Dads: what cartoons does your 4-7 year old watch?

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

often using words like "stupid" and "idiot". I also understand that the characters on Sponge Bob sometimes resort to violence to solve their disputes.

QED

[the]

Originally Posted by berettafan

I am absolutely stunned that this would be offered as a reason for letting small children watch anything.

Why? The fact that 99% of other parents let their kids watch Show X (i.e., the show is popular), and that Show X has won awards for kid's programming, has no relevance as to whether it is an extreme position to forbid Show X in a household?

[the]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

I didn't say Sponge Bob was rude and crass I said the show was sometimes rude and crass.

Actually, you did say that Sponge Bob was rude and crass:

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

Spongebob tends to land on the somewhat crass and rude side, he often shows little respect for others, etc.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I wanted input on cartoons, not for you guys to create your own. sheesh.

[the]

You get what you pay for.

[dtw]

Sorry Shaun. Kim watches South Park, Beavis and Butthead, Family Guy, Drawn Together, and ATHF. Sometimes on weekends we relax with old VHS of Fritz the Cat.

[Wickd89]

Originally Posted by the

I think I've seen just about every episode of Spongebob these days. I think you are confusing SB with Bart Simpson.

Spongebob's schtick is that he's actually OVERLY nice and respectful to everyone. He's an ultra hard worker who gets upset when there is a holiday, because he can't show up for work. Pretty much the entire premise of the comedy of the show is his "over-the-top" niceness, cheeriness and friendliness to everyone (even to those who don't really like him or take advantage of it).

I think you've got the wrong guy!

The,
I hear that your cartoon is actually good for kids that are developing their language skills. A speech therapist told my wife that it is recommended show for one of our kids because it teaches "double meaning" of phrases which helps them develop the ability to "read between the lines."

In general I think it is a good show, and I am sure the little things I dislike are actually what makes it entertaining to others..

I do agree that words like stupid and idiot are not great, but I have not noticed it any more on your show than any other...

Definitely no Simpsons, and we try to keep total TV time to a minimum....
I am actually not worried about to much TV, it is too much video games that will bring us down..

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by the

Why? The fact that 99% of other parents let their kids watch Show X (i.e., the show is popular), and that Show X has won awards for kid's programming, has no relevance as to whether it is an extreme position to forbid Show X in a household?

Informal poll of my wife indicates the # to be less than 40%. Granted this was an informal inquiry of my wife and her friends who have kids of this age group and is thereby not as reliable as the massive published studies you are basing your '99%' on but it's what i've got available to me.

Arguing that a cartoon containing words like 'stupid' and 'idiot' is appropriate for small children is....well it's just beyond common sense.

There is nothing 'extreme' about limiting a preschooler's exposure to language (and disrespect) like that. In fact I think the appropriate term would be 'responsible'.

[JeremyD]

You guys are better parents than me - You are worried about the content of sponge bob - I'm more worried about the ads - viva viagra, calias, tampax, child molesters on the news, inappropriate content on prime time TV (including nickelodeon - watched the george lopez show?) Lyrics in music, radio - Yada Yada Yada

Please let me know how you've insulated your kids from all that please (and still had some semblence of a normal life) - SB is the least of my worries.

[berettafan]

Not a whole lot of challenge in keeping a 3yr old from watching a particular tv show.

[Nathans_Dad]

Well, you can't totally insulate them from commercials and such unless you just turn off the TV. Basically we TiVo everything. Most of the shows they watch don't have any commercials in them so it eliminates some of the problem. In fact, those shows that DO have commercial breaks tend to find their way off the TiVo. Out of sight out of mind I guess.

As far as music goes, the radio is usually off in our car while we are driving, I do listen to my own music on my iPod but I know which songs to skip when the kids are in the car.

So, I guess the answer for us is that the TV is only on while a parent is in the area and then it is on a TiVo'd show that we approve of. We don't just turn on the channel and let them watch whatever is on.

Other than that we just try and correct our children and let them know what is and is not acceptable. Recent example, one of my son's friends introduced him to the word "pooty head" recently. He came home and used the word and we told him very quickly that those were not words we use in our house and the next time would be a time out. He got the message and didn't use it again.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by the

You get what you pay for.

a valu-pak of inanity?

[JeremyD]

I guess that's part of my challenge - a 15 year old, an 8 year old and a 5 year old - Methinks that 5 year old will probably have to grow up a little faster than the other two

[berettafan]

Jeremy you're probably right.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Holy Lord! Potty head, stupid, idiot?! Damn, you guys are doing well! I'm just happy the worst cuss word that my 4-year old has uttered is damn. Which by the way, after being told that darn was the nice way to say it, he hasn't said since.

