What I dislike most about Disney:

[disneynut14]

I wouldn't exactly say Little House was good for little ones. If I recall correctly there was rape, murder, theft, drugs and a lot of death on that show.

Albert alone was a bit of a train wreck! And talk about Sass .... HELLOOOOO Nellie!

 

[Debbie7452]

We saw a noticeable increase in obnoxious behavior by my niece after she got a TV placed in her bedroom when she was about 6. She started saying, "WhatEVER!", "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah", and "talk to the hand" (with arm outstretched in your face). My kids were shocked to hear that kind of speech.

My DH and I asked SIL gingerly, what is she watching? SIL said she is only watching cartoon network and nickolodian. She did not believe us that those networks show adult-focused programming at night hours. The girl was staying up all night long watching this stuff. It definitely changed her behavior.

Disney programs are not as bad, but I still intensly dislike them.

 

[U2_rocks!]

All shows have heros/heroines and villains. i.e. the "good" guys and the "bad" guys. If you can clearly tell who the bad guys are, and they get their comeuppance in the end, I don't mind. What I do see is that many shows these days seem to have less of a distinction between the good guys and the bad guys, and the popular characters that the kids identify with and admire are doing the "bad" things too. Kids tend to emulate the things they admire.

We don't have the Disney channel, but we do get Nick and Teen Nick, and my kids like Zoey 101 and iCarly. I actually enjoy those shows too, and I have seen many instances where there was a good moral to an episode, and the main characters were the ones doing good. If the the good guys are saying cutesy things that aren't disrespectful, then the kids stick to that cutesy sass. Kids like to have their own "language" that's cool.

My kids watch only a little TV (mostly weekends and school holidays), and I haven't heard anything inappropriate coming from them. They laugh at Spongebob, but I haven't heard any imitation. Maybe they don't watch it enough, or maybe they realize what not to copy. It helps too if you watch with them sometimes, and if a character is behaving horribly, we talk about it, and the kids realize that the character is doing something wrong.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

U2, it sounds like your kids are only watching a bit, and that is a positive for more than a few reasons.

I worked with kids in the 80's and it was all about spongebob. Pulling down pants, the laugh, etc. This was primarily with kids between 6 and 12.

I think that kids, in general, are not watching age appropriate stuff. Why on earth would anyone want their 6 year old to dress and act like a 13 year old? But if they are seeing it on tv and at school what are they supposed to think? You can't blame the kid. Rude talk should not ever be tolerated. It isn't polite for adults, let alone kids. And the 13 year olds acting like 20 year olds is a whole 'nother thread.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I think most of those shows are pretty responsible - the kids are shown trying to get away with things, they realize their parents or guardians made the rules for a reason, they get punished or learn their lessons.

Kids that are 6 years old are too young for Hannah Montana and iCarly and Wizards and Suite Life - they are made for tweens. If you think your tweens aren't hearing sass like that at school or anywhere else, you're mistaken. I get sick of people laying the blame for bad behavior solely on the shoulders of TV characters. My daughter is 10, she watches Hannah Montana and iCarly. She's a great kid. She sometimes sasses, but the chances are pretty darn high that she heard it from some obnoxious kid at school before Hannah Montana ever said it.

If a child can't watch those shows and control their behavior, they shouldn't watch them. If a child emulates bad behavior instantaneously after seeing it on TV, chances are pretty high they are going to be easily influenced by the wrong kids at school, in sports, even in Sunday School.

ITA . My 5yo watches those shows only because he catches them when my tweens are watching. When he watches Hannah Montana he walks around singing, when he watches Wizards of Waverly Place he gets an empty paper towel tube and pretends it's a magic wand and makes up his own spells to try to make stuff disappear. I do watch these shows with my kids often, maybe that's what makes the difference. They know TV is pretend, even the "real" shows.

My kids have spoken to me with attitude once or twice, but being punished by taking away video games or whatever their currency is depending on the child put a pretty abrupt stop to it. It sounds to me like these instances of kids copying TV are teachable moments, a chance for you to explain why they shouldn't repeat everything they see/hear on TV instead of taking it away. Then if it continues, punish them because they're disobeying. You're not going to be able to protect your child from seeing or hearing everything that you don't want repeated. My kids hear cussing on the school bus, that doesn't mean they're going to stop riding the bus. Model the behavior you want from them and talk, talk, talk.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

ITA . My 5yo watches those shows only because he catches them when my tweens are watching. When he watches Hannah Montana he walks around singing, when he watches Wizards of Waverly Place he gets an empty paper towel tube and pretends it's a magic wand and makes up his own spells to try to make stuff disappear. I do watch these shows with my kids often, maybe that's what makes the difference. They know TV is pretend, even the "real" shows.

