Babble

I can remember when I was knocked up with my first always claiming that I would never, ever, never,ever, ever let my spawn watch Barney, or the Teletubbies, or the f*c$!ng Wiggles. My kids would only read J. Otto Siebold books. They would only watch "cool" programs, like old school Tex Avery cartoons.

 

So what does my two year old daughter love more than life itself?

 

Do-do-do-do-do-Dora. The explor-ah.

 

Now, I can see where Dora can be a positive role model for kids. She's a girl. She's hispanic. She is friends with a monkey. But she annoys the hell out of me. And my daughter a-dora-s her.

 

So, I suck it up. I bought the DVDs. I bought the books. I bought the blankie. But I still don't hafta like it.

 

So what do your kids love that irks you? 'Fess up!

That's funny -- I was just writing about characters I loathe on my blog.  I actually like Dora.  I didn't at first, but I find the repetition of the basic formula to be calming -- for my sons and for me.  That said, I can't stand Boots.  Little pisher.

Calming?

 

 I find Dora somewhat more calming than the idea of doing yoga, but much less calming than a hot bath and a few tumblers of Absolut. But that's just me.

 

I don't mind Boots, maybe because I fully agree with his "I love my boots, my boots and me" song. I liked it when Benny was trapped in a hot air balloon and just kept screaming "Sticky tape! Sticky tape!"

 I think Swiper might be a pothead. I knew someone in college like that once.. whenever we were out of smoke he would whine "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh man!"

 

I like the Backyardigans. I love how after each episode they return to one of their houses for a yummy snack, like pretzels.

 

Jack's Big Music Show is OK, mainly because Jon Stewart was on it.

 

Hate Elmo. Love Grover.

 

My favourite imaginary friend ever is O.D.B

 

My four year old loves Big Baby Jesus (I think my nephew is truly responsible for this)

 

Not only does my kid love his music, he will also sadly say on occasion "Old Dirty? He dead."

 

 

R.I.P

I am new but I have 3 kids and the older 2 are boys so thankfully Dora has not been a problem till now LMAO my Daughter Ava tho likes her and I try hard as hell not to have the TV when she is on but I think she is on either before or after Blue (and I like blues clues and let her watch that)

Haha I have been going old school w/ my kids. I have a rain bow brite DVD that she watches LOL tho now I can't understand what I liked it. My boys are into Star Wars and luckly for me Anikin is Hot... so far so good. The only thing I have despised was barney and Booh Bahs and neither have entered my home. Just teletubbies *shudder*

Maybe "calming" is the wrong word -- there are some shows I like because they don't invade my mind too much while I'm in the same room as them.  Dora's mostly just repetitive chants and upbeat music.

Shows I can deal with: Dora, Diego, Miffy, Blue

Shows I used to be able to deal with but that now drive me nuts: Jack's Big Muzik Show, Maisy

Shows I grudgingly accept because they love them and I know they're good shows but that just bug me for some reason: Bear In The Big Blue House, Curious George

Shows I actively encourage them to watch: Upside Down Show, Charlie and Lola 

Dora really irritates me, mostly because it's so incredibly repetitive. Strangely, the boy has no interest in the show whatsoever, except for the Backpack song, which he lights up for.  The other 98% of the show, he ignores.  So I mute the rest of it, and try and keep one eye out for the backpack.  Because I really don't need to hear "Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!  Where are we going?  To the beach!" again.  By the time she's halfway through the song, the dog and the houseplants have figured out where we're going.  Give it a rest.

Personally, I think if Dora didn't speak Spanish, people would recognize the show for the insanely repetitive crap that it is.  But the few Spanish lessons give the veneer of educational value.  I'll stick with Maria on Sesame, thanks.

I love Jack's Big Music Show, except that up until a month ago, they had only made six episodes, so once you've seen each of them a hundred times, it wears a bit thin.  And why does Jack's hair look like someone's trying to grow a putting green on his head?

 

I also hate Dora. Does anyone else think that there's so much yelling? I understand enthusiasm, but does the girl have to talk the way she does?

