What I dislike most about Disney:

[ogreenlee]

Is that my 6 year old wants to watch Hannah Montana, Zack and Cody, Waverly Place, etc...

While staying with her grandmother and 12 year old cousin for a week, she became addicted to these shows. So when she got home, I figured.. ok. Her friends all watch these shows and I didn't want to make it taboo.

But then came... the smartmouth, the sass, the attitude.

We gave her warnings and knew that her behavior was a direct result of these shows, as she never spoke like that before. We finally took it away.

I'm a photographer and was editing photos the other day while she was at home sick with the flu. I put in my password for her to choose a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode on OnDemand. Not knowing that she had figured out how to get to that menu as long as she's already there. She spent an hour watching these shows while I worked. I saw it and turned it off, but didn't think anything about it. When her dad came home that night, she had that sass about her. He looked at me and said, "Did she watch the Disney Channel today?"

I couldn't believe it. He knew just from her attitude.

I do wish that the kids were a little nicer, had better attitudes, didn't think everything was/is stupid, and actually liked school. Her cousin, who grew up on these shows *babysat by these shows* has the worst stinkin' attitude of any 12 year old I've ever seen. After watching some of these shows, I see where it comes from.

I know there are those who watch and do just fine, but are we the only ones who have trouble with these shows? I know that six is definitely too young, but I have to think that 11-12 could be too young, too.

 

[SheenaXena21]

I wish they would bring back normal cartoons, like, Gummi Bears, Care Bears, the REGULAR Mickey mouse cartoons, etc.

The shows today are, IMO, gross, and like you said, sassy.

They need to show more of the old school stuff!!!

 

[flying_babyb]

Oh no! my 10 year old Dsis has a horbile attuide since she started wacthing, oddly enough... The same 3 shows. I get that not all kids like scool but come on! I only let her watch ICarly here and that seems like a ok show.

 

[kevschickee]

IMO it is the way kids are. They sass and have attitude do I like it nope but I remember being that way when I was younger. Will I not allow my children to watch shows that have sassy kids no because I don't think that is the only issue. Just like I don't believe that crap about horror movies causing people to kill. I did a paper about this in school.

 

[tjmw2727]

ITA - if a child can't tell the difference between the way kids act on TV, the way you speak to your school friends and the way you speak to your parents/grandparent ect then they probably shouldn't be watching.

My kids know that if they sas they get punished regardless of where they heard it. However, if I find I am dealing with the problem we just find alternatives. Most times I just find other things to do rather than "banning" the show. IMHO that gives the show too much power and makes it more appealing.

Of she is outgrowing the playhouse disney try some shows on DVD, my kids loved little house, lizzie maguire, punky brewster and full house. (although some the kids in those - esp full house also can be wise cracking.

I am not happy with the disney lineup right now and fwiw neither are my kids. We LOVED lizzie maguire but right now none of the kids are "typical". We have psycic powers, pop stars, tv stars, wizards, presidential chefs and obnoxious (imho) kids who live on a cruise ship.

Oh and it gets harder as they get older.... in order to be able to converse with their peers they want to watch things that I don't necessarily want them to see. Its a balance - sometimes the shows can be a great teaching - talking jumpstart, other times I just have to say no and be the meanie mom on the block

 

[dormouse72]

I prefer "Wizards of Waverly Place" (at least there are parents on that show and "Hannah Montana" - evidently "Sweet Life" had to ditch the mom once the kids became full-fledged teens and there's ony an older brother on "iCarly") to "Gossip Girls", "Khloe and Kourtney take Miami", "My Super Sweet 16", and all the other garbage that's out there...unfortunately they outgrow the "teen" Disney shows WAY too quickly...

That said, 6 is probably too young for those shows if she doesn't realize it's wierd (and kind of sad) that some kids don't seem to have grown-ups around all the time to take care of them. In my house (when DD # 1 was the only one old enough to have outgrown the Playhouse Disney level shows) the rule was that if there was not one main character in the show her age - big enough to have a plot-line written about them - then she wasn't able to watch it. She got so mad at me but that was too bad.

It's harder now that there are two older ones to one little one, but sometimes I have to grin and bear it and watch with them - at least no one is sleeping around or doing drugs. But I still try to guide them more to Boomerang (at one point DD # 1 said "Man, they just don't show cartoon violence like that anymore!"), Discovery (we LOVE Mythbusters and What Not to Wear - invauable with a teen who will listen to a stranger on tv about fashion before her mother), History Channel (stuff on Egypt is cool and so is MonsterQuest and MysteryQuest), and other channels like that. The TV also stays off on school nights (talk about being the meanie mom! No American Idol or Dancing with the Stars - I'm not much for "reality TV" and since I pay the cable bill, I control the remote).

But still, the big ones will watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny over the cartoons on the "Big Three" Networks on Saturday mornings right along with the 7 year old. Little Einstien's still rock.

 

[XYSRUS]

ITA. Even my oldest said Walt would turn over in his grave if he saw what was on TV with his name on it. Suite Life is the worst, back mouthing junk out there.

 

[Perditamarie]

If it wasn't for Phineas and Ferb, I don't think we would watch the Disney Channel at all. I think Wizards is really obnoxious...seems like that show was made for Nickelodeon! It feels like The Disney Channel is trying so hard to make every kid on their shows a superstar like Hannah Montana, so we get even more of these awful shows.

We try alternatives like America's Funniest Home Videos, Wipeout, and some classic faves have been Scooby Doo and Brady Bunch...we DVR a bunch. We also like Ghost Hunters.

