I mentioned "Camp Rock" the other day. I can't tell you how many ads I've seen lately.
Today, I see a story on how really young kids are into High School Musical. Read more here.
As for the content, I don't see why 3, 4 or 5 year olds would want to watch it. But there are dolls, clothes, purses, lip gloss, sunglasses,craft kits, etc. everywhere in stores. So I can see them being curious about it.
A coworker mentioned not liking Disney at all. He said non-stop marketing and greed. I don't see anything wrong with making money. That's what companies are supposed to do. But I really don't know how the company goes about doing its business. I just know my kids tend to like their cable offerings. Then I, as the parent, decide how much I'll indulge them. (If Julia were 3 or even 6 - I wouldn't buy her HSM toys.)
But is there a point where marketing is too much? Does it frustrate you or do you just tune it out?
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
Boy, does it drive me nuts.
Boy, does it drive me nuts. My six year old daughter is almost brainwashed with all the Disney stuff - High School Musical, now Camp Rock. My husband and I were in hysterics when she could not only name all the Jonas brothers - but match the names to the faces. And don't get me started on Hannah Montana! Disney & Nickelodeon know exactly how to draw in kids - they have it down to a science and it's scary. But I'm the one that can turn the off the t.v.
Lattemom is the mother of three energetic kids ages 6, 8 & 12 and a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com.
LOL...my son can't stand
LOL...my son can't stand High School Musical (and he loves Les Miserables, Joseph, Aida, Wicked, etc.). He says that all of the girls in school are "brainwashed" by High School Musical and that they are "obsessed with Troy!". He doesn't understadn why ALL the girls love it so much and says, "It's too old for them - it's inappropriate!". LOL...
I hate marketers too....My older son seems unswayed, but my 5 yr old HAS to have certain breakfast cereal and HAS to have "sketchers" brand of sneakers, etc. He wants to be "big", so badly, that he thinks that acting "cool" is the way to be big. I worry about him!
I'm waiting for the day that somebody opens a grocery store filled with all healthful foods, with a kids club play center and a healthful food snack area. We'd hang out there just for fun on a Sat!
"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein
Disney programming seems to
Disney programming seems to be telling the youth of America that the ONLY career worth having is that of a performer. Fame and celebrity are the 'Holy Grail" that Disney encourages kids to strive for in life, that's why their schedule is FILLED with shows like "Hannah Montana," "The Cheetah Girls," "The Jonas Brothers," "Camp Rock," "Suite Life of Zach & Cody," "High School Musical ad naseum," etc. All of them feature main characters that are 'rock stars.'
But shows about being doctors or teachers or pursuing ANY career that focuses on helping people --- those do NOT make the cut!!! In fact, the only OTHER 'profession' Disney constantly glorifies is that of being a "Princess!"
Disney NEEDS a generation of self-absorbed, attention-hungry, 'it's all about ME!' kids to keep demanding that their parents buy all the Disney merchandising junk!
New to AZ --- and missing autumn leaves and the smell of apple orchards!
I dont have cable and probly
I dont have cable and probly never will..I buy cartoons that i want my kids to have and seeing the stuff in stores dosent bother me any. I think there products have to continue to become more and better to grab peoples attention.
**Whatever it is..Wrap it up in Love and the Possibilities are Endless**
Disney is a business and
Disney is a business and they are looking to sell their products and in turn overloading the public with what so many appear to want. It is with moderation that we should allow our children to consume their products whether on tv or through other venues.
If we do not monitor our children's intake of these images and their consumption of the products Disney and other like companies make available, then we are not doing our jobs as parents.
JuneSlager is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com, raising three children (ages 15, 14, & 11) in Northeast Phoenix.
My 4 year old son knows who
My 4 year old son knows who Hannah Montana is and High School Musical. I have never seen an episode of that show, or seen the High School Musical movie. Neither are on in the house! I thought being a boy too would help with these recent Disney phenomenons. Guess not.
I can't wait for the day where healthy foods like shredded wheat cereal, oatmeal, fruits and veggies have "characters" on them. Then maybe he'll be more inclined to eat them! Grocery shopping is a little bit of a challenge with that too.
Man this subject chaps my
Man this subject chaps my butt!
My kids have gone to the same school for 3 years and every month since of those school years they bring home a flyer from Disney Land.
When my daughter was 4 she CRIED because I always had to tell her I'm sorry we can't go to DL right now. She of course didn't understand the whole money concept (and she shouldn't).
Later I had to tell them that DL takes money and dad and I were saving up for it. Now she and her brother just no we can't afford it...
Do you know how much it sucks to see and hear your kids through away a brochure and say we can't go there we don't have the money. Where did they learn those words? That is not how their dad and I said it to them but they know.
I asked the school to stop giving it out to my kids and they said that the school gets a kick back (donation) for every person who goes through this brochure and that according to their "agreement" they had to give them out! Well thank you very much Disney Land.
As for Hannah Montana, The Naked Brothers Band, HSM and all the rest, they are absolutely banned in our home. My kiddos are only 6 and do not and will not be watching teen shows with teen issues. My daughter is the only one who questions it and I just keep telling her she is too young and she can watch Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Sponge Bob and other shows or channels that are age appropriate for her and her brother.
Sometimes I feel bad about that rule, but when I was a kid I didn't watch soap operas and that is basically what these shows are. I also agree with the mom who said these shows are teaching to aspire to be in TV. Well I want my kids to aspire to be a marine biologist, a lawyer, a doctor, a vet ....
Now as I have said before, if this is ok in your household that's cool for you. I would never go to a parent's house and start saying all kinds of stuff about what their children are watching. I have however said my kids don't watch it and would they mind watching something else.
bookworm_mom ~ mommy of twins
I would not feel bad about
I would not feel bad about your kids not going to disneyland..my husbands parents have taken my girls there four times now and it makes everything else seem small to them. They go once and then it's all about when your going again. I grew up in oregon and was poor, never once got to go to disneyland and had a wonderful childhood with loving parents and awsome sisters..thats all a child really needs.
**Whatever it is..Wrap it up in Love and the Possibilities are Endless**