DD15 is watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

[sharonruth1982]

DD 15 (year 11) has started watching MLP again. She watched it when she was 5-9, and started watching it again a year or so ago, then stopped watching or mentioning about it up until recently.

I don’t have a problem with her watching the show (why would I?), and I know that lots of older people love the show, but it’s not entirely ‘normal’ for a bright girl her age to start to watch that kind of show (though I’m not entirely sure what teens these days actually watch ahaha). She watches a lot of cartoons and anime (though the anime are a lot more mature than the cartoons), but her taste in TV is pretty diverse.

Do you think I should ask her about it? She seems to just enjoy the show, but I’m wondering if, maybe, she’s watching it to try not to grow up, and she might need to talk.

(Sorry; this probably makes me sound stupid and overly anxious LOL)

Ds 22 enjoys 'Flushed Away' fairly regularly, should i be worried?

Um what's up with goth?

Actually you might not be wrong about the Nazis:

www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/06/my-little-pony-nazi-4chan-black-lives-matter/613348/

It's comforting for her. :)

I second, escapism and also comfort. There's a lot of pressure at that age and it's not been the easiest year.

You've just reminded that when I was, around that age, The Smurfs was repeated on ch 4. It would be while my younger brother was having breakfast, but I secretly quite enjoyed watching it and found it funny.

My 14yo just did a Barbie movie marathon with her sister. And she was grinning like a Cheshire Cat all the way through (until she caught me looking)

It's cute!

When I was her age I got up every day in the summer holidays to watch Playschool it was pure innocent escapism.

I may have watched Abney and Teal last week. I’m 35....

I used to watch all sorts of kids shit when I was a sixth formers. Thought it was retro, innit. 🤣

@ethelredonagoodday

I used to watch all sorts of kids shit when I was a sixth formers. Thought it was retro, innit. 🤣

Sixth former...

I'm 36 and sometimes watch Fraggle Rock on YouTube or read Roald Dahl books as I find them nostalgic and comforting. When I was in my late teens I started work at 6am and used to put The Hoobs on daily while I got ready. I wouldn't overthink it OP, unless there are any other concerning behaviours alongside.

@SecretOfChange

I would be suspicious too. What are her current interests? Is she on social media? Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest? Any public posts? I'd be checking for goth and nazi themes. Anime and goth often go hand in hand. If you ask directly you probably won't get far so I wouldn't. I would keep an eye more closely on what's going on in her life, what she's watching, who she's mixing with etc. Stay positive, non-judgemental and supportive. Just going back to childhood memories is rather unlikely in my view, I've never seen a teenager do that!

Seriously? You’d be suspicious? OP, the MLP universe comes with sunshine and rainbows and happiness. If a 15 yo is using that to cope with the s*storm that is 2020 I’d say let her, or him, get on with it.

@SecretOfChange is this a wind up?

@sharonruth1982 how would you feel if she watched Disney films and bought Disney themed items? They’re cartoon “kid” films too.

Goths and nazis 😂🤣 I'm 31 and I still enjoy watching TV shows that are aimed at kids so I wouldn't worry OP.

there is a dark side to MLP but I doubt its in the film etc but be careful what you google!

There’s nothing wrong with cartoons as any age?! I’m 28 and currently watching Castlevania...

Was also a teenage goth and am now a successful adult.

This thread is wild.

I used to watch Barney the dinosaur when I was about 16. Vividly remember getting up early on a Saturday to watch it!
Just comforting I think

Massively overthinking it!

Also, what's wrong with goths?
And... I watched Chorlton and the Wheelies the other day and I've got 4 tinkerbell films I'm working my way through this week.
And..... My little pony is ace, it teaches friendship and stuff and that Applejack pony is well entertaining. I like the Apple ones, they're like the Beverly hillbillies with tails 😂

MLP has a huge adult fan base.

There’s nothing goth or Nazi about NLP. (And nothing Nazi about goths!!). Unfortunately people with far-right/Neo Nazi views are everywhere online and in any very large fandom might coincidentally have some crossover with far right wingers. You could say the same about MN or any forum that attracts a large number of people.

I used to enjoy some Saturday morning kids TV when I was that age. I vividly remember getting very invested in an episode of the Gummi Bears and being annoyed I had to miss the second half.

I also enjoyed typical teenage pastimes like underage drinking in the park, getting stoned, chasing boys and lying about my whereabouts. I seem to have turned out fine

I really wouldnt worry. I think a lot of teens go through a watching childrens programmes phase

Plus a lot of childrens films/books etc are actually just a good story. Adults stuff can get quite samey, sometimes you just want something fun and light where you dont have to think

My partner and I started watching it with our DD and it’s actually really good, we’re quite into it now!

On the recent thread about CBBC's new Malory Towers, I think most of the MNers were enjoying it more than their DC were.

As long as she's just enjoying the programmes, and not any odd online fanfic about them I think it's fine. But then, I was really struggling to sleep early in lockdown, and I ended up watching The Clangers (the voiceover is very soothing), so I probably would say that!

Sometimes I put Jeremy Vine on In the mornings and end up watching Sunny Bunnies. I’m an adult.

Also, if I could watch some of my old kids shows again then I would, indulge myself a bit (like Trapdoor). Maybe it’s just light relief. She’s only 15.