My kids have spoken to me with attitude once or twice, but being punished by taking away video games or whatever their currency is depending on the child put a pretty abrupt stop to it. It sounds to me like these instances of kids copying TV are teachable moments, a chance for you to explain why they shouldn't repeat everything they see/hear on TV instead of taking it away. Then if it continues, punish them because they're disobeying. You're not going to be able to protect your child from seeing or hearing everything that you don't want repeated. My kids hear cussing on the school bus, that doesn't mean they're going to stop riding the bus. Model the behavior you want from them and talk, talk, talk.

The fact that kids see the behaviors all over the place is all the more reason to limit it at home. Kids hear swear words all of the time at school and amongst friends. That doesn't mean that dh and I should act the same at home, or show programs that emphasize that (as the sass talk is on some of those shows.) That is silly. Instead you model. You model what you spend your time on (not trash tv) you model attitudes (speaking respectfully) and you limit their exposure to crap. Why fill a head with foolishness? It makes no sense. Just because you survived it doesn't mean it was good for you. I survived measles but my kids were immunized for it. One should protect kids, and teach them to be better than the example they see and mimic. God knows kids tend to fall to the least desirable behavior.

 

[PrincessKell]

When my dd gives me sass its normally after coming home from grandmas house or when she is tired and or hungry. Not because of the tv she watches. BUT that is just my dd. She is 7 and in second grade. I know there are girls at her school and in her class that are rude crude and just down right mean. We talk about it. That is the key for us is talking together. Learning what is not ok and what is. If there is something that is said on one of those shows she watches that isn't geared towards her or mean or sassy (what have you) I say something like "that wasn't very nice" or something to that nature. and ask what could have been said instead. She is really on top of it. She knows these are just shows and in no shape or form real.

My dd is only allowed to watch Disney and PBS. Does she get to watch every show on those channels, no not at all. And she is only allow to watch after homework, shower and dinner. It is up to me the parent, to parent her, and guide her. We are all different in how we parent, but all want our kids to be safe happy and healthy.

Like someone said, every show has a "good and "bad" in them. Its just up to us as parents to rely that message to our children. After all it is everywhere not just on tv these days.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

The fact that kids see the behaviors all over the place is all the more reason to limit it at home. Kids hear swear words all of the time at school and amongst friends. That doesn't mean that dh and I should act the same at home, or show programs that emphasize that (as the sass talk is on some of those shows.) That is silly. Instead you model. You model what you spend your time on (not trash tv) you model attitudes (speaking respectfully) and you limit their exposure to crap. Why fill a head with foolishness? It makes no sense. Just because you survived it doesn't mean it was good for you. I survived measles but my kids were immunized for it. One should protect kids, and teach them to be better than the example they see and mimic. God knows kids tend to fall to the least desirable behavior.

I never said I "survived it". As a matter of fact we didn't have cable when I was growing up. What I said, to paraphrase, was instead of blaming TV try parenting your kids. Watch the shows with them and teach them what you don't like so they can enjoy the entertainment value and get the lessons. I don't think the shows are trash, I just don't like some of the things the kids say so I tell my kids it's just a pretend show where kids don't get in trouble for saying that, however in the real world that's not acceptable. They also crawl through heating ducts on Suite Life and um, they're Wizards on WOWP which obviously isn't real, but it's entertaining, it's fun to pretend.

I watch shows on TV that I certainly don't copy, but they're funny and relaxing for me to watch. The sooner kids understand what's real and what isn't as far as TV is concerned the better.


ETA: Thinking about this some more, I don't think you're giving children enough credit. Unless TV is babysitting your child, there are SO many more influences in their lives that TV is really plays a small role. I do not think they gravitate toward the worse of two influences at all. I think they gravitate toward the one they are praised for the most or see praised the most.

If you take away the shows as a punishment for your child sassing, then you're blaming the show instead of the child for their bad behavior. So if your child assaulted someone, then said "well I saw it on TV" would you still not punish them, just take away the show?

