Am I just old-fashioned?

[sara74]

But that is the point Kim Possible is not geared to toddlers! It is geared to elementary kids. The older kids deserve some cartoons also.

The point was that the OP's child was NOT watching Kim Possible but was watching Lilo and Stitch and KP was on the show as a draw for kids to her show. I'd be taken aback if I were the OP too. At least I would be if we didn't have friends whose 4 year old watches KP, That's So Raven, the Cheetah Girls etc.

aes74- you make some great points in your posts, must be the year you were born that imparts such wisdom (we 74's need to stick together!) I'm glad this thread hasn't deteriorated the way the BFing threads tend to do. Now let someone get after me for working and I'll bring my OWN fireworks!!!

 

[pperfectmom]

The point was that the OP's child was NOT watching Kim Possible but was watching Lilo and Stitch and KP was on the show as a draw for kids to her show. I'd be taken aback if I were the OP too. At least I would be if we didn't have friends whose 4 year old watches KP, That's So Raven, the Cheetah Girls etc.

Thank you for pointing that out. The point of my post has been lost here in the debate over showing bellies. I mainly just wanted to express my disappointment in modern cartoons in general. My kids do watch PBS also. We like "Arthur" and "Clifford". I like these cartoons that teach a lesson, but they're not Funny!!!I want cartoons that make us laugh in spite of being non-politically correct. I don't like all the advertising to children either with the marketing of so much stuff designed to drive Mommy crazy.

To all the people who love old cartoons- . To any who don't maybe you should look again. There's a valuable commodity to be had in laughter.

 

[tagmom]

My kids watch Kim possible and actually I would rather have them watch things like that than the old donald,mickey type cartoons. If you remember those cartoons were pretty racist although we didnt realize it was wrong at the time. Thats just my own opionion though.

 

[pperfectmom]

Every parent has a different way of teaching right and wrong. I will probably use the old cartoons as a history lesson in between laughs. To those who think the old cartoons are offensive-would you let your children read "Huckleberry Finn"? Just a thought.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Every parent has a different way of teaching right and wrong. I will probably use the old cartoons as a history lesson in between laughs. To those who think the old cartoons are offensive-would you let your children read "Huckleberry Finn"? Just a thought.

I think using old cartoons as a history lesson is a great idea. However, it's not one I'd probably start at 3 (the age of the OP's child). DS is 7 now and we have certainly read books and watched TV and talked about gender roles, and race in them. However at 3 those conversations were pretty much over his head.

 

[aes74]

OK this is definitely off on a tangent....

do you guys remember the "old" disney channel? When I was growing up they used to show all the old Disney movies, like Pollyanna, the Hayley Mills movies (I adored her), the old Mickey Mouse cartoons, Swiss Family Robinson, Tron, etc? I feel like now they only have movies that their Disney Channel "stars" are in. I've started buying the old movies so my kids can see them, although technically, I guess they were old when I was watching them!

Remember they had "Dtv" where they showed all the Mickey Mouse cartoons?

Sigh, I feel old.

 

[amy4bruce]

Okay. I have a six year old who accepts new things but hangs on to the old things. In other words, she watches Kim Possible and Jo Jo's Circus. We draw the line at Bratz (they are the most shallow characters ever created IMHO), but we give her a fairly large leeway in what she watches.

We have DirecTV, so we get many, many channels for kids. The best for toddlers is probably Discovery Kids, which shows the Magic School Bus as well as other, less known shows. In the morning, they have no commercials, but, rather, a Henson produced five-minute series called "Ready! Set! Learn!" featuring a penguin named Paz.

Boomerang, an almost commercial free channel from the Cartoon Network (they have commercials for CN products and their own shows) shows cartoons from the sixties and seventies ("Their all coming back to you"). My daughter has flipped for all the versions of Scoobey Doo, despite that both DW and I say, 'I'll bet it's the old man with the mask."

Noggin is for preschoolers, and shows Nick Junior product and some PBS kids stuff. PBS Sprout is strictly for toddlers, showing PBS material and leaving out such things as Arthur and Liberty's Kids, aimed at older children.

As far as the Disney Channel goes, if it's labeled "Playhouse Disney," it's designed for preschool. If it isn't, it's not. It's as simple as that. Lilo and Stitch is not aimed for preschool, and so crossovers are considered proper. (And yes, crossovers are advertising, but they are a time honored tradition with companies that create their own universes. It started with comic books, but you can see CSI: Miami and CSI: New York having parallel stories that intersect.)

