Ohmygosh....

[dEHmom]

I tried hard to shelter my kids from words like Monsters, and such. I was very ticked off when it was Franklin who introduced monsters to my daughter, and she was haunted for a year, before the ghost was told to go home with grampa. Honestly, it still scares me thinking about it, because even I had encounters with unexplainable things in this house, and after grampas said "come on donkers, time to come to my house" it all stopped.

The picture my dd drew to explain what donkers was was very frightening. And no clue where she ever came up with it. And it was furry too. Does anyone know what an oopik is? Her drawing reminded us of this, but not identical. White fur with red eyes and lives in the wall she said. Thank you franklin!

[wdmmom]

On a very, very rare occasion I will turn on Spongebob in the late afternoon. The last time it was only on for about 3 minutes before the word, "Stupid" was shouted so off it went! I don't like that word, I don't allow that word and I don't want the kids thinking since Spongebob said it, it must be okay.

[Kaddidle Care]

Sponge Bob Stupid Pants. Bleh!

My son likes it - I'm on the verge of banning it in this house. Please don't let little kids see it. Oh yuck!

[daycare]

On a very, very rare occasion I will turn on Spongebob in the late afternoon. The last time it was only on for about 3 minutes before the word, "Stupid" was shouted so off it went! I don't like that word, I don't allow that word and I don't want the kids thinking since Spongebob said it, it must be okay.

diito we dont use that word here either. I dont even allow for my older kids 13-15 to say it because then my little 3 year old will be running around calling everyone stupid...

I like the simpsons, it's a cartoon, but it's def not for little kids and I feel the same way about SPSP....YUCK

[Country Kids]

The one cartoon that is my favorite but not for kids is "King Of The Hill". I watch it every night before going to bed and get so mad when there is something else on that I would like to watch! I do not like having to make decisions when I'm tired.

[Unregistered]

I'd rather screen adventure time

Sponge Bob is NOT acceptable viewing for children, or tasteful for adults. Yes the word stupid is overly used, but also the themes are not funny. I scares me that so many of you are fans. We also avoid anything with fight scenes, rough language, name calling or grossness (spongebob's tanning episode - viewed before I cared for children made this rule).

I know kids are going to learn bad language. Its important that they learn to express themselves (and their feelings - Like Caillou) well and apropriately first. Also - we teach working our problems out.

TV is so mesmerizing - it is impossible for children to screen behavior models at a young age. We use proper language and expect that and do not model bad behavior in media or in person.

[AfterSchoolMom]

or tasteful for adults.

I like it. I like the Simpsons too, and one of my favorites (that DH and I watch all the time when the kids are in bed) is Family Guy. I guess I'm just not a "tasteful" person. ::

[daycare]

I like it. I like the Simpsons too, and one of my favorites (that DH and I watch all the time when the kids are in bed) is Family Guy. I guess I'm just not a "tasteful" person. ::

lmao me either.....I love the simpsons....but would never let my 3.5 year old watch it...he's got blues clues and leap frog to watch....

[littlemissmuffet]

For me, daycare and tv don't mix. There's MAYBE 8 times a YEAR that my DC kids watch tv/a short film...

As for me and hubs, we love the sponge and we're not opposed to the kids also watching it. We teach our kids the difference between pretend and reality and the difference between acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior, so this is a non-issue.

Kids see far worse in the real world than they do in the 30 minutes they're staring at a talking sponge... over-sheltering kids always backfires, IMO.

[MyAngels]

As for me and hubs, we love the sponge and we're not opposed to the kids also watching it. We teach our kids the difference between pretend and reality and the difference between acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior, so this is a non-issue.

Kids see far worse in the real world than they do in the 30 minutes they're staring at a talking sponge... over-sheltering kids always backfires, IMO.

This is the way I feel, too. Even if they don't watch it at my house or at home, they're going to see it somewhere, so they need to understand that it's just pretend. I do worry about the kids whose parents don't take the time to help their children make the distinction, though.

[AfterSchoolMom]

over-sheltering kids always backfires, IMO.

This reminds me of a story - when my first was little (4'ish) I wouldn't allow any gun play at all. I wouldn't allow toy guns, or talk of guns, or shows about guns or violence. Then one day he bent his bendable Easter Bunny into the shape of a gun and "shot" me with it. He'd seen some kids playing "guns" at the playground at preschool.

