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?

Thing when she's 6/7 and going to friends houses how do you police this?

I'd much rather and think we should discuss things rather than ban them outright.

Loads of parents ban or limit screens or refuse to watch specific things - it's very popular to 'hate' Peppa pig, for example. I actually quite like it but whatever. You'll be in good company I'm sure; it's certainly not a unique approach. Personally I have no strong feelings on anything you've mentioned. None of my kids are particularly interested in cocomelon or Disney (sadly for me - I love it!) and I don't think we've ever watched the Wiggles. They do wear character themed stuff because it's widely available and they like it. Imo this is one of those non-issues that seem important when you don't have kids, but actually don't matter a jot. I spent my entire childhood watching Disney and my friend didn't even have a TV in her house: we both work in the same sector, have comparable pay, are educated to the same level and have families and houses in the same town. Does it matter that I can still recite The Little Mermaid film from start to finish? No.

No kids yet. Every parent is a perfect parent before children.

We were adamant no Peppa Pig. Guess what. There was Peppa Pig

Sorry to break this to you but 99% of kids stuff will drive you insane, even if you find the least American, non-Disney stuff. Kids programmes are mostly shite, you won't be able to avoid annoying things.

But I'm also joining the "we were all great parents before we had kids" club. We all have high expectations until we are in the thick of it.

To clarify - it wouldn't be a ban of every show. I just specifically wouldn't do Disney, Cocomelon or Wiggles, and a few others - I'd probably be able to find alternatives.

Exactly this.
With just one set of elderly grandparents alive, I find the TV a useful babysitter at times.
DC picks their own clothing which I will buy as long as it is practical/affordable/fits properly.
Thankfully they have never liked Mickey Mouse, who I loathe.

I worked the early years pre having children. Yes it gave me ideas but nothing could have prepared me for the realities of being a parent. Working with kids is a world away from actually being a parent

Bluey is amazing! We are trying to avoid Peppa Pig and Cocomelon like the plauge though.

It still won't work. My child is 2 and has never seen Peppa Pig and we have no Peppa Pig books or toys but he still knows who she is and includes her in his pretend play because he's seen the books at nursery and his friends talk about her.

You might choose to watch other things but it won't stop your child making up their own minds about what they like or want to watch, read or listen to.

So what do you do when you visit friends houses (and meeting parents and having regular coffee mornings are generally needed for sanity!) and they have an older child or your children are older and they have this showing on TV?

Thing is as much you you plan not to at your house your child and you will go to others and eventually your child will go to friends houses without you and have a life away from your home rules.

It just can't last forever.

Bluey is great and Peppa Pig grows on you. It is more self aware than you think. Grampy Rabbit is voiced by Brian Blessed and Miss Rabbit is a feminist icon. There's no job she can't do.

I thought I’d be able to raise my kids without tacky Disney shit or Peppa Pig.

Then other people got involved. It only takes one bin bag full of hand me downs and a birthday party and your house is full of that crap.

Too American? 🤦🏻‍♀️

DH is American. I wasn't aware I should be limiting my DC's exposure to him purely based on his nationality?

My wooden toys have all been chucked because my second born is obsessed with being a pirate and wooden toys are so much more painful to get hit with than plastic toys (we obvs had the talk no you can't hit your sister/mummy etc but tantrums do happen)

Why would you want to isolate your child like that?

Oh my god this!!!!! I’m using this next time my pre kids BIL makes a comment on our parenting!!!! Love it!

Also, Disney is great these days. Plenty of strong, feminist characters. Strong, black, lesbian couple in Lightyear and their daughter as a heroine. If anything, the need for positive representation and messages is overshadowing the need for strength of plots (Encanto).

Bluey is great and Peppa Pig grows on you. It is more self aware than you think. Grampy Rabbit is voiced by Brian Blessed and Miss Rabbit is a feminist icon. There's no job she can't do

I agree about PP. My FIL is basically Daddy Pig. Not a bad person exactly, but a bit of a self important buffoon. It makes me laugh to see him depicted so well, and often ending up with egg on his face when he's been overly confident about something he knows nothing about.

Done and dusted in the first post 😄

Love the Wiggles.

Having said that never felt the need to buy character clothes!

It is so easy to be a parent before you have children!

YANBU ........but you are being very naive to think it is that clear cut.
Parenting is about being flexible and picking your battles.

Before having children I think we all said or thought "my children will never do X" and then looked back and laughed at how theory and reality play out!!!

We all have silly ideas until reality hits.

I absolutely hate advertising at children and their manipulation by industries so am with you. I was also a parent of young children 20-30 years ago when there was a lot less of it so I could avoid advertising of sweets and snacks or buying of media associated toys to a large extent.Having said that , some of these things are fun. I have lovely memories of my middle child whiling away hours singing and dancing to The Wiggles or my oldest sitting with me watching Jungle Book while the baby was quiet for a moment.We all have ideas of how we want to parent and hills we are prepared to die on , you only have to read threads here on mn about food to realise that. Most of us make some compromises along the way and mine would be different to eg my sister's . We also have to learn that it really does and should take a village to raise a child and that because my mil or DM or our nanny have or had different ways of doing things as long as they are from love it is usually alright.

Up until about 3 this works fine as an approach, as you have complete control over what they watch and there's no need for them to watch any of that stuff. After that age they want to watch the same stuff as their playmates and it becomes harder to say no. I do not want my Year 6 son to play fortnite, but I do want him to have friends and be able to join in with them - that's the dilemma.

Some programmes on cebeeies are actually quite educational. Would you really refuse to buy your child an item of clothing they really like? Or refuse to buy them a gift they asked for they like they played with at a friend's house.

No matter how much you try to control what they do, see and have. At some time they will see, come into contact with or have a gift bought for them you don't want them to have but will get a lot of enjoyment out of.

Oh don’t make them the weirdos. Don’t do that to them.