Toon Disney isn't for toddlers. They show the older-skewing cartoons, ie. Kim Possible, The Proud Family, Dave the Barbarian, plus every Japanese cartoon, semi-cartoon (The Power Rangers) and super-hero cartoon they can lay their hands on.

Finally, someone mentioned the Disney live-action sitcoms. My DD6 watches those. She's watched Lizze McGuire since she was three. Some shows are good, some shows are simply not funny. They're all appropriate for elementary school children, IMHO, although you should probably check them out for yourself, since what I consider appropriate you might not. Some kids are given Bratz dolls as presents. (One thing - Lizzie McGuire is all rerun, and, as my wife said once, "We know that they're never going to have a 'very special episode' where Lizzie loses her virginity."

 

[KristinU]

Personally, I think most of the new cartoons are better for kids than the old ones! Most of the old ones have alot of violence and fighting, even Mickey ones! I bought a DVD of old Mickey cartoons for my dd to watch, and the fighting was upsetting to her. Today, cartoons and kid shows focus much more on problem solving and talking things out. Does anyone else feel that way?

I couldn't agree more! My DS loves Donald Duck so we bought him a Donald DVD of old shorts. We popped it in and were honestly shocked by how violent it was! I definitely don't want my DS watching that stuff - lots of hitting, punching, throwing objects at people and animals - I prefer the kinder, gentler characters of today for sure.

I also agree with NotUrsula that Lilo and Stitch isn't really for toddlers either. In my mind it is aimed at an older audience than Jo Jo, Bear, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Charlie and Lola, etc. Not as old an audience as Kim Possible, but not as young as teh Playhouse Disney crew.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Okay. I have a six year old who accepts new things but hangs on to the old things. In other words, she watches Kim Possible and Jo Jo's Circus. We draw the line at Bratz (they are the most shallow characters ever created IMHO), but we give her a fairly large leeway in what she watches.

We have DirecTV, so we get many, many channels for kids. The best for toddlers is probably Discovery Kids, which shows the Magic School Bus as well as other, less known shows. In the morning, they have no commercials, but, rather, a Henson produced five-minute series called "Ready! Set! Learn!" featuring a penguin named Paz.

We don't have DirecTV, but the "Ready! Set! Learn!" shows come on The Discover Channel for 2-3 hours in the morning. My DD4's all-time favorite show is Hi-5. Personally, I don't like any of the preschool shows on The Disney Channel (putting my flame retardant suit on now). I see them all as being more commercial than educational. Fortunately, DD just doesn't care for them. She also enjoys "Between the Lions" and "Zoom" on PBS. They may not make you laugh as much as "Bugs Bunny" but you do learn a lot of neat science tricks. DD also likes the Disney Sing-A-Long videos and anything live action with kids, especially girls.

I agree with the poster about the princesses. We love all the princesses, but I have "brainwashed" DD into believing that it is better to be a Mulan who chooses her destiny whether than a Cinderella who waits for her prince to rescue her.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Another for Boomerang. DD loves it!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I couldn't believe what was on Lilo and Stitch this morning. My kids usually only watch a few cartoons a day just because most of them seem like junk. We almost always watch "Lilo & Stitch" and Pooh and sometimes Dora the Explorer. Today they had another character on-Kim Possible I think she was called. She had a tiny little waist and pants way too large, but, the thing that got me was that she had a belly shirt on!!!!!I don't want my 3 year old daughter thinking that is appropriate attire. Why would Disney mess with a perfectly good children's cartoon by adding stuff like this? I love Lilo because she is short and pudgy and wears muumuus(sp?). Also, I don't understand why Disney doesn't even show real cartoons like Mickey, Donald, Chip & Dale, etc. I know they have to own the rights to these, don't they? One of the reasons I agreed to let my husband sign us up for Dish network was so we could watch all the awesome cartoons. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in the offerings. Not only is Disney sorely lacking, but I can't find Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, Flintstones and so on, anywhere!!I know my kids would love these shows. What's up?

count me inn... I also hate BRATZ dolls they are totally not for any little gilsr

 

[Downrivermama]

I agree that we all have to do what we feel is right for aour children. My dd 8 watches just about everything. I remember when the Power Puff Girls were rally big and I read somewhere that they were to cheeky. But they are a great role model for girls as no males help them.

When I was a kid, my mother let me go topless when I was a toddler, I didn't let my dd to that, because there are just too many adults that have to sexualize everything, when most times it is quite innocent.

Kim Possible isn't geared for toddlers and neither is Lilo & Stitch. You have to stick to Playhouse Disney, Nick Jr or PBS if you are looking for toddler fare.

