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?

I really can’t understand why you wouldn’t want them to experience the fun that comes with watching the Wiggles. All they do is sing and dance to child friendly songs. Going to the Wiggles Live was such an exciting experience for my DD as her first concert. Also, Disney animations are so magical. I totally understand the clothes thing, but not the TV and films.

Yeah i used to be a perfect parent before i had kids too.

I don’t regard what the op thinks is “perfect parenting” is actually even remotely something to aspire to.
it is tinkering and a distraction from what is genuinely important when it comes to good parenting

I don’t regard what the op thinks is “perfect parenting” is actually even remotely something to aspire to.

it is tinkering and a distraction from what is genuinely important when it comes to good parenting

Totally agree with this

Very good observation.

You are spot on and all the others telling you different are in the wrong. It’s brainwashing and Disney is the worst. You won’t be able to stop them once they go to school but while they are toddlers then yes.

To me, what OP is suggesting is neither here nor there.

-Not watching two TV shows (is Cocomelon a show? I've never seen it.) Big deal.
-Not watching Disney (no idea why anyone would want to ban Disney in particular, creator of some of the best children's films of all time, but each to their own).
-Not buying clothes with branded characters on (who cares? I don't think my kids had characters on their clothes either but had to think hard to remember because it's such a non-issue).

None of this seems especially hippy or "crunchy" or restrictive, just a bit random, but then we all have our random preferences so crack on, OP.

I don't get why some people won't let them watch Paw Patrol but Disney is fine. They're all much of a muchness, aren't they? Why not just let the bloody kids be kids and choose what they like? I can't see the harm. You don't have to watch it...it's not really meant to appeal to adults.

It’s brainwashing and Disney is the worst.

Brainwashing in what way?

And Disney has made a huge contribution culturally. The merits of many of their children's films are widely acknowledged.

My youngest is now 10 so not really a baby but at her nursery they sung the songs and had digital technology to play games qnd watch limited programmes. Unless you don't have a TV and home educate, you will find it hard to avoid everything. I get the whole not wearing those branded clothes, we resisted HP for a long time but the kids do have a voice and can be bullied and left out.
Rather than nake decisions now, wait until your child is old enough to notice and decide then, some programmes are amazing and teach morals and values, others are plain annoying.
BTW, I know all the words to quacamole and DD learned that a nursery.

What brainwashing of toddlers do you get from Disney films?

What brainwashing of toddlers do you get from Disney films?

I've heard of some really awful cases of little children believing in magic 😢

You are not being unreasonable- you can make your own choices with your kids. I don’t like the over merchandising of kids characters, although a lot of the actual programmes/films are fine.
you will find it changes as they grow up, what friends are into etc. but I have steered mine away from a lot of the ‘merch’ (usually plastic, cheap, imported, you can explain this when they are old enough) and use Common Sense Media to check out what they want to watch. You can’t make absolutes and things change, it’s just a process.

i have always hated disney, and when had kids, we didnt have disney on and wouldnt ever consider buying the channel, and now kids arent interested in disney.....

however, if kids loved it, its a small battle i would have been prepared to lose

wait til you have kids before making big statements!

I wonder how my daughter managed to be sporty, feminist and highly academic, despite loving a Disney film or three when she was little.

Seriously, get some perspective. There are SO many influences in a kid's life, and watching a Disney film isn't going to mean that a three year old is going to grow up into a simpering, brainless, surrendered woman.

Might be controversial, I dunno... I have a 2 Yr old and a 7 month old. We (DP and I) don't really watch telly (occasional box sets when kids are in bed). The only screen time our 2yr old had at around 6 months old was 12 minutes of Mr Tumbles nursery rhymes on YouTube as part of her wind down routine in the eevening.This was valuable as she picked up on simple signs very quickly and began to use them to communicate. As she has gotten older she does like the odd hey duggee episode (but not obsessive) - this started from a t-shirt she liked with a crocodile on it that was part of a preloved bundle. She is, however, completely besotted with Winnie the Pooh but I have no issue with this. She watches the short adventures on YouTube with me and they have really developed her sense of story telling (I'm an EY/infant teacher) and the intonation and expression in her voice is incredible for such a yound child. Current 6 month old has not had any screen time yet.
By contrast, my DPs 6 Yr old who we coparent with her mom is fixated on TV (anything and everytbing to the point where she complains that cocomelon and baby bum merchandise isn't made in her sizes) and constantly complains that our house is boring and there is nothing to do because we don't have the TV on relentlessly spewing junk all day and won't let her watch TikTok etc on our phones. She does have access to role play resources, a range of small world and imaginative play, construction kits, puzzles, art resources with free access, books and a huge garden with sand, water, bikes and childrens hardening tools. We have noticed a marked downturn in her concentration and attention span as she has grown and we are certain it is because she spends 10 hrs+ per non school day glued to a screen.

I've come from a family where the TV was always on as background noise from the second my dad woke up at 5am til mom went to bed at 2am. I can't stand it and was adamant that that would not be the case in my house.

No Disney? That's a bit harsh :)

If it makes it any better, OP, the popular character brands don't affect the kids for life. It's just a phase. They may be crazy about Paw Patrol for months, love wearing the t-shirts, then move on to Octonauts... and then when they are in their tweens they'll be looking at all their past obsessions with embarrassment. At which point you can just pass on the toys and clothes on to some other child.

And what the heck is wrong with Disney?! Moana is one of the best animated movies I've seen, second only to Coco (but that's Pixar). Disney has moved a long way away from princesses in distress and prince charmings.

No words really just 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Hi OP.
You're not being UR at all. Peppa Pig is banned in our house. Bing's day's are numbered too....

My son is autistic and he watches lion king, moana and a few other programmes and films about 8x per day every single day. You would go mad in our house. He wants to listen to the music on loop.

We were all full of great intentions until we actually had kids 😂😂. Unless you are planning to homeschool and ban technology, you'll find that kids are influenced by their peers more than their parents the older they get. Good luck with your hypothetical kids. Cons back when you have real ones and tell us what happened 😁.

You have a lot of learning to do.

That would be because the original poster is indicating she's going to be a better parent than everyone else because she's not allowing her ' kids' to watch nursery rhymes and cartoons

Before DC1 was born I ordered an expensive beige playmat with cute toys in muted colours hanging off it. It was ridiculous, as it really wasn’t very interesting to a small baby 😂 I quickly sold it.

Then for DC2, I bought the brightest most lurid playmat I found in Tesco for £18. Baby loved it.

I don’t buy themed character clothes or bedding etc, but at least half of our playroom contents are merchandise/characters!! Don’t be too evangelical about avoiding Paw Patrol, Octonauts, Transformers etc. Kids love them, it’s what their friends will play with and talk about.