Kid's Movies - Waste of Money?

[Kris10Leigh]

Pearl, you have no idea! My children truly never see a commercial, unless they are just being lazy after they watch a show and they don't turn it off right away. Then all I hear about is whatever rediculous commerical has just been shown. My two boys are even pursuaded to buy "My Little Pony" and other girlie things. It is so funny...and sad. The advertisements are so good it makes them want things they don't even want!! And just how many sugar cereals are there right now?! It's insane!

DH and I also never see commercials anymore, and when we do, it's actually entertaining. Some commercials are actually funny and we appreciate them more when we see them only once in a blue moon. As we flip through commericials, ocassionally one will catch our eye and we stop to watch it. I laugh and laugh at the Citibank identity theft ones! They're so funny!

[kealina]

Originally Posted by shelbylovesmelby

I agree! I dislike like this trend alot! What happened to letting kids be kids?? I thought I grew up too fast the generations since are wearing things I would of worn in HS in GS & I'm only 30!

i'm only 24! and i'm disturbed... sometimes i wonder what their parents are thinking allowing them to dress like that...
of course, i was fairly conservative compared to some of my peers too... my parents are old-fashioned and it does rub off...

[tabbycat31]

I am 26 and appaled at the loss of childhood. I read an article a few years ago that said the toy industry is declining because the 8-12 set dosen't want toys anymore, they want fancy electronic items (digital cameras, ipods, cellphones, etc) that their parents and older siblings had.

I played with Barbies as a teenager.

And if I was a parent, I would never think of dressing my daughter to be a child porn star. And writing on the rear is just tacky./

^ Thank god my sister isn't like that... She still likes toys and animal dolls...

[PauletteGoddard]

At a screening of "Curious George," I was surprised to learn that my son, among his pals, had seen the most films. It was his first time at a mainstream theatre, we'd taken him to IMAX, and independent art houses for retro flicks and silent comedies, so he was unprepared for the fifteen minute onslaught of B-movie trailers and commercials... he shouted "THIS IS BORING" as the commercials played.

I love my child.

[Mathew Green]

Originally Posted by Kris10Leigh

My children truly never see a commercial, unless they are just being lazy after they watch a show and they don't turn it off right away. Then all I hear about is whatever rediculous commerical has just been shown. My two boys are even pursuaded to buy "My Little Pony" and other girlie things. It is so funny...and sad. The advertisements are so good it makes them want things they don't even want!!

And if they are never exposed to commercials, how are they going to learn that commercials lie and all those people just want their/your money?

I'm not suggesting being reckless, but a certain amount of controled exposure followed by an age-appropriate reality check will do wonders in the logical-thinking department. Something as simple as taking note of what commercials they've seen, and when you're in a store letting them see the real toy and saying (as innocently as you can) "This isn't as ______ as it looks in the commercial, is it? And it doesn't ______ or ______, it just stands there. Is it really any different from the ______s you already have?" Of course you have to adjust that for your own specific kids, but you get the drift: Brainwash them to look at all commercials as selling tools, before the mass media has a chance to brainwash them into believing commercials are unbiased information.

[dragonfly]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I occassionally like to take the kids for a day out at the movies. But, I am getting tired of the Disney shtick where burping, farting, etc take the place of any real humor. There are still some very good movies made such as Toy Story, Nemo, but they are getting fewer and further. Just my rant for today!

Not at all.... sometime kids movie teach kids many things which we can't teach them. There are lots of informative kids movie related to science and technology which educate not only kids but also adults. Don't compare money with knowledge.

[abowers]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Personally, I find going to the theater at all a waste of money and time. I need to get there 30 minutes early to get a decent seat, buy some grossly overpriced snacks, then have the "show" start on time only to have the first 15-20 minutes be commercials and previews. Once the movie starts, I have to deal with deafening sound levels, other people talking, the back of my seat getting kicked, people talking on cell phones, etc.

When we go to the theater, we eat before we go, we wait til after the first couple weeks the movie has been out so we don't have problems getting a ticket or a decent seat, and it's not so crowded that people are talking and kicking our seats. And we show up 10 min after the movie "starts" to skip out on some of the previews. We go to matinee shows or we use our grad student id's to get the student rate ticket.

But I like Netflix too. We just find ways to make it less painful when we actually do go to the theater.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by Mathew Green

And if they are never exposed to commercials, how are they going to learn that commercials lie and all those people just want their/your money?

That's a valid point. I personally suport censoring commercials like I support not taking your 7 year old to R-rated movies.

Kids should be exposed to commercials, but preferrably only when they're old enough to understand them in context and to view them with a critical eye. At a certain age they're simply not capable of that kind of thought--their brains are working on other things at the time.

But once they get old enough for critical thinking (late grade school-ish) it would be good for parents to sit down and watch TV, commercials and all, with kids and discuss the messages being broadcast. It's a very valuable lesson for parents to teach!

[Mathew Green]

Originally Posted by pearlieq

Kids should be exposed to commercials, but preferrably only when they're old enough to understand them in context and to view them with a critical eye. At a certain age they're simply not capable of that kind of thought--their brains are working on other things at the time.

But once they get old enough for critical thinking (late grade school-ish) it would be good for parents to sit down and watch TV, commercials and all, with kids and discuss the messages being broadcast. It's a very valuable lesson for parents to teach!

Late grade-schoolish? Methinks thou art underestimating thy children.

IMHO, which is only MHO, any child that is old enough to read, do math, eat lunch in the school cafeteria, and understand that running into the street is dangerous is old enough to be taught that not everything they see is true and not everybody who acts friendly is really their friend. It's sad that we need to do that, but it is the real world we live in.

