Peppa addiction

[Indecisivedad]

Hello, this sounds a relatively minor issue compared to some but it is genuinely beginning to worry me.

My 22 month old daughter is completely obsessed with Peppa Pig. The other day she just repeated the word Peppa for about 10 minutes, in a manner I could only compare to a heroin addict talking about the next fix. She would watch it continuously (if we let her) and shopping trips are made difficult by her need to buy anything with Peppa's motif (which is loads of stuff and at her height).

Both our parents help out with childcare and they both indulge her with both watching it and buying branded stuff for her. I would never criticise them as they are doing it out of goodwill.

I don't know whether to go cold turkey (cold porcine?) and just throw away all the toys, pyjamas, plasters etc and tell them to stop letting her watch it. Or just leave it and hope she grows out of it.

I don't hate the programme, although the gender representation of Daddy Pig is a bit off although that's probably redressing centuries of sexism towards women in children's literature.

Our daughter was exactly the same, she's six and still loves it but not as much as when she was younger, she's moved on to paw patrol, Ben and holly and anything frozen! (Still trying to get her to like Star Wars) wouldn't worry too much, she will develop other favourites and get equally obsessed with them. I personally love daddy pigs outlook on life !

All about the chocolate cake!

Peppa is the most additive thing. It's the short bursts one after the other. DS's behaviour used to get terrible after watching it so I 'banned' it. DD loves it and is pissed off when there's an ad break or something so I turn it off as soon as she gets annoyed.

Yeah, it seems more insidious than Ben and Holly et al. The fact that it's 5 mins long gives an ADHD tone to it, where (e.g.) Night Garden asks for a bit more patience.

Could you explain to the GP's that you're getting a bit worried about how much she is obsessed with it and ask them to at least restrict the amount she watches. I agree it's difficult to stop them buying the stuff, but the tv could be restricted.

I might try that but my dad suffers with MS and he gets a bit tired when looking after her and she likes snuggling up with him to watch it on the Kindle. I'd feel a bit tight taking that away from either of them!

Well, what about introducing a different programme? Tell your dd that peppa isn't on at the moment and let her watch something like timmy time or pingu - still short. Those 3 are pretty much the only things I let my dd watch.

Put all peppa merchandise and DVDs into a box. Only allow the box to be opened when grandparents do the caring

You could put everything into the box together

They do go through phases where they are absolutely obsessed with one program, and then just as suddenly they are onto the next one.

OTOH, they do sometimes seem to latch onto something as their 'brand'. My DD and her cousin both chose specific colours. And seriously everything has to be that colour!! Your DD's desire for peppa pig branded things seems like it might be the same - i.e identifying herself with it. DD's cousin has grown out of this, DD is still going strong...

books - I'm intrigued that your list is so short. What's wrong with 'Show me show me', Bing, Melody, Sarah and Duck? Alphablocks and Numtums are a bit annoying, but also hard to argue with. In fact, I'd allow most of the morning cbeebies programs (afternoon ones seem to target older children) - although some I object to a bit on aesthetic grounds (and even DD finds 'Everythings xxxing Rosie' too insipid to watch)

Ha! Thanks for all the advice everyone. We've gone through denial, anger, and we are now on acceptance. Like Winston Smith at the end of 1984: I love Peppa! And Suzy too.

I love Peppa and even though Daddy Pig is silly he is also kind, fun and a good sport, a very nice character. I think you should restrict the amount you watch but not ban it. You can also use it as a reward if she behaves well.

Peppa themed activities, like drawing her or modelling her from clay or making Peppa themed cupcakes might go down well and in wet weather jumping in muddy puddles, wearing your boots, of course.

I love Bing. I really envy his house and furniture

I love Bing's house and furniture too, knittingbee! Although Amma's house is the one I really covet (would be tempted to paint over the mural...)