Do You Let Kids Watch

[Willow]

Goodness, it is a tv show! If you don't like your kids to watch it then don't allow it. I personally like it and find nothing about it as influencing my son in a negative way. Spongebob is a wonderful friend to Patrick, Sandy, and even Squidward, who is mean to him. Spongebob is a hard worker. These are valuable lessons that I want him to learn and if it happens that he learns it from a tv character that is disliked by many, so be it...he has to learn it from something that catches his attention. And by the way, he has watched SB since age 2, he is 5 now, and is very well behaved for others and a very smart little kindergartener! A little bit of this is not going to make his brain disinegrate into thin air. I am hopeful that instead he will take the good things from a show he likes to watch. Instead, he could be watching Max and Ruby and yelling at his little brother every chance he got. But, instead he usually engages his brother to play with him and even said he would like to share his bedroom with him...Spongebob would do the same. Frankly, I don't care if he learned that from me or this tv show, the point is he learned to be nice to others and that is the important thing!

No one argued that watching Spongebob will "disintegrate" anyones brain

My argument with it is that there are better alternatives. I don't feed mac n cheese from a box, I feed whole grain pasta with real cheddar. Box mac n cheese will not kill my child, but there are healthier alternatives and science supports that.

Same argument.

I don't care whats right for anyone else, I was only offering information in regards to how I've come to the conclusions I have about what is best for me and mine. I don't care to use my kids as guinea pigs to try to prove what well respected studies have already proven. I definitely prefer to stack the odds in their favor in most reasonable ways possible.

[daycare]

Why does every study ever cited here become irrelevant simply because it doesn't apply to you personal family's experiences?

With your husband being a doctor I'd think you'd be more respectful of broadscale studies and their conclusions.

That it doesn't apply to one person is irrelevant.

what does my husband being an MD have to do with how I view things?

As I said before, to each their own. I personally don't see this show as an issue. Regardless of what the research shows, I am allowing, and will allow my children to continue to watch it..

I showed my 17.5 year old this thread and he laughed saying that in his admission essay to Berkeley, he even stated in a section of it that SP was his childhood hero..........

Why does every study ever cited here become irrelevant simply because it doesn't apply to you personal family's experiences?

not sure where you even going with this, but I don't care to make this about me. Lets just agree to disagree.

thanks

[Lyss]

OMG I hate SpongeBob... honestly I haven't watched it in forever or really never at any length but the bits and pieces were just annoying. I also hate Caillou and don't allow my DD to watch it. He also annoys me.

Is Rugrats still on? I see it mentioned and wondered. My brother LOVED that show...

I don't let DD watch that much TV at all. To me it has more of a "babysitter" value that many parents I know appreciate and use it for rather than an educational value but it's their choice for their kids, to each their own. I just don't let DD watch it because I honestly just hate kids shows and she just end ups cranky and restless later (she's an active kid).

[Willow]

what does my husband being an MD have to do with how I view things?

As I said before, to each their own. I personally don't see this show as an issue. Regardless of what the research shows, I am allowing, and will allow my children to continue to watch it..

I showed my 17.5 year old this thread and he laughed saying that in his admission essay to Berkeley, he even stated in a section of it that SP was his childhood hero..........

Why does every study ever cited here become irrelevant simply because it doesn't apply to you personal family's experiences?

not sure where you even going with this, but I don't care to make this about me. Lets just agree to disagree.

thanks

Right on, will definitely agree to disagree

[Scout]

No one argued that watching Spongebob will "disintegrate" anyones brain

My argument with it is that there are better alternatives. I don't feed mac n cheese from a box, I feed whole grain pasta with real cheddar. Box mac n cheese will not kill my child, but there are healthier alternatives and science supports that.

Same argument.

I don't care whats right for anyone else, I was only offering information in regards to how I've come to the conclusions I have about what is best for me and mine. I don't care to use my kids as guinea pigs to try to prove what well respected studies have already proven. I definitely prefer to stack the odds in their favor in most reasonable ways possible.

And my point is that if you feel there are better alternatives, then go with what you feel is superior! That's all. I find nothing wrong with the show so my kids are allowed to watch it, while eating mac and cheese from a box!:: Just a little funny, couldn't resist because it fit so well. The Pioneer Woman's mac and cheese is awesome by the way! I love making it for my family.