Seriously, do you send your kids to preschool? Are they in contact with anyone else? Because I don't see how you could possibly shelter them from words like stupid and idiot. To each his own I suppose, but this is a bit of a hot-button issue for me. My parents didn't let me watch ANYTHING as a kid, or have any violent toys. No Ninja Turtles, GI Joes, etc. G movies only, very sheltered. Nothing violent also extended to sports, so no football. I was a 4.0 student until 15, then rebelled and was drunk for the next 5 years. Wrecked 4 cars in 2 years, probably should have killed myself a few times from stupid things I did, and blew a chance to go to college for free. So, sheltering me worked out pretty well. Just remember, no matter how hard you try to shelter your kids from the world, the world WILL find them.

As for my son, if it doesn't have a large amount of cussing, violence, or scary stuff, we're cool with it. Jurassic Park and Twister are two of his favorite movies, along with the normal Disney stuff. Otherwise he loves Spongebob, and watches the other Nick cartoons previously mentioned. He also says please, thank you, no thank you, and is always praised by his pre-school teacher as playing well and being respectful to other kids. That's what I'm most concerned with.

[kstar]

My emphasis added.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Holy Lord! Potty head, stupid, idiot?! Damn, you guys are doing well! I'm just happy the worst cuss word that my 4-year old has uttered is damn. Which by the way, after being told that darn was the nice way to say it, he hasn't said since.

Seriously, do you send your kids to preschool? Are they in contact with anyone else? Because I don't see how you could possibly shelter them from words like stupid and idiot. To each his own I suppose, but this is a bit of a hot-button issue for me. My parents didn't let me watch ANYTHING as a kid, or have any violent toys. No Ninja Turtles, GI Joes, etc. G movies only, very sheltered. Nothing violent also extended to sports, so no football. I was a 4.0 student until 15, then rebelled and was drunk for the next 5 years. Wrecked 4 cars in 2 years, probably should have killed myself a few times from stupid things I did, and blew a chance to go to college for free. So, sheltering me worked out pretty well. Just remember, no matter how hard you try to shelter your kids from the world, the world WILL find them.

As for my son, if it doesn't have a large amount of cussing, violence, or scary stuff, we're cool with it. Jurassic Park and Twister are two of his favorite movies, along with the normal Disney stuff. Otherwise he loves Spongebob, and watches the other Nick cartoons previously mentioned. He also says please, thank you, no thank you, and is always praised by his pre-school teacher as playing well and being respectful to other kids. That's what I'm most concerned with.

Matt, thanks for your refreshing words of wisdom, which I agree with 100%.

Best,


Kurt

[berettafan]

My 3yr old spilled a glass of milk and said 'oh *****'. Funniest damn thing i've heard in a long time. I corrected him and moved on. My wife and i struggled mightily not to fall on the floor laughing in front of him. I know the damage that is done when kids are kept in a dark box for their entire childhood then turned loose on the world (see my posts on church-schools and home schooling for proof of my opinions on that).

Frankly i think the insults and violence Nathan'sDad has offered up as being part and parcel to SB are more damaging than the occasional 4 letter word. Remember, it's not the word but the intent behind it.

I don't hide my son from the world. I expose him to as much as i feel he can handle. He already has a 20ga. w/ his name on it just waiting for his first dove hunt. He knows his papa is gone forever in heaven. He is not hidden from reality.

I too grew up very sheltered (though violence wasn't kept hidden from me to the extent it was for you) and did not turn in to a **** up totalling cars and spending my days in a drunken haze. I DO have a relative who did just that and his parents were about as free as any i've met. Depends a lot on the kid, not just the parents.

But i'm damned sure not going to hand my son a road map to *********ism and HOPE that he sees it isn't the right thing to do because of the 'inner message'. He's 3.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I apologize for the rant, this kind of stuff hits a nerve with me. God knows I'm not trying to tell anyone else how to raise their kids. Berettafan, I agree with you, the few times my son has cussed I've had to turn away to hide my laughter. If they think it's funny, they won't stop. Then we get calls from preschool, etc, not good.

Obviously you have to draw the line. I don't let my 4-year old watch Saw or porn. But, I also don't try to teach him that the world is a shiny, happy, utopian place. I try to expose him to as much as I can, because I'd rather expose him to things and teach him than let him stumble into something later on. I don't hide him from guns, beer, death, or many other things that some parents do. It sparks good conversations and lessons, and it sticks with him.

My goal in life is for my kids to succeed and be happy, all while treating others as they wish to be treated. If that happens, I'll die a happy man.

[nostatic]

have you guys ever watched sponge bob? Violence?

If you want to see violence, watch Road Runner.

[the]

Originally Posted by nostatic

have you guys ever watched sponge bob? Violence?

If you want to see violence, watch Road Runner.

I have to LOL on the Spongebob posts talking about how "insults and violence" are a "part and parcel" of the Spongebob show. Even the use of the words "stupid" and "idiot," I question that. I don't recall those words ever being used in SB. Certainly not "often." And "they often resort to violence to resolve their disputes." (?!?!) Now that's so off base it is funny.

I sense at this point, people are just saying "violence" "insults" "rude" and "crass" without regard for facts, just trying to win an argument. There is no connection with reality.

SB and I wish you a great weekend, and "The Best Day Ever!"