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Rogers: Some kids' shows leave adults scratching their heads
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As a parent, I think I've reached that point where I've watched more children's television as an adult than I did as a kid.
My two oldest - they're 5 and 7 - don't watch a ton of TV. But they'll spend a good hour after school and a few hours on Saturday watching cartoons and other kids shows.
I've mentioned before that we got rid of cable a few years ago for purely economic reasons, but I'm glad we did. I can't imagine how much TV we'd watch if we had Nickelodeon and Disney piped into our house.
Still, I've logged countless hours watching PBS shows like "Cyber Chase," "Arthur," "Maya and Miguel" and "Sesame Street." Public television shows are great because there's always a lesson to be taught, a piece of wisdom to impart or some important catalog of cultural knowledge to be passed on.
For example, depending on the episode, the girls walk away from "Sesame Street" understanding a little better which emotions are normal to feel when a sibling steals your toy, the ice cream falls off your cone or you poop your pants at the store.
"Maya and Miguel," a cartoon about transplanted Puerto Rican twins in elementary school - complete with a wise-acre parrot - teaches lessons of sibling love and embracing diversity.
The list goes on. But as a parent watching these shows, I find I walk away with a lot more questions than answers.
"Clifford the Big Red Dog," an animated show about, well, Clifford, a big red dog, makes no sense at all. Clifford is literally five or six stories tall and, according to the show's premise, grew that large because his owner, the young Emily Elizabeth, loved him so much as a puppy.
That's a harsh message to those young viewers who have and love dogs of their own. I'm sorry, Abbie. If you really loved your dog he'd grow to be Clifford's size.
Also, who has to clean up after Clifford?
A lot of kids' shows on PBS - and elsewhere - are populated with talking, human-like animals. "Arthur," a cartoon about a suburban family of aardvarks, is a great example.
Arthur's best friend is a rabbit, his teacher is a rat and the school's bully is a dog. The problem is that Arthur also has a pet dog. And it's just a normal dog. It doesn't talk or do school work or wear pants.
And so I wonder, why would you create a universe of talking animals and then give them pets? What are the show's creators trying to suggest?
But I don't want to come down too hard on "Arthur." That show regularly pulls in the best guest stars of any children's show ever. Last week, architect Frank Gehry was on, teaching Arthur and his friends about architecture as the kids tried to design and build a treehouse.
That would be like "Hannah Montana" bringing in Miles Davis to teach the young stars the finer points musical improvisation.
No, I think the time has come for me to back away from the set, let my girls watch their shows in peace and hope all the love I've showered on my 2-year-old doesn't cause her to grow up to be the size of Godzilla.
Rob Rogers can be reached at 225-8217 or at rrogers@redding.com.
Posted by Driver on October 6, 2008 at 7:21 a.m.
Wow! Rob you are thinking way to deep. Children's cartoons have never made logical sense. Ever since that little mouse drove a steamboat for the first time cartoons have been about imagination and fantasy. I grew up with what a lot of people feel was the evil Loony Tunes empire which showed characters surviving falls off of cliffs, pianos dropping on top of them and then the popular soot covered face when that stick of dynamite in their hand exploded.
We also cut the cable for a period when our kids were young. It did wonders for homework performance. The kids' shows on PBS from Imagination Station to Reading Rainbow with LeVar Burton from Star Trek fame left some great memories. The cartoons were safe -if not a little too PC at times- but they were something we could watch and enjoy with our kids. They actually invited us to watch with them.
Now, if you truly want to leave a cartoon scratching your head, try watching an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force on the Cartoon Network. Even I don't get that one although it is a bit like the proverbial train wreck. You keep watching and waiting for something to make some sense. It even makes Sponge Bob Square Pants look like an intellectual experience but then again, I hate to question something that the current generation finds of value.
So don't ask so many questions or seek all the answers- pour a couple mugs of hot chocolate, sit back with your kids and enjoy a half hour of talking animals with non-talking pets or a dog who is the size of a car one minute and the size of an office building the next. You and your kids will talk about those shows for years. Just don't forget to turn it all off and go outside to the backyard with them too.
