More on Crack for Preschoolers
Kris - you absolutely cracked me up with your last post. You are so dead-on, and it's so sad.
So most any childrens' video I've ever seen has the pre-show trailer that advertizes toys and TV shows that "your kids will love." In other words, "Thanks for buying this video. To show our gratitude, here's other crap that we'll tell your child they need to pester you about." In your case, it was ax-sess-or-ies, and the famed Princess Party. I mean, you can't have such an event without Princess Party-brand napkins, napkin holders, placemats, tea cups, saucers, fine china, silver, table clothes, and fully catered by the Prince Party Catering Company, a division of Matel.
Obviously, I've not seen any of these Princess Party videos, mainly because I'm doing homework all the live long day. However, if I had some free time to spare, I'd surely be staying up late watching the collectors' edition of this fine cinemagraphic series. So you say Jasmine's boy is being stolen away by an evil mermaid? What's a girl to do? Well I'll tell you what: she better go plan a tea party and consult with her other princess friends to understand what is wrong with her. Maybe she's just a bad person? I'm sure that's it. Now go change your personality and win that