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Original poster

TV for toddler - is ANYTHING suitable? I've veto'd Postman Pat, Peppa, Rosie ...

162 replies

FrozenNorthPole · 30/04/2011 21:56

... it's just all so incredibly pink & predictable. Have made a list of things that have been ruled out.

Postman Pat - men go out to work, women stay at home. Apart from traditional female roles / unskilled clerical (Mrs Goggins), and the needlessly butch female doctor.

Peppa - just ugh. So pink, so inane, have avoided most TV episodes but people keep buying us books. All females in dresses. Shit plotlines. Men Daddy Pigs go out to work. Mummy Pigs don't.

Rosie - a female heroine at last. But wait ... everything is covered in flowers and is pink. Female 'heroine' (and simpering smaller female) endlessly conciliatory and bow to others' whims. Petulant & disruptive boy plays football on his own.

In the night garden - would be okay apart from upsydaisy who is in no way okay. Oh, and the Pontipines / Wottingers.

Something Special - hmm, struggle with this one. Does Aunt Polly count as female character? Is Lord Tumble part of the higher echelons of the patriarchy?

Me too - shit.

Balamory - women in traditional female roles, men in traditional male roles.

Timmy time - ooh. Perhaps this one okay?

I may have overthought this. Have always had these feelings about the tv programmes but having recently acquired some proper patriarchy goggles I'm putting my foot down and trying to make more positive choices on DD1's (2.5 years) behalf.

Any views?

OP posts:
PrinceHumperdink · 01/05/2011 08:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Adair · 01/05/2011 07:48

Oh yes, Bob the Builder is great. Wendy is def Bob's equal.

Original poster
FrozenNorthPole · 30/04/2011 23:29

Sybil - thank you for the suggestion, that's a good and sensible idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrozenNorthPole · 30/04/2011 23:29

Yousank - yes, I think everyone - including me - has concluded that i was overthinking already Grin

OP posts:
yousankmybattleship · 30/04/2011 23:20

OP - you are definitetely over thinking it. Give your children some credit. If you have gorwn up with the amzing social awareness that you give yourself credit for then so can your children despite the occasional dodgy programme.

pirateparty · 30/04/2011 23:13

I have a 2.5yr old ds and have to say the stereotyping of daddy pig as a bit hopeless annoys me. But overall I think it's quite nice and gentle and not too bad in terms of male / female roles.

But agree with others here that the best thing is to talk about things rather than ban them altogether.

EllieG · 30/04/2011 23:11

Ben and Holly, though beloved by my DD, makes me wince every time Holly says something like 'I'm a fairy princess and I am good at dancing and being pretty' and then Ben comes along and is clever and sensible and good at fixing things.

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 30/04/2011 22:59

Oh yes forgot Ben and Holly. Love Nanny Plum! Although King Fairy is an arse!

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 30/04/2011 22:58

That's a really good idea Sybil.

Purplebuns · 30/04/2011 22:55

Tinga Tinga Tales is lovely, technicolour and hilarious. Also DH and I like Ben and Holly's little kingdom, Nanny Plum can sure kick some butt!

EllieG · 30/04/2011 22:54

DH hates Peppa Pig because he says Daddy Pig is a buffoon who is always having to be helped by Mummy Pig. Sounds like our household, says I Wink

Original poster
FrozenNorthPole · 30/04/2011 22:52

The books clearly don't do Peppa justice Grin

I'll say one thing for mumsnet, it tends to get me to try things that I never thought I'd try. Like Ovenpride and watching Peppa Pig on my own whilst tipsy whilst both girls asleep.

OP posts:
SybilBeddows · 30/04/2011 22:52

I don't go in for banning. I do counting ('OMG dd, that's 8 programs in a row with boy main characters!') and discussing.
because it's just not as simple as 'this program is ok'/'this one isn't', is it?
So you will get programs that are generally pretty rubbish but have one really good girl character (eg Bob The Builder and Wendy) who is a token but a good token, and others where there are lot of good girl characters but male authority figures, and others with lots of girls but they are stereotypical.

LoveBeingAbleToNamechange · 30/04/2011 22:49

Agree postman pat, in one the children are told to tidy the classroom, que all the boys saying they hate tidying and the girls saying how much they love it.

Peppa pig, love the one were daddy washes his football shirt before he goes to work and mummy and the children get it dirty so wash it again and it comes out pink.

MistyValley · 30/04/2011 22:49

Yes, the girls on Peppa are WAY more competent and generally in charge than the boys. DH gets quite huffy about it sometimes, so it must be true. [cwink]

Rindercella · 30/04/2011 22:43

I love Peppa Pig. Mummy Pig obviously Mumnets does Very Important Work on the Computer Wink

Now, where's MissRabbit when you need her?

claire201 · 30/04/2011 22:43

How can you ban postman pat??? Do you really think 2.5 year olds put that much thought into it?? I really think you have been reading a bit too much Andrea Dworkin? Your daughter will hopefully be intelligent enough to make her own decisions when she is older, but banning traditional TV programmes won't make a blind bit of difference!

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 30/04/2011 22:42

MRA = Male Rights Activist.

magicmummy1 · 30/04/2011 22:40

I love peppa pig! Shame that dd now considers it way too babyish and therefore utterly uncool. :(

Original poster
FrozenNorthPole · 30/04/2011 22:39

What's a MRA? Have managed to be inadvertently controversial. If only I'd watched more Peppa Pig!

OP posts:
MayBankHoliday · 30/04/2011 22:37

Same Smile - pandas visit a nursery and children demonstrate their hobbies (cycling, swimming, horse riding, dancing)

Mighty Mites - boys and girls try out new activities (rugby, ten-pin-bowling, go-karting, pottery painting)

Mr Blooms Nursery - gardening

Big Cook Little Cook - two entertaining cooks and their cafe

I Can Cook - children learn to cook and find ingredients in the garden

Let's Celebrate - looks at a different cultural/religious festival each time

Green Balloon Club (good suggestion from U5) - team of children travel in their balloon and discover nature and wildlife

Adair · 30/04/2011 22:37

Green Balloon Club???

Adair · 30/04/2011 22:37

Miss Mouse is an explorer/rescuer/Indiana Jones type (who likes tea)

ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls · 30/04/2011 22:35

FNP, get yourself a bottle Wine and whack Peppa on, might not be suitable for your dd (mine adores it and silly daddy pig) but it is damn funny - especially the picture putting up episode [cgrin]

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 30/04/2011 22:33

Peppa Pig is OK. Apparently it gets the MRAs up in arms so it can't be all bad Wink

Little Princess is also OK - although she is a bit wild and the staff are all in their gender traditional roles.

Mia Mao OK

Olivia (although she always wears a dress) she does get things organised and does lots of different things.

I do feel your pain OP as there is so much gender stereotyping going on. Despite that I have a DS who loves Peppa!