Toddlers - Disney movies - Please vote

[Frozenprincess]

NC for this - I am fuming!

So, I have a DS that goes to a gymnastics class for 3-4 year olds with parents present.

The instructor asked the kids last time who is the princess that likes snow and some kids replied “Elsa” . Then the instructor asked “And what Elsa does to things with the snow? They make them…” and then she expected the kids to say “Freeze”. She did all of that to teach them how to “freeze” and stop moving.

My point is that Frozen and many other Disney movies are not recommended by Disney to be watched by kids less than 5 years old and they should be watched with parental supervision up until 8 years old as there are some upsetting scenes.

For this reason our 3 year old DS has never watched Frozen, Moana etc. He just watched Peppa Pig, Bluey, Paw Patrol, Hollie & Ben etc.

Was it appropriate for the instructor to expect the 3 year olds kids to have watched Disney movies in order to participate in the class?

I honestly felt so sorry for our DS during the class! He is a very reserved and shy boy when in public and this whole thing just made it all even worse.

What do you all think?

YABU - Frozen is fine for 3 year olds
YANBU - Frozen is not fine until 5 year old as advised by Disney

I’m not much of a Disney fan so my response isn’t about Disney but…

You’re doing your child a massive disservice through your reaction to this and need to get to the stage where you’re able to show him more resilience.

As he moves through school and life, he’ll be asked to do things he has no frame of reference for. That’s life and we all deal with it. He needs to learn that he can ask questions, learn, and move on.

Instead of focusing on your own “fuming” response, you should be thinking about how to parent a shy child and help him get to the stage where he’s comfortable with new things.

He doesn’t need to know one single thing about Disney or Frozen or thermodynamics to be taught what “freeze” means in the context or bodies and movement. You should have helped him understand.

OP, I was a bit like this with my PFB, despite having little sisters who were born when I was an older teenager and who had watched Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean from before they could talk, never mind things like Disney films.

She didn't really watch TV, apart from when we were watching sport.

And then I got pregnant with DD2 and all of that went out the window. I used to put on Thomas the Tank Engine DVDs (they're 2 1/2 hours) then nap on the sofa while she watched them. Disney films like Beauty and the Beast were absolutely worn out (she didn't like The Little Mermaid because of the shouty daddy).

DDs 2 and 3 watched Disney films from the time they were born. It hasn't harmed them.

They're great; little ones get up and dance to the songs and recreate the things they've seen. They're actually very interactive.

If your DS is a sensitive soul then yes, some might be a little scary for him. I think parents often think things will be scarier for children than they are, though.

My dd is 3 her favourite movies are the goosebumps Halloween movies she loves them!!!

I honestly felt so sorry for our DS during the class! He is a very reserved and shy boy when in public and this whole thing just made it all even worse.

This stood out for me. "This whole thing" was not a big deal until YOU made it so by your reaction. We model resilience and coping skills as parents and I imagine the poor little boy picked up on your "fuming" response.
I shudder to think how you will respond to minor things that arise in school in 1-2 years' time. You can't control his whole world and you will need to accept that teachers/ coaches may not do exactly what you do at home.

Honestly your child is going to be in a position where the teacher/mentor is asking a question to the group that he doesn’t know the answer to or will be in a group where they start talking about a book or tv show he hasn’t seen more than just this one time in his life. You’d be better off spending your energy showing him it’s ok not to know something and teaching him how to behave in that situation than in getting worked up whenever it occurs.

OP Did you never watch Tom & Jerry growing up ? Sounds like you need more cartoons in your life.

@AngryBirdsNoMore @MotherOfHouseplants

The one year old is totally enthralled by Bluey.

I've not paid attention to a full episode but the dad is putting my parenting to shame (obviously, as I'm letting my kid watch tv while I scroll mumsnet).

My 1 year old has 'seen' frozen- I don't say she has actually watched it but it's been on in the background (we love Disney) and she liked the songs.
On the other hand she has never seen peppa pig and I have absolutely no intention of ever putting it on unless someone else introduces her to it and she actively asks for it. I really dislike peppa's attitude and don't think she is a good role model at all.

👏 👏 👏

Oh, bless you.

My son is 3 and autistic- his world would be a lot less fun without his Disney and Pixar films that’s for sure. Please do not even think of complaining about this OP, you are going to look a bit unhinged if you do.

I think fuming is a little bit ridiculous! Children also aren’t supposed to watch tv before 2 so you could argue any show aimed at babies shouldn’t exist?

The reality is that loads of little kids watch Disney films and the poor instructor probably didn’t know the age range anyway.

This. It’s ok that he didn’t know the film op.

Your original OP is hilarious. Please tell me this is a joke....

Frozen is my 2 year olds favourite film. She knows all the songs. Dresses as Anna everyday. We watched Frozen 2 the other day which is less joyful and I didn't even question it. I'm sorry but I you're being very very very unreasonable.

You have a bad case of PFB.

When my eldest was 3 he had no clue who Elsa was - I had no interest in watching Frozen and he didn't know it existed so it wasn't an issue.
He'd only ever seen Cbeebies.
His nursery had Elsa & Anna visit for a Christmas party and it seemed like all the children knew who they were except mine It didn't matter though.

Obviously my 3rd child had seen every Disney movie, Power Rangers, Pokemon, Jurassic Park and Star Wars by the time she was two...

Horrid Henry is misunderstood. Perfect Peter is clearly the golden child and Henry can do no good. Even when he does try to do good he gets berated. Perfect Peter is most definitely the villain in those tales (as well as all the adults).

I was expecting you to say the gym instructor told the 3 year olds "that" Cinderella joke...

🙃

YABU

My little boy is 2 he loves Frozen he also loved Moana when he was younger. He's moved on to cars now 😂

Seems to me like maybe you just don't like the gymnast teacher and are looking for an argument

Amen to that

there's overprotective and then there's this. wow.

This is so bizarre. I'd think most children under five just enjoy the bright colours and nice music in Disney movies, I don’t think they are seriously taking in the story to be disturbed by it.

Besides there was some freaky shit in Teletubbies. That stupid wooden lion with the giant eyes. No thank you.

My favourite Disney movie when I was about 5 was Pocahontas, the one where a dude is literally shot and killed on screen. But maybe I was just a little macabre weirdo.

I was thinking today that all of you that blame Peppa’s attitude, should you not think that peppa in the end is a fat and a bit ugly pig, while Elsa is a very stereotyped thin, blonde, blue eyed princess?

You know that the message behind “Barbie” and “perfect princess” models is not great for your kids.

Plus you all blame Peppa’s attitude but Elsa is the one that couldn’t control her feelings and hurt her sister.

Just some food for thought!

You've watched the film now then have you, OP?

If you're really concerned about toxic messages around body image (although I don't think you are) I highly recommend Moana and Encanto for greater diversity of body shapes, including visibly physically strong female characters.