[Blackcat31]

Nickelodeon made the following statement about the APA study of the show.

"Nickelodeon, home of SpongeBob, came out forcefully against the study, arguing the SpongeBob wasn’t designed for preschoolers in the first place.

It was designed to entertain older children aged 8-12."

Since a majority of kids in child care are preschoolers, I would hope they aren't allowed to watch it while in care.

What parents choose to do on their own time is on them.

[daycare]

Right on, will definitely agree to disagree

really it's just your way smarter than me, so I have to back out before you really reveal how dumb I am...... YOu are great at debating. You should have been a lawyer.

I really have a hard time understanding a lot of the English language does not always get me out of everything..... My husband reminds me of this about daily

[Willow]

And my point is that if you feel there are better alternatives, then go with what you feel is superior! That's all.

What I find funny is that those who liked the show were never grilled about why, but those who said they didn't, were.

To each their own should go both ways, no?

Like and watch and that's a respected position, but say you don't and you best be prepared to defend your position......complete with a plethora of acceptable study citations

[Willow]

really it's just your way smarter than me, so I have to back out before you really reveal how dumb I am...... YOu are great at debating. You should have been a lawyer.

I really have a hard time understanding a lot of the English language does not always get me out of everything..... My husband reminds me of this about daily

Say WHAT the WHAT ON EARTH???? :confused:

[daycare]

Say WHAT the WHAT ON EARTH???? :confused:

... Maybe I didn't make sense?

[Scout]

I have to laugh because for kindergarten my son needs us to read with him for 15-20 min per night. He picks out the books. Last week he told me that library time at school is boring because they just read one book. I told him he is allowed to check out a book and bring it home. He chose Spongebob and when I went to say goodnight he was in his bed reading that Spongebob book happily with his father. He can read 20 words now and is steadily improving weekly from this. It doesnt matter what the book is, what matters is the love of reading he is getting out of it!

[Scout]

What I find funny is that those who liked the show were never grilled about why, but those who said they didn't, were.

To each their own should go both ways, no?

Like and watch and that's a respected position, but say you don't and you best be prepared to defend your position......complete with a plethora of acceptable study citations

I stated why, SB is a hard worker and is kind to others. He loves to laugh and play and work. I believe kids can learn valuable lif lessons from a show like this. I believe this was in my first response.

[daycare]

I stated why, SB is a hard worker and is kind to others. He loves to laugh and play and work. I believe kids can learn valuable lif lessons from a show like this. I believe this was in my first response.

I agree with that......My son has picked up on some huge words and extended vocabulary from this show. He told me the other day, mom if I am bad at school like sponge bob was, I will get detention. I will lose privileges.

[Cradle2crayons]

Watching SB is not comparable to your examples above.

The "in moderation" refers to allowing our children to watch a mindless, non-educational television show. I don't see the problem with an episode every on e in awhile, but sitting there for great lengths of time numbly staring at the tv is obviously unhealthy. Every single "activity" we allow our children to engage in does not have to serve a purpose or build their brain or teach them anything. It's ok IMO to let them space out and watch a stupid show.

My dcks don't watch any tv here at all because I'm sure they get plenty at home, but my 6 yo is allowed to watch an episode or two of whatever garbage cartoon h finds on netflix so he can decompress after a day of filling his big head full of new things at school.

(Not arguing, just don't understand your examples of moderation in regards to the topic)

Thank you. That was exactly my point except I said it not nearly as eloquently as you .

[BrooklynM]

Lets just all put this in perspective. Some of you like Spongebob, some of you don't. Its entertainment. I don't think its a big deal. My kids didn't watch it til they were older (maybe around 8 or 9). They didn't watch a lot of it, but it is funny. Even the little side jokes for adults? I'm sorry, I laughed. I don't purposely watch the show, but I have seen it and it's pretty funny. I love Family Guy too. I don't let my kids watch Family Guy because it's for adults. The good news is that there is something different for everyone and everyone can make choices for their families.

I don't take things like this that seriously, there are more things to concentrate on like kindness and love.

To the one that said something about their son at Berkeley, that is where my daughter wants to go as well. Go Cal!

Life is so short ladies. Laugh, don't take things to seriously. I mean, who really lives in a pineapple under a sea? HAHA! JK :hug: