WIBU to not allow popular kids characters/music in the house?

[Elilanna]

No kids yet, but I'm hoping to have them in the near-ish future, work in the early childhood sector and have a young niece and nephew so I'm quite aware of what's popular with the little ones these days, but I'm personally not a fan and would rather not expose my own children to any of that media, at least not when they're very small - but I've heard a lot of criticism of this approach, that "only crunchy hippie mums do that!" and "it's part of our culture, you're depriving them of an important part of childhood!" Specifically I'd be avoiding Disney, Cocomelon, and the Wiggles, and even things I don't mind wouldn't be on baby's clothes & other belongings as I don't believe in turning your child into free advertising for a popular brand. I'm otherwise not very "hippie" or "crunchy", this is just the one thing where I'd like to limit their exposure.

So... tell me I'm not the only one who wants to do this?

If you exclude Disney, you exclude them from popular culture and an ability to make friends at that age. The Wiggles are great for exercise and a chance to have fun together. I'm a huge fan of things like Thomas too. The only thing I stopped showing mine was Peppa Pig because they treat Daddy Pig so badly and mine were copying the poor behaviour.

You do you hun.
I guarantee you'll cave and cocomelon will give you 10 minutes peace though 😜

Tbh I’ve never really understood this approach. Why would you want your future children to not fit in with other kids or understand what other kids are referring to? I respect your opinion but I swore I’d never allow an iPad in the bedroom but I do (with limits) and now I have a child who sleeps 11/12 hours straight and always has (now nearly 8). It’s difficult to predict what your child would need/not need. Most kids TV is pretty decent, i personally hated the Peppa phase but none of the phases last for that long tbh so making an issue of it might make it more appealing.

We didn’t have a TV when mine was younger so they didn’t see any programmes for a few years. We were gifted Disney clothing, and I’m sure we had a Peppa outfit from someone. I do remember being told I was abusive because daughter hadn’t watched any Disney films when she was about three!!

You're getting a rough time here @Elilanna but I don't think you're wrong. There a lot of research being done on the impact of screentime and children's attention and behaviour. The fast moving shows like Cocomelon and Blippi are not great, neither are things with jeopardy or peril like paw patrol. Jerrica Sannes had some good intro stuff on the subject.

I have a 20 month old and we've been careful with what she watches and it's been fine. No screentime was never going to be possible without superhuman endeavour (I'm currently pregnant and wreaked so it's been a godsend, also great when she's not well) She loves Sesame Street songs, Puffin Rock and some Disney shorts with Dug from Up and Olaf from Frozen. You just have to be okay with watching the same thing fifty times! Plus we sing along with songs in Alexa a lot and read lots of books. We'll introduce her to more shows as she gets older and listen to what she wants too.

I went to a Montessori school and she goes to a Montessori nursery so we are just following that ethos. I've no doubt it will get harder when she starts demanding things but so far we've been fine avoiding character clothing too. It's possible.

Before my children were born I planned they wouldn't have a dummy, I would never get them plastic toys - all would be lovely wood in pastil colours. I thought I'd get washable nappies not disposable. I believed I would not allow my children to watch screens, maybe not even have a TV in the house. Definitely no phones and computers/iPads etc .. til well into secondary school.

I planned to do lots of arts and crafts with my children, play them classical music, engage them in educational games to help them learn while.playing.

The reality - none of this happened! 🤣🤣 the early years are about survival!! Dummy was in, any plastic shite I could rattle at them for more than 2minutes I bought. Screens came in in toddler years! Peppa.was on the TV :) Parenting is hard and there's a reason some things are popular and many people do them!!!

Hahahahahhahahahahahahahha
That is all

The fast moving shows like Cocomelon and Blippi are not great, neither are things with jeopardy or peril like paw patrol.

What evidence is there for that though? And getting to grips with jeopardy is an important human skillz

I read an article about paw patrol, which posits that the tension/peril in the storylines is set up and resolved in a timeline that's just exciting enough, while stopping short of being anxiety inducing for that age group. Having watched a few episodes, that made a lot of sense to me.

I don't understand why you're already banning things for children you don't even have. It's all a bit unnecessary.

Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car!
My youngest is 9 and I still know all the words to The Wiggles songs and the actions to Rock a bye bear !

Well, I get what you mean about The Wiggles. I work with people with SN and am constantly singing 'Fruit salad...yummy yummy' etc etc 🙄

Hmm, OP seems to be a little baity as far as I can see.
Jog on love

You sound a bit like me before I had my daughter. Although I do try to not put the TV on, some days if I don't, my house would be a mess and we wouldn't have dinner as I wouldn't have time. Also some cocomelon toys are really good for child development.

You won't get it until you have them. Your ideas will totally change. Mine did. My adult youngsters ideas did.

I smiled quietly. I didn't try and correct them. They found out when they had them. If anyone knew the reality the world would have stopped a long time ago

This will give you a smile 😃

Hilarious! Enjoy parenting, OP!

I've seen The Wiggles live twice, including the original line up. Worth noting I'm not in AUS but mine even washed their hair in Dorothy's Rosy Soap and had a feather sword... It probably gets on your nerves the way that Justin Fletcher (Mr Tumble and Something Special) irritates some adults in the UK. But kids adore him, especially SEND.

If you don’t let them watch Octonaughts, you are a monster.

EXPLORE!
RESCUE!
PROTECT.

My son was forever coming up with (correct… and detailed) sea life facts at the age of 5.

some stuff that’s popular is good.

My kids got a lot of pleasure from their favourite characters, as did I when I was a kid

You'll find as a parent that you'l just try to do your best, trying to cause as little damage as you can while trying to raise kind, decent, thoughtful, productive future adults. If you don't want Disney in your house, don't have it. No refined sugar, educational games only, no soda or chips, no spanking, strict bedtime, no yelling, little or no screen time? Ok. We have the way we dream it will be and the way it is when you're in the trenches 24/7. Most likely you'll compromise on some things and not on others and eventually you'll find what works for you and your family. :)

Cant believe you're worried about Disney when huggy wuggy and missy kissy are menacingly hanging off every toy stall in the world and scaring kids to death on YouTube. There's worse shit out there than Disney and Cocomelon.

You think parents put on those shows and buy those clothes because they WANT to? Because they're fans in some way? Hahahahahahahaha. It's not about you. Your children decide what they like and what they want to wear. Unless you're a complete control freak and force them, they're going to wear what's popular to them and if that's lol dolls or minecraft or bing, you'll buy the posters and the shirts and take them to the live shows. And you'll love every second because your child is happy and enjoying their life. Once you have kids you'll understand, as I said, it's not about you.

Once you have your own kids I think you'll find as long as the 'thing' is not actually harmful, you will probably place their happiness head of your principles. Or at least I hope you do.

Otherwise - future OP's 4yo while choosing a drink bottle for school: 'mummy mummy can I have the Mickey Mouse one'. OP: 'goodness no, that's too Hollywood, you can have a plain one in a non-gender stereotypical colour.'

When DD was born in 2006 we said absolutely no Disney.

It lasted about a year. She was massively into the Princesses, then moved onto Marvel at the age of four. She was also into Moshi Monsters, Peppa Pig, In the Night Garden and Fifi & the Flowertots.

Even if you don't expose popular media to your kids at home they'll get it at nursery, at friends' houses, or when visiting family. You can't escape it.

My God, thanks for introducing me to that!

Moana and Rapunzel should definitely be looking less scary now, OP...

Pre-parents are always the best parents…