Kids.

[yendi]

So, Elayna, who, for those not aware, is a second-grader, calls me in to tell me that she's won the computer game that she'd been playing since Saturday. The game? ClueFinders Fourth Grade Adventures.

Later, she let me know that she finished one of the books she's reading (Runaway Ralph). So I let her have some more tv time.

She promptly proceeds to choose Dora the Explorer.

Sigh.

I informed her that a few words of Spanish does not change the fact that the show is aimed at three-year-olds.

Comments

[sage-and-sea.livejournal.com]

If it's any consolation at all, look at the number of very intelligent people out there who watch Reality Television, even if it is just to snark about it.

She is (and by Parenting Proxy, you are) doing great.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Oy. *sigh* Well, at least her books and computer games are at a good level...

I try to steer her away from Dora and anything else geared toward preschoolers, personally, emphatically suggesting non-stupid options. But if you've already told her yes, no biggie. Sounds like she's been doing some good brainpowery stuff today.

[tanaise.livejournal.com]

Eh. Big deal. I watch Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh. :) If she likes it, let her watch it. It's not like it's going to suddenly cause her to revert back to being a three year old. And if she's going to watch stuff which isn't age appropriate, you'll run into fewer problems with her watching something too young than if she's watching stuff that's too old for her.

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was going to say, everyone deserves a brain-break occasionally. Otherwise, you'll do that thing where learning=no fun.

My challenge as an adult is to throw in the occasional non-brain-break activity. :)

[fiddledragon]

Kritter does the same thing. She loves Rollie Pollie Ollie or whatever it is - and Stanley. I think it's to let off steam or something. At school she's running at such a high level, lots of extra-curricular type academic stuff (WordMasters, Continental Math, Destination Imagination) in addition to her violin and ballet classes. She reads at the 5th and 6th grade level with full comprehension. And yet - she prefers the preschooler oriented tv shows. But then I'd rather let her watch that which is somewhat educational - even if below her level - than PowerPuff Girls, or something on the standard network stations. Of course, I'll let her watch cartoons on disney channel or something. She doesn't watch that much TV as it is, so at that point, I guess I really don't care unless it's one of my "button" shows. You know, the shows that truly make me squirm - like The Wiggles, or PowerPuff Girls, or something like that.

I do the same thing - high powered brain activity at work, so what do I want to do at home? Watch something brainless. Watch eye candy. Do something less than brain intensive.

Too bad Buffy comes on while children are up and there are no other Buffy fans in the house - 'cuz I'd DEFINITELY be watching it. It was my favorite eye candy show when I could catch it!

[branwynelf.livejournal.com]

Sweets, so long as she's challenging herself most of the time, don't be disappointed when she chooses to dumb it down from time to time. In fact, I'd see it as a sign of normalcy - that she's not feeling overwhelmed with pressures to out-do herself all the time in order to get approval or kudos. 'Sides, we all do it - reading books that don't challenge our brain, or watching brainless movies with mostly high-school humour prats/jokes, or whatever - even if we know ourselves to be "brighter than that" most of the time, eh?

She'll outgrow Dora in good time ... and will move on to being a teenager who watches Sesame Street on her days home from school. ;)

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry about it at all, for the reasons everyone else already gave here.

But it's Dora. As an aside, I loathe Dora. Because she unnerves me. She blinks at me all the time and tries to read my mind. I know that's what she's doing, beucase sometimes she succeeds in sending me telepathic messages. Her Imperial Toddler Majesty likes Dora, though...so I reckon I just have to listen to Dora. Obey Dora. Dora me ama....Especialmente cuando ella diga: &161Escuche a mis mensajes, esclava!

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

Ah, screw it, I can't get my tags working right.

[yendi]

That's why you need Tivo! :-)

But yeah, you and everyone else posting are right -- it's not like a brain break is a bad thing.

[yendi]

*shudder* Right now, I'm very glad I missed Elayna's Twos. :-)

Re:

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

There's a reason they're called terrible...

[fiddledragon]

Ah to have a Tivo......

It's quasi on The List of things to get When We Have Money Again. Quasi, becuase none of us are sure that we want to tie ourselves to another monthly service - apparently there's something else out that is essentially tivo without the service...

Our Family Gift for this past Christmas was one of the following: Tivo, wireless networking, digital camera, I think there was something else...We opted for the wireless networking to support our tv & computer & RPG habits *laugh*. The digital camera came courtesy of a surprise windfall which had been stipulated to not pay bills with....so who knows on the Tivo :)

[crowyhead.livejournal.com]

Dora makes me twitch. But to be honest, I'll happily plunk down in front of "Reading Between the Lions" any time I've got a minute and it's on.

[skylion.livejournal.com]

I know I'm not there, so I don't know the whole scence. But this ain't that bad a thing. All of us slum it a little bit. Sides, it might not be the age-level of the show. She just may like Swiper. I do.

[tarpo.livejournal.com]

Some people think Comic books are for kids too.. She IS a kid.. no need to challenge herself 24/7.. If you could only watch shows that were appropriate for your age most of us here would be screwed.. I don't know about you.. but if someone told me I couldn't watch cartoons because they are for kids i'm punk their asses out ;}