It didn't make a bit of difference that I'd spent years sheltering him from the "violence". He was a boy, and boys play with toy guns. I relaxed, and from then on instead of forbidding them totally, I turned it into a lesson about pretend vs. the real thing, and the older he gets, the more we talk about gun safety and what to do if he ever comes across a real one, etc.

I think he's more responsible because of it.

Sorry to threadjack, but it does relate. While I don't think the kids should watch adult themed cartoons like Family Guy, I don't think it's possible to totally shield them from all impropriety where cartoons are concerned. Even if you don't own a TV, their friends do. They'll see or hear things eventually, and I'd rather prepare them for it and let them know what is acceptable and what isn't before that happens.

[littlemissmuffet]

This reminds me of a story - when my first was little (4'ish) I wouldn't allow any gun play at all. I wouldn't allow toy guns, or talk of guns, or shows about guns or violence. Then one day he bent his bendable Easter Bunny into the shape of a gun and "shot" me with it. He'd seen some kids playing "guns" at the playground at preschool.

It didn't make a bit of difference that I'd spent years sheltering him from the "violence". He was a boy, and boys play with toy guns. I relaxed, and from then on instead of forbidding them totally, I turned it into a lesson about pretend vs. the real thing, and the older he gets, the more we talk about gun safety and what to do if he ever comes across a real one, etc.

I think he's more responsible because of it.

Sorry to threadjack, but it does relate. While I don't think the kids should watch adult themed cartoons like Family Guy, I don't think it's possible to totally shield them from all impropriety where cartoons are concerned. Even if you don't own a TV, their friends do. They'll see or hear things eventually, and I'd rather prepare them for it and let them know what is acceptable and what isn't before that happens.

LIKE!

[Blackcat31]

My own kids grew up watching Rug Rats, Looney Tunes and every popular Disney movie released during their childhoods. They even loved that big stupid gigantic purple dinosaur.....bleh....but it didn't shape their lives (or give them nightmares) or make them the people they are today....

My DH and I shaped them, taught them values, the difference between what is real and what is not, taught them what is socially appropriate and what isn't. We even swore now and then in front of them despite trying our best to watch our mouths but our kids still learned what okay language was and what words would earn them a time out.

They weren't out right sheilded from every bad or influencial thing that came out of this big bad world.....that would have been impossible. Instead, we as parents simply approached the whole thing as a learning experience; to teach our kids that there are bad words, actions and things out in the real world but there is a personal responsibility to make good choices and be good people despite anything they may have seen, heard or learned that was considered "inappropriate".

I do not think that we should let our kids watch rated R movies or anything like that, I am simply making the point that we cannot shield our kids from everything...they are gonna see it, hear it, learn it and possibly participate in it....that is why they are kids...so they can make mistakes and learn from them. Shielding them from cartoons we may not like or approve of doesn't guarantee who is influenced by what, the parents (and providers) are the ones who make the biggest influences on them.

So if kids wanna watch RugRats or Sponge Bob, I could care less....what I care about are their actions and behaviors while in my care...the rest, I cannot control.


....and loving the hippest, newest, coolest cartoon out there is part of a social learning experience and part being accepted by their peers....which is important to proper learning and growth.


FTR; We are a no TV childcare but that doesn't mean the kiddos don't have TV at home or everywhere else.

[melissa ann]

The squirrel is a girl


I don't mind Sponge Bob - in fact, I actually like it. I can't stand the teen comedies - Victorious, Hannah Montana, etc. - they drive me up the wall.
Also, I don't think it's just the older kids' cartoons that are always offensive. Anyone ever watched Caillou? That kid is whiny little brat! And does Dora EVER stop shouting? And where are poor Max and Ruby's parents? Maybe if they were around, Max would listen once in awhile instead of being so defiant. :P

I don't think the cartoons I watched as a kid were much better. Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, and the Road Runner/Coyote were all SO violent. Charlie Brown was always depressed, and have you ever watched a Disney movie? They're all full of adult jokes and innuendo.Wow, I didn't realize I had so much to say about this. Haha!

Totally agree. I'd rather my kids watch sponge bob over that annoying Dora anytime. And if I was Ruby, I would lock Max in a closet. What an annoying brother!

[sharlan]

Caillou drove me up the wall. I would rather watch 12 hours of Barney, straight. But, in his defense, they've toned down the whinning. They must have gotten a lot of complaints about it.

I can't stand iCarly. She is the epitome of mean.

I love the older PBS shows.

Right now my dh has the kids watching Shaun the Sheep while I make breakfast in the morning. I keep telling him that it's killing off their little brain cells.