 

[RFrank9504]

I do think these kids are trying to imitate what they see on tv. they do know the difference between right and wrong, and it isnt something you can control. They also pick it up from their friends, and moms they may be lik angels for you, but when you're not around your little Miley is def. a Hannah Montana! (mine included)
A few years ago we let our kids watch spongebob, and my neighbor was like NO WAY, disney channel, well now she feels like spongebob is a saint compared to WOWP, HM, Sunny and SL of Z&C, those shows show complete disrespect to their parents, loads of sass, and attitude and teach these kids to be sneaky and do things behind our backs. Scary.
I'm so over Disney channel, in fact I turn it off when i walk in the room and put on a DVD for them.
We walk around the parks and we see all the characters and think, why dont we see them more on their TV station.
I agree with another poster, they try and turn all their show stars into Mega Stars. All these kids are groing up thinking about becoming reality stars and junk instead of wanting to work hard and earn a decent living. Scary for our future.

 

[Tiger926]

I do think these kids are trying to imitate what they see on tv. they do know the difference between right and wrong, and it isnt something you can control. They also pick it up from their friends, and moms they may be lik angels for you, but when you're not around your little Miley is def. a Hannah Montana! (mine included)
A few years ago we let our kids watch spongebob, and my neighbor was like NO WAY, disney channel, well now she feels like spongebob is a saint compared to WOWP, HM, Sunny and SL of Z&C, those shows show complete disrespect to their parents, loads of sass, and attitude and teach these kids to be sneaky and do things behind our backs. Scary.
I'm so over Disney channel, in fact I turn it off when i walk in the room and put on a DVD for them.
We walk around the parks and we see all the characters and think, why dont we see them more on their TV station.
I agree with another poster, they try and turn all their show stars into Mega Stars. All these kids are groing up thinking about becoming reality stars and junk instead of wanting to work hard and earn a decent living. Scary for our future.

Huh? My DD6 wants to be teacher (like her Momma, uncles, cousins, etc.) and a doctor. She has no desire to be Hannah Montana when she grows up. If she did though, I would quickly remind her that being a rock star is a hard life in which you don't get to see your family much, she wouldn't be able to go to Disney World for vacation without being bothered, etc. Honestly, if your kids have a good sense of reality and their role models are real people, that is who they are going to emulate.

I also agree with the posters who are giving TV way too much power. Once TV becomes that powerful, it needs to be turned off. If kids are acting like TV characters, then some parenting needs to be done regarding real and fantasy. It's a great teachable moment...

I am an English teacher, and teach Media studies, and some of my students seem to have a better grasp on the influence of media then some on this thread. TV is an entertainment box and so once it becomes a problem, turn that sucker off!

Tiger

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Huh? My DD6 wants to be teacher (like her Momma, uncles, cousins, etc.) and a doctor. She has no desire to be Hannah Montana when she grows up. If she did though, I would quickly remind her that being a rock star is a hard life in which you don't get to see your family much, she wouldn't be able to go to Disney World for vacation without being bothered, etc. Honestly, if your kids have a good sense of reality and their role models are real people, that is who they are going to emulate.

I also agree with the posters who are giving TV way too much power. If kids are acting like TV characters, then some parenting needs to be done regarding real and fantasy. It's a great teachable moment...

Tiger

I think that poster was referring to the actors/actresses on TV being turned into mega stars and screwing up like Lindsay Lohan, not our children, did I get that right? It was mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

[kevschickee]

I never said I "survived it". As a matter of fact we didn't have cable when I was growing up. What I said, to paraphrase, was instead of blaming TV try parenting your kids. Watch the shows with them and teach them what you don't like so they can enjoy the entertainment value and get the lessons. I don't think the shows are trash, I just don't like some of the things the kids say so I tell my kids it's just a pretend show where kids don't get in trouble for saying that, however in the real world that's not acceptable. They also crawl through heating ducts on Suite Life and um, they're Wizards on WOWP which obviously isn't real, but it's entertaining, it's fun to pretend.

I watch shows on TV that I certainly don't copy, but they're funny and relaxing for me to watch. The sooner kids understand what's real and what isn't as far as TV is concerned the better.


ETA: Thinking about this some more, I don't think you're giving children enough credit. Unless TV is babysitting your child, there are SO many more influences in their lives that TV is really plays a small role. I do not think they gravitate toward the worse of two influences at all. I think they gravitate toward the one they are praised for the most or see praised the most.

If you take away the shows as a punishment for your child sassing, then you're blaming the show instead of the child for their bad behavior. So if your child assaulted someone, then said "well I saw it on TV" would you still not punish them, just take away the show?