In this day and age when do kids get to be kids?

 

[Downrivermama]

Oops! Double posted.

 

[mom2alix]

I couldn't believe what was on Lilo and Stitch this morning. My kids usually only watch a few cartoons a day just because most of them seem like junk. We almost always watch "Lilo & Stitch" and Pooh and sometimes Dora the Explorer. Today they had another character on-Kim Possible I think she was called. She had a tiny little waist and pants way too large, but, the thing that got me was that she had a belly shirt on!!!!!I don't want my 3 year old daughter thinking that is appropriate attire. Why would Disney mess with a perfectly good children's cartoon by adding stuff like this? I love Lilo because she is short and pudgy and wears muumuus(sp?). Also, I don't understand why Disney doesn't even show real cartoons like Mickey, Donald, Chip & Dale, etc. I know they have to own the rights to these, don't they? One of the reasons I agreed to let my husband sign us up for Dish network was so we could watch all the awesome cartoons. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in the offerings. Not only is Disney sorely lacking, but I can't find Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, Flintstones and so on, anywhere!!I know my kids would love these shows. What's up?

Hey, I don't know what your Dish offers, but you might chekc if you have access to Toon Disney (they have Mickey, etc.) another great kids channel is Noggin by Nickolodean (it's geared to preschoolers). There's also a great new channel our cable provider just got that's called PBS Sprout that had preschool appropriate shows from PBS all day. Gosh it sounds like we do nothing but watch TV! Honestly it's more that they seem to run the same shows over and over so I start looking for new channels. Anyway, HTH!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I sounds like OP is a great mom and just wants to find which cartoons work for her family. The thing is that TV and movies are an ongoing battle for parents to decide what is and not is right for your family. When DS was little, we pretty much stuck to the PBS shows. I did not allow rug-rats or alot of the newer cartoons that came across as fresh. Also to Ds's horror, we did not allow power Rangers until he was about 7 and I felt he could tell the difference between real and pretend better.
Of course later it became much more of an issue with PG-13 movies and now at 14 it is now to the stage where most kids see the R rated movies. Right now Kim Possible may seem like a little thing but it is important for your child to see that you have certain values that you will not compromise on. It might be belly buttons for one family, or fresh talk for another. AT my home right now it is the fact that I said no to the Omen for my 14 year old.
Good for you for knowing what your child watches and deciding what is and is not ok for her.

Jordan' mom

 

[castleeto]

OK this is definitely off on a tangent....

do you guys remember the "old" disney channel? When I was growing up they used to show all the old Disney movies, like Pollyanna, the Hayley Mills movies (I adored her), the old Mickey Mouse cartoons, Swiss Family Robinson, Tron, etc? I feel like now they only have movies that their Disney Channel "stars" are in. I've started buying the old movies so my kids can see them, although technically, I guess they were old when I was watching them!

Remember they had "Dtv" where they showed all the Mickey Mouse cartoons?

Sigh, I feel old.

I remember and miss the "old" Disney channel! I loved DTV! Did anyone else love the family series, like "Avonlea". Now Disney has some great shows for different age groups, but I miss that it doesn't have as much that the whole family can watch together like it used to. And I miss all the Disneyworld segments in between shows. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[ozarkmom]

How about mermaid with just a little bikini top on?

 

[AllyCatTapia]

oohhh yyyeeaaahhh we definitely want to teach our daughters to be ASHAMED of their BELLIES.... god forbid anyone see their...BELLY and *GASP* belly button.

yeah, that's a great thing to do to them! over-sexualize them at age three!!! Great Idea

Yes, you are being too old fashioned and no they don't even notice these things, and yes you are doing your daughter a disservice even commenting on this.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Ya know, I never really thought of Kim Possible wearing a BELLY shirt. Or Lilo's sister in Lilo & Stitch! But my son is 4 1/2, and these are shows he won't be watching. But I have NO PROBLEMS with these shows at all!

I let him watch TV, but it has to be educational. (Dora, Diego, Franklin, Little Bear, Blues Clues, Pinkie Dinkie Doo, etc) I'd rather him NOT be able to watch the old Looney Tunes cartoons, because I think they are VERY violent! I used to love them as a kid, but that's because we didn't really have any other options.

 

[KJMAX1]

I was raised on the old Disney channel too!! I LOVED IT!! I agree they could be putting some of the older movies on. I know my DH and I always love watching them with our kids, remembering when we were little. Shoot, I miss Vault Disney from the late 90s! I bought almost the entire set of Road to Avonlea for my DDs and I to watch. You can get them from Canada, or sometimes on Ebay.