Posted by devilsadvocate on October 6, 2008 at 7:23 a.m.
Children's shows that teach kids to think outside the box (and possibly even develop some of their own imagination) have great value in a society where too many people take so many things so literally and at face value.
Posted by jihadstomper2 on October 6, 2008 at 7:27 a.m.
The less TV my girls watch, the better off they are. Somehow - talking aardvarks, giant red dogs, and spastic yellow sponges do very little for their concentration. I imagine if parents could strip their kids away from their precious cartoons they would realize the same.
Then, when kids are calm, they are a pleasure to be with - then they get the attention they want, then the family is happier, then grades go up, then good things happen......need I continue???
Posted by ShastaCoNative on October 6, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
What about Goofy and Pluto....NOT FAIR that Pluto goes naked and can only bark while Goofy gets to be, uh....Goofy.
Posted by jihadstomper2 on October 6, 2008 at 7:33 a.m.
Several months ago my wife talked me into buying a very expensive piano for one of my girls.
Typical selfish 'guy' behavior - I whined about spending that much $$$$.
My only regret now is that I didn't sell the big ridiculous plasma flat screen to pay for the piano!
Posted by bemoose on October 6, 2008 at 7:34 a.m.
I've thought about the Clifford growing big because of love thing as well. All those little kids thinking, "If I just loved Fido just a smidge more..." Maybe the writers of Clifford should ask themselves the same thing Cleo says, "Have I ever steered you wrong..." :)
I'm a huge Arthur fan. Its one that I will sit down and watch with my daughter. Great article, Rob, pure entertainment!
Posted by superbob on October 6, 2008 at 8:29 a.m.
Hi Rob: Do your family and the future of your kids a favor: Kill your TV. You'll never regret it. Never.
Posted by icbntm on October 6, 2008 at 8:38 a.m.
We have had cable throughout my child's life. She has never spent a Saturday morning watching cartoons or sitting in front of the tube after school. If kids are watching too much TV, it's because parents use it as a babysitter. Teach your kids to read books, play games, do art projects, write letters and stories to fill their time productively. When the kids do watch tv, watch something on Discovery and watch with them. TV is a great educational tool, but a lousy babysitter.
Posted by hfretwell on October 6, 2008 at 8:54 a.m.
This is good for a chuckle from the fellow parents of young ones, especially on a on Monday morning. Well done, Rob.
Posted by Prepare4Change on October 6, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
##### Encrypted: for reading by the Liberal Elite only
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PBLVX WJHJC NGSGQ BUJGT HNISD KVQRR TXHQO CXDDP RXVAP PAQNT HTRDV
WWJAC NLUUM SPVXT FPQOH DRWMS CVUJQ GUVRC MFSDV UEFON MIQTG PREJQ
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Posted by Hardworkin on October 6, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
in response to Prepare4Change
????????????
##### End encrypted message
Posted by ChuckWalla on October 6, 2008 at 3:37 p.m.
in response to Prepare4Change
The phrase "way too much free time on their hands" comes to mind...
Posted by ShastaMomof4 on October 6, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
I knew we would see something from Nobama's faithful follower.
I think Ive stated before. I have a 3 yr old. We have cable but the only things he watches are Sesame Street, Arthur and Clifford on PBS and occasionally Max and Ruby or Little Bill on Noggin. Programs designed for toddlers.. to help them with school and social adjustments. I watch them with him. Usually he loses interest and we are on to coloring or reading. Today he even helped make lunch. I think as long as you are involved with your kids they will be ok regardless of how much the cartoons make sense.
Posted by jihadstomper2 on October 6, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
in response to ShastaMomof4
"as long as you are involved with your kids they will be ok regardless of how much the cartoons make sense"
Prancer hit on this in her first post - the big differenc is involved parents.
If parents are there to make sense of the non-sense, things seem to work out for the better.
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