I agree 100%

 

[Tiger926]

I think that poster was referring to the actors/actresses on TV being turned into mega stars and screwing up like Lindsay Lohan, not our children, did I get that right? It was mentioned earlier in this thread.

I guess I missed that, and I've read the whole thread. Hmmm? I was referring to the exact quote which said something about all of these kids growing up thinking they are going to be reality stars and not working hard to earn a decent living.

I'm off to try and find that particular post, but what I quoted still needs to be clarified, but perhaps I've misunderstood what was expressed?

Tiger

** Edited to add: I just re-read whole thread, and I can't find particular mention of this subject elsewhere in the thread. Not sure what I missed...? It has been a long day of marking and dealing with Monday student problems, so maybe I missed it - LOL!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I guess I missed that, and I've read the whole thread. Hmmm? I was referring to the exact quote which said something about all of these kids growing up thinking they are going to be reality stars and not working hard to earn a decent living.

I'm off to try and find that particular post, but what I quoted still needs to be clarified, but perhaps I've misunderstood what was expressed?

Tiger

** Edited to add: I just re-read whole thread, and I can't find particular mention of this subject elsewhere in the thread. Not sure what I missed...? It has been a long day of marking and dealing with Monday student problems, so maybe I missed it - LOL!

Okay, maybe I pulled that from another thread somewhere, sorry, I guess I've been Dising too long today.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

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!

I think it was this post that I thought the other poster was referring to.

 

[duffy]

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.

You "did" a paper in school? What kind of school? College? Graduate school? That's your opinion, not fact. Unless, of course, your paper proves it.

It is not "the way kids are". It's the way they are allowed to behave: with no consequences for their actions.

 

[kevschickee]

You "did" a paper in school? What kind of school? College? Graduate school? That's your opinion, not fact. Unless, of course, your paper proves it.

It is not "the way kids are". It's the way they are allowed to behave: with no consequences for their actions.

Yes it was a paper on tv and behavior and there is actually a lot of professionals who agree. To blame tv for childs behavior is a cop out. So to say my child is sassy because she saw Miley do it IMO wrong.

I remember doing it when I was younger(rolling my eyes and back talk) and I had consequences but a child will push the limits even if they are punished for this behavior. So to say these kids are allowed to act this way is wrong also. So yes children are like this they are moody, sassy and smart at times but they are just that CHILDREN.

 

[santa's surpriz]

We gave her chances with these shows. We'd take them away for a few days, and then give them back only for her to act that way again. She finally lost them for good to the password.

She is allowed to play some of the computer games associated with the shows, but that's it.

Speaking of... ever heard of KidZui? It's an internet browser for kids. We think it's pretty cool.

Why can't they stay sweet and little forever? Oh, and I HATE MAX AND RUBY. Max is sneaky and Ruby is annoying. Ugh.

I think Max And Ruby is the worst show ever! Ruby ignores Max's requests, Max whines but manages to save the day. DD always wonders where the mom is .... it does not matter where we can find fault in very show including Dora. It is matter of how we let our kids use the information, many have lessons to be learn but they also include lessons not to learn. It's up to us a responsible parents see that kids know the difference.

Thanks for the tip on kidzui...I am constantly picking websites for dd. So far I love it!

 

[duffy]

Yes it was a paper on tv and behavior and there is actually a lot of professionals who agree. To blame tv for childs behavior is a cop out. So to say my child is sassy because she saw Miley do it IMO wrong.

I remember doing it when I was younger(rolling my eyes and back talk) and I had consequences but a child will push the limits even if they are punished for this behavior. So to say these kids are allowed to act this way is wrong also. So yes children are like this they are moody, sassy and smart at times but they are just that CHILDREN.

Ok, I'll be more obvious: you wrote a paper. Has it been published? Or is it a paper you wrote for a school project? What grade did you get? I'm sure there are a lot of professionals who agree with you. And there's a lot who don't.

What are your sources? Do you have hard, scientific evidence? Or, is it just that this is your opinion, and not fact? I'll answer: it's your opinion. It is not fact. Saying that you wrote a paper on it, means NOTHING.

 

[kevschickee]

It does mean something. It means I have done some research on it and it is not an uneducated opinion on the matter. Yes I wrote it for a behavior management class in college. Yes it is my opinion and it doesn't make it any less of an opinion as yours.