 

Call me crrrrrrazy, but I allow my son to watch Teletubbies. He loves it. It moves slow and loves it when they play peek-a-boo. I do put my foot down at Barney. Charlie and Lola get on my nerves. Lola sounds so...pretentious.

 

My faves (and will therefore become my sons...I hope) are the Wonder Pets and the Upside Down show.
 

Teletubbies might be the dumbest thing I have ever seen in my life. My son just laughs and laughs when that little sunshine baby pops up, so it's worth watching the half hour of mind numbing program. I'm not really a fan of the Wonder pets either, I always get the fucking 'teamwork' song stuck in my head.

What's going to work?

Teamwork!

Whats going to work?

Teamwork! 

Jack's Big Music Show started with their new episodes FINALLY!  I love that show, even though Laurie Berkner irritates me for some reason I cannot explain.  That's the only show we watch, since she's only 7 months old.  She likes the music and bops along to it.

The Backyardigans I really like - along with the Wonder Pets.  The Telletubies and Maisy make me crazy.  My daughter also loves Wow Wow Wubsy - I have yet to make a decision on that show.....

 How bout Oobie?????  Kinda weird???

 Laurie Berkner is going to be on the new "season" of Jack's Big Music Show...

I happened to run across Mr. Rogers the other day - it actually looked like a current episode but I thought Mr. Rogers died a long time ago??? 

patty2ny:

The Backyardigans I really like - along with the Wonder Pets.  The Telletubies and Maisy make me crazy.  My daughter also loves Wow Wow Wubsy - I have yet to make a decision on that show.....

How bout Oobie?????  Kinda weird???

 Laurie Berkner is going to be on the new "season" of Jack's Big Music Show...

I happened to run across Mr. Rogers the other day - it actually looked like a current episode but I thought Mr. Rogers died a long time ago??? 

I love Jack's Big Music show; I assume Noggin and Sprout are on a lot in your house. Thank you DirecTV! There was a Wonderpets episode where they showed the puppy how to use the doggie door and go potty outside; since we have three dogs my wife and I were far more amused than our 10 month old Sophia. There are some great quotes in that episode.

Mr. Rogers did pass away a few years back, but he did shows up through the 90s, so that may be what you're seeing. 

And Dora IS annoying. A friend posted elsewhere (a place where we talk about cars) about how silly Dora is and how Boots is really just trying to get her killed. Diego isn't much better, but I want my own Rescue Pack(tm) that turns into a hang-glider and the Foreigner Belt from ATHF.
 

I agree that Oobie is very strange.  Why can't they speak in complete sentences?  My kids do like it though!  The other one that I cannot stand is Caillou on PBS.  That kid is always whining and so disrespectful toward the adults in his life.  His voice drives me crazy! 

My son's all time favorite right now is The Upside Down Show.  He acts a little nutty after watching it, doing things like pressing his own "stumble button" and falling down, but I think it is relatively harmeless!

Ok, I admit Dora has finally started getting on my nerves.  Right now we're big on "The Upside Down Show" and "Charlie and Lola" -- which I've been trying to hook them on for a long time since I like it.  (It's British, so it's good.)

The show they like now that I can't stand: Clifford. Ugh.

Clifford!  HEE!  My first boyfriend in high school was named Clifford, and now I have to avoid all of the big red dog stuff on general principle. 

 I'm loving The Upside-Down Show, though.  It's funny and goofy and doesn't make me want to kill myself while it's on.

 Whatever happened to Bananas in Pajamas?

 

Thank you.

At first, Dora was acceptable. Then we got the stereo hooked up to the TV. Now, Dora makes me think of Ritalin.

Barney is simply not allowed on our set. There I think of Ritalin's opposites.

I'm up with the Backyardigans at the moment. At least they can cha-cha. Ruby and Max are okay, too, but Ruby needs to chill, and I think Max has been watching a bit too much Dora.

We mostly stick to DVD's for screen time. Dan Zane's music party DVD shot at the Knitting Factory is a huge hit with our two year old, who totally gets into it with his kazoo.

DC