 

[ogreenlee]

Our little girl is a tester. She is constantly testing her boundaries to see what is allowed and what isn't. I hope that these shows disappear by the time she's old enough to watch them.

Sad that most of Disney's major stars went on to major destruction after getting too old for Disney. It's another thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The odds of Miley Cyrus going too far like her predecessors is high.. and a shame.

LOVE Boomerang!

 

[~Kristina~]

I'm happy to say that none of my kids are into those shows! Makes me very greatful I get to avoid the Hannah Montana craze.

 

[JUJU814]

IMO it is the way kids are. They sass and have attitude do I like it nope but I remember being that way when I was younger. Will I not allow my children to watch shows that have sassy kids no because I don't think that is the only issue. Just like I don't believe that crap about horror movies causing people to kill. I did a paper about this in school.

I do not at all believe that is just "the way kids are". Kids are that way if they're allowed to be. Some test more than others, but they are *hugely* influenced by what they watch, the types of shows they are allowed to watch, kids they are allowed to hang around with etc.

I think most of Disney Channel is garbage. Dd is 17 now and I didn't let her watch most of it back when she was a tween.

There is some good research out there also about violence on TV and violent behavior. I wish I could remember it off the top of my head, but I remember some statistics about how many murders one witnesses on television..granted, not *real* but still!

I miss the Walton's and Little House on the Prairie! LOL

 

[Colleen27]

We haven't had a problem with our DD8, who is VERY into Hannah Montana and iCarly (on Nick). Suite Life is without a doubt the dumbest show ever one television, and I count myself lucky that neither of my kids like it!

I think some kids are more sensitive to the things they're exposed to in the media, but that only a small number are so influenced that shows as relatively innocuous as the Disney channel tween comedies will have a noticable effect on behaviour.

 

[Juliet25]

My DD6 doesn't care for the live action Disney shows. I'm glad about that. HM and Suite Life are just kind of stupid. We love phineas and Ferb and she will still watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I think disneys preschool programming is top notch, as are the animated shows. It's the live action that are just unimaginative. I haven't seen wizards yet; we may like it. HM and Z and C are just so unoriginal.

 

[ebtbmom]

I've noticed that today's Disney movies are vastly different than the classic ones. What strikes me is that the new movies are super hyper, fast paced, with a constant aray of visual stimulation, and filled with sarcastic inuendo (did I spell that right?) laden dialog.

Do an experiment, watch Aladdin and then immediately watch Bambi. It doesn't even seem like the same studio. I know times change, but kids still love the classic Disney films. If they can be entertained by movies like Dumbo or Bambi why do we have to give them Lilo & Stitch and The Incredibles?

 

[santa's surpriz]

My dd is the same age as yours. She turns 7 in November. I noticed much more of a "Cassafras" (goes with her name) lately. She watches the same Disney shows. I do notice a bit more sassiness. She has picked up a few lines from Wizards, Phineas, and Hannah. But I think it normal for this age. I have talked to many other parents with my funny but I can't believe my dd said that stories and I always get an OMG that is so funny bc my dd does the same thing followed by a"one better" story.

I believe that the sassiness it pretty normal at this age...and it is agrevating but we have deal with it now. School has just started and the 1st grade gives them more oppotunities to mingle with the older kids. They are testing us as parents to see what the limits are, I usually nip the attitude that entertainment is that and while it may work for Hannah she is a character and kids in real life do not get away with it with out a consequence and DD gets it. In my case I think and my mother will be back me up...it's paypack time!

Imagine what our lives will be like in the teen years!

 

[ogreenlee]

It's not "just how kids are". I've seen respectful kids.


I miss Little House, too!


When my kid watches, she acts bad. When my kid doesn't, she acts up much less.
I think there is a direct correlation. It's almost like she forgets the mannerisms that go with the sass after a few days, and doesn't have that reminder of how it's done. Kids her age want to grow up so fast, and they think this is how you act when you do.

 

[flying_babyb]

Little house is still on, fox 11 shows it twice a day. Halmark shows it twice a day too. My youngest Dsis loves little house and was so mad that we missed laura ingles wilder day at our local historical park. Were going this year cause mom feels guilty (which mmeans sh will pay admission!)

 

[MNdisneymom]

I have a 6 year old as well--a boy. He thinks Hannah Montana is silly (thank goodness, LOL) but loves Wizards and Suite Life on Deck. We watch them *together* and discuss them. Dorky, maybe? He knows that Zach is "the bad twin" (as he calls him) and that Alex uses magic to cheat whenever she can. All I have to do is say "What do you think about that?" when there is suspect behavior and I get a whole laundry list of "He shouldn't have done that, that was wrong, she's mean, etc...." Nobody does righteous indignation like a six year old. If I heard word one of sass he wouldn't be watching any tv (and he dearly loves his Handy Manny as well) let alone these shows. So it seems to be working , for us. (Everybody's different, eh?)

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

If you expect bratty attitudes,and allow them, you will see them. If you expect good things, treat them with respect and expect the same, it goes a long way.

I also believe that if you fill their heads with crap, that is what you are going to get back.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think by just turning those tv shows off you are missing the boat. You need to let your child know that no matter what they see on tv/hear their friends say/whatever that you will not accept that sort of attitude from them. Turning those shows off my stop the behavior for now, but it doesn't address the issue that that sort of behavior is not acceptable.

Does your daugther understand that her behavior was the problem? Or does she just think mommy and daddy are being mean for not letting her watch a tv show that she really likes?