So, I respectfully disagree and suggest 6-7yo as a reasonable age to begin teaching the basics of critical/logical thinking, if not sooner. I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed while I was growing up, but I was taught the basics bit by bit as soon as I could comprehend them, and by the time I was 12yo (6th grade) I was perfectly comfortable doing most of our family's grocery shopping by myself with just a basic grocery list.

Originally Posted by pearlieq

I personally support censoring commercials like I support not taking your 7 year old to R-rated movies.

I believe critical-thinking lessons that involve commercials are just an extension of other basic-logic lessons like, "the more a person tries to carry all at once, the more likely they are to drop something."

The limited exposure to comercials and other ads that I'm talking about is something that should happen naturally, the same way other safety lessons are taught, with the parent as teacher/guide providing limited exposure that's well within safe limits, asking questions to assess understanding, and providing information when appropriate to stimulate thinking.

To use your analogy: it's the same as answering questions truthfully but with limited detail when your kid discovers the underwear section of a mail-order catalog. There's a world of difference between that, and taking them to an R-rated movie.

Happy parenting. At least we both have the comfort of knowing that there are no perfect solutions; only reasonable responses to common situations.

[PrincessPerky]

Ditto Greens statement, the US in general underestemates children, while I do not recomend all out comercial freedom, I do feel that limited comercials are good, the other day DS said something about an ad (not sure if it was print or video) and I pointed out it doesn't actually do that (fly maybe?) and we agreed it was sillly for them to depivct it that way..while I could tell from his expression he didn't believe me, planting the seed is better than ignoring it...

[cschin4]

Parents can't always "sit and watch" everything that is going past their child's brain. My kids see these movies at daycare, friend's homes, etc. There is no getting around it even when we don't go to see them, don't watch them at home, etc. Society used to make an effort to "protect children".
There was and is no reason in the world to sexualize Cat in the Hat. And, I do read reviews before I go see anything. But, I find it completely disgusting that this garbage is even there in the first place.
Now, even Burger King, McD's etc are selling Happy Meals based on the characters of PG-13 movies. Many parents are trying very hard to stop the tide but it seems to be a losing battle when the media is intent on destroying childhood.

[Mathew Green]

This thread reminded me of a cute Statler Brothers song popular in 1973: 'Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott'. I'm LOL hearing this song again after all these years. We had no idea how bad things were going to get, did we?

Partial Lyrics:

Everybody knows when you go to the show
You can't take the kids along
You've gotta read the paper and know the code
of G, PG and R and X

And you gotta know what the movie's about
Before you even go
Tex Ritter's gone and Disney's dead
And the screen is filled with sex.

Song lyrics and photos of the movie stars mentioned in the song:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/singingman777/WH.htm

MP3 of 'Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott':
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/singin...WHRandolph.mp3

[Kris10Leigh]

Matthew, I used to love that group! I am now singing the song in my head, thanks alot!

Just to be clear, our house is not a commercial free zone. I don't purposely keep them from seeing commercials. Anyone with DVR understands that part of the joy is getting to skip the commercials. Sometimes, like Mom and Dad, the kids actually watch the commercials on purpose because they are amusing. I of course take those opportunities to teach. But I still feel fortunate not to be inundated with them.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by cschin4

Parents can't always "sit and watch" everything that is going past their child's brain. My kids see these movies at daycare, friend's homes, etc. There is no getting around it even when we don't go to see them, don't watch them at home, etc. Society used to make an effort to "protect children".
There was and is no reason in the world to sexualize Cat in the Hat. And, I do read reviews before I go see anything. But, I find it completely disgusting that this garbage is even there in the first place.
Now, even Burger King, McD's etc are selling Happy Meals based on the characters of PG-13 movies. Many parents are trying very hard to stop the tide but it seems to be a losing battle when the media is intent on destroying childhood.

I can sit and watch, my kids are not in daycare, I know what church is planning on showing before I leave them (ok so far nothing yet, but I would know if they planned it) and friend wise, if I wanted my kid plopped in front of a TV, I could do that myself, so I discourage in general all TV watching at others houses...not that that makes it zero, but that it reduces it, and oddly enough I am the least censored parent I know, my kids have all seen starwars (yes all 6) I don't mind that, it is all fake, we also watched the 'making ofs' and talked about the cool 'blue boots' (to make it look like he had no legs)

Society may or may not be any worse these days, but I certainly do not have to play their game, I can outlaw TV in my house (or just limit it) I can ban movies (or watch with) I DO have a LOT of control over my kids, because I am here with them, and will continue to be for quite some time...when they are old enough to notice the messages I am pointing out then I will relax on friends houses..untill then, not gonna drop em off just anywhere, for any length of time.

You might feel alone (try being a breastfeeding, homeschooling, starwars/game loving, Christian, with no jumper, sometime!) but you can still stand up for what you believe in, and insist that your children do the same....and skip the places that don't like it.

When McDees offers a kids meal say no, skip the store, or buy a regular burger...tell em why if you like, nicely of course! When your kids friends watch a movie tell em why you don't like it, next time ask first, nicely of course, when your church offers the cat in the hat for the nursery, nicely explain you will need to keep your kids with you. When your local school thinks the last day before vacation is prime time to watch the new 'how the grinch stole christmas', politly tell them your kid will be home decorating with you....feel free to extend that after the vacation as well

You will hear that you are being silly, you will hear you are doing it wrong, you will hear complaints, you will find a movie snuck in under your rader, talk about it with the kids, IMO politly laugh at yourself for being so different, but stand your ground.....

[LuxLiving]

I did the same too Princess Perky - all without the jumper!! How funny!