadcast.

 

[N.Bailey]

When a child is abducted (by a stranger, I'm not talking custody issues here), it's said that there is about a 3 hour window to get the child back safely in most cases. IMO, it's imperative to get the message out to the public ASAP by any and all means possible. I am sorry that your child (and probably other children too) were scared, but I back the decision. The abducted child's safety trumps the rest of our needs, IMO.

 

[poohandwendy]

I think the safety of the missing child is more important than scaring a child that is watching TV. If they waited until adult programming to come on to display the Amber Alert, the child could be dead by then.

I totally agree. This sort of alert is time sensitive and needs to reach as much of the community as possible.

 

[poohandwendy]

FWIW, the AMBER Alert was a false alarm. There was some confusion about which caregiver would have the boy this morning and the boy was dropped off safe and sound at the police station.

That is always good news to hear. I am sure that made your DD feel a little bit better.

I would make a suggestion to all parents though, instead of telling your small child that a 'child was taken by someone', you can just say a child is missing and that the parents and police are trying to find them as quickly as possible.

In many cases, the child wandered off or like this case, there was a miscommnication.

 

[sugarpie]

I had a similar situation here this morning, only it was a different channel. They turned the volume off while the alert was on the screen. My 4 year old daughter wanted to know what was going on. I just told her that a boy was missing & that everyone needed to know right away so he could be found as soon as possible. I don't have a problem with it at all. I think it's a good opportunity to talk about an issue like this & would hope if it was my child that everything possible was being done.

 

[sugarpie]

It's a sad day here in Wisconsin. It seems there was a school shooting involving a principal, too.

 

[robinb]

It's a sad day here in Wisconsin. It seems there was a school shooting involving a principal, too.

My DD's kindergarten teacher is now a principal, so I just looked up the story. It's not him and the principal is hositalized.

 

[TurboKitty]

While I am sorry the alert upset your DD, I think the information is far to important to not show it. I also think that a PBS kids program is a perfect place to air it, along with radio stations, in hopes that people "out and about" might hear/read the alert and actually be on the lookout. I know when my kids are with me, waiting somewhere with a common television, like a doctor's office or car repair shop, the tv is often tuned to PBS.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Unfortunately--I don't think they were wrong.

If a state of emergency occurred, the station would be compelled to broadcast the EAS as well.

I don't know the laws regarding broadcasting Amber Alerts as I graduated 10 years ago. I know that most of the stations here do broadcast them..but I don't have the tv on all day to know when. They also put them on the electronic street signs and on radio stations.

 

[Dina]

I agree with the other posters-- expediting the child's return is first priority.

 

[hydster]

After our ordeal yesterday/last night with our 13 yr old dd I would never tell anyone not to broadcast a missing child on ANY station regardless. I also don't think it's too early to let kids know about the Amber alert and missing children! If children hear it and ask questions about it then it needs to be addressed and I don't think it's too early at 7 to start stressing it with them.

I am very passionate about this with our ordeal yesterday so forgive me if it comes out harsh but it was a really scary 4 hour ordeal that was SLOWLY working it's way to an alert but thankfully was resolved before that point!

Just hug your kids and do what you can to keep them safe and armed with knowledge!

 

[sugarpie]

My DD's kindergarten teacher is now a principal, so I just looked up the story. It's not him and the principal is hositalized.

There's a press conference on right now. I'm literally nauseous.

I think we need guards & metal detectors at schools. I just never thought it would happen here.