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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:
MollieO · 30/04/2011 22:09

Come Outside - Aunt Mabel is definitely in charge and flies her own plane.

littleducks · 30/04/2011 22:08

I think you are overthinking it hugely.

Peppa Pig has been written by a (team of?) Mum.
Mummy Pig works from home, on her computer.
Miss Rabbit does everything, include rescue the silly daddies as a firefighter when they mess up a BBQ
Mrs Sheep, who doesnt work goes to the gym while Suzy is at nursery.

notnowbernard · 30/04/2011 22:08

Come Outside

Adair · 30/04/2011 22:08

Agree CMOT

CMOTdibbler · 30/04/2011 22:07

I feckin hate Peppa Pig myself. Something Special a good example of men in caring roles and interacting with kids surely though ?

I'd say Nina and the Neurons if it wasn't such twaddle.

At least in Me Too women are allowed to go and work - finding positive examples of working mothers is impossible

Adair · 30/04/2011 22:05

Yer, maisy. And also am convinced Charley has some sort of learning difficulty so is very inclusive too.

(likes over-thinking)

stripeywoollenhat · 30/04/2011 22:03

maisie: nothing overtly annoying about it. apart the inherent annoyingness of children's tv

Adair · 30/04/2011 22:03

Dirtgrlworld. Despite dubious name (and the fact that she doesn't actually get grubby), is about a girl who likes gardening and her tractor. Pocoyo - male lead but Ellie Elephant is massive and quite violent (but likes pink and ballet).

Balamory Shock - Edie McCredie rocks! And Archie likes pink.

Get her watching Studio Ghibli films - My neighbour Totoro is lovely.

I feel your pain though, dd said to me while watching Megamind (a great film but...) 'i want to be HER' which i was all 'yay, she is feisty and smart and short-haired' then realised she is the only woman in the whole film Hmm.

Dd watches Powerpuff girls.

Is ok IMVHO for them to watch some of these dodgy ones though as long as there is a variety and we talk about it with them...

sails · 30/04/2011 22:03

Yes I agree! Miss rabbit does everything!

Feenie · 30/04/2011 22:02

And pigs do tend to be pink, btw. You've got me overthinking it now!

Feenie · 30/04/2011 22:01

Mummy Pig is a firefighter and Miss Rabbit has hundreds of jobs, what are you on about? Confused

sails · 30/04/2011 21:59

I think you have overthought all this. We LOVE peppa pig in our house!