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(CNN) -- A children's show host who was born with one hand is facing criticism from parents over her disability.
The BBC is receiving complaints about kids' show host Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one hand.

The BBC is receiving complaints about kids' show host Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one hand.

BBC spokeswoman Katya Mira said the corporation has received at least 25 "official" complaints recently about Cerrie Burnell, new host of two shows on the BBC-run CBeebies television network, which is aimed at children younger than 6.

The official complaints do not count the dozens of negative comments lodged in Internet chat rooms, Mira said.

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

However, there have also been messages of support for Burnell. What do you think about the complaints?

"We have also received 99 appreciations of her," Mira said.

Burnell started as a presenter of the shows in late January after acting with theater companies in Manchester, England, and Brazil.

A BBC news release in January introducing Burnell made no mention of her disability, but a publicity photo showed the right sleeve of her sweater pulled up, showing her arm stops just below her elbow.

The issue has spurred a debate in England among newspapers, columnists and bloggers.

Burnell said she has heard the criticism and will not let it bother her.

'It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children. It just goes to show how important it is to have positive, disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general," Burnell said.

Michael Carrington, BBC controller of CBeebies, said the company is standing by Burnell.

"Cerrie is warm and natural and we think that, in time, all moms and dads and children will love her as much as we do," Carrington said

And

Parents have complained that a children's TV presenter with one hand is prompting awkward questions from young children. So how should you explain this kind of disability to a child?

No-one comes up with wrong-footing questions quite like a young child. And young, curious minds don't hesitate to point out differences in people they see around them.

So when the BBC's children's channel CBeebies employed presenter Cerrie Burnell, who was born with only one hand, her appearance on television screens prompted a debate among parents about what they say to their children.

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How do you explain a missing hand to a child?

TheAngel

OK, I'm sorry, but to me this seems silly. I can understand that her presence would prompt some children to say, "Mommy, why doesn't she have two hands?" But really, to say that this is a problem. It's not that difficult to explain. "People are born different, little Timmy. You were born with two hands but some little boys and girls are only born with one."
Gee, that wasn't too bad. Or you can rely on the fall back, "God made her that way" answer, I can keep going, I've got a million. I can't believe people are making a big deal about that.

sunnykerr

Well, I can sorta see how people would make a big deal out of it. I don't think it is, mind you. But parents (as a generalized group) have become massively overprotective in the weirdest ways.

I once was chewed out by a mother (when I was working at Blockbuster) because she hadn't been forewarned that the bad guy dies in The Incredibles. She thought the death (which happens off screen) was way too violent for her little angel.

Which, you know, she would know her child's ability to handle violence better than anyone else, I'm not arguing that.

It just seems that people have lost their minds with this idea that children can't handle anything.

It's a waste, if you ask me. This woman is a beautiful example of how, sometimes, "bad" things happen and it doesn't have to be the end of the world. In fact, people can be different and just thrive regardless.

ceilirose

This is a bit silly. Part of a parent's responsibility is to explain the world to their children depending on their age and what they can comprehend. You will see people different than yourself in your life - different not worse or better.

It reminds of the big controversy about Janet Jackson's nipple in the Super Bowl a few years back.

fetch

IA. And like they say in the BBC article, "They don't see it as something different because it's not bred into them. While adults can see it in a discriminatory way, children are more innocent.". Only when kids don't see people different from them when they're still young, or when these differences are made out to be negative, are prejudices made.

sunnykerr

It's really unfortunate, in the end. Because the only thing that's happening here is adults showing just how ugly they can be.

retro physical

Wow, I'm actually really surprised by this.

From the article...

"Parents have complained that a children's TV presenter with one hand is prompting awkward questions from young children. So how should you explain this kind of disability to a child?"

Hmmm, awkward questions? Who are they going to blame when the kids ask where babies come from?

Come on, part of having children and children growing up themselves is answering awkward questions. I don't think any parent is really excited to answer questions about sex, but the kids have to know sooner or later.

People have disabilities if you like it or not. I actually think it would be a great opportunity to get these questions out of the way now when they're younger so they don't grow up thinking that people with one hand or other disabilities are "bad" or "wrong".

It makes me sad to be part of the human race when people would rather have a person with only one hand not host a children's show then answer a few "awkward" questions.

sunnykerr

I'm trying to remember how my parents explained to me about my friend who had AIDS when I was growing up. Or about my other friend who had CF and juvenile diabetes. Or about my brother who met a car's rearview window with his skull and then was run over by the truck following that car.

If you can't explain to your kids why the clearly happy lady in the TV only has one hand, how do you explain the real and not-so-pleasant stuff?

What happens to those kids when their pet dies or when their aunt and uncle (just so it's not the parents themselves) get a divorce?

How do you explain the homeless in the street? Do they know why it's important to wait at street corners before crossing?

Nad

I understand parents want to protect their children from all the 'unpleasant' stuff, but being open about things like disabilities etc is way better than ignore or dismiss the issue.

I'm not 100% sure how my parents explained that one of my classmates at school sat in a wheelchair, I do know they did give me an explanation though and that's the important part. As some of you already pointed out, if you can't explain why the lady on TV has only one hand, how are you going to explain the really tough stuff?

Very well said.

Callace

Wow! I think it is sad that people are making an issue about this. And I feel sorry for the poor overprotected children too! How are they gonna make sense of the world, when their parents wont introdice them to something as simple as the existance of disablities?

sunnykerr

Well, hopefully, the people at her network stick to their guns on this one.

We just had a scandal over here where a popular children's programs actor/host has been found to have significant enough amounts of child pornography in his home that he is now in jail. Now, that's something to write to the network and complain about. That's a real cause for outrage.

A handicap? That's just life.

vc318

Some people rather live in the dark instead of facing the reality of the world. Like someone mentioned before, if these parents think that talking about disabilities is a huge issue wait till they have the baby talk. Wait, maybe they'll tell them that the stork delivers them every 9 months.

Callace

they probably will.

But overprotecting children in such a way really makes them handicapped too, IMO. It releases them, as young adults, into a world they know very little about, and thus might get problems with how to handle.

sunnykerr

Or, worse, the kids will never actually grow up into fully formed young adults. I mean, we all know adults who still rely on their parents for everything from rent to vacations. And I'm not talking the occasional loan, because that happens to the best of us. But, you know, grown people who refuse to take responsibility.

Callace

that is very true for some reason that makes me think of wives with mother-in-law problems, who are complaining that their husbands are still tied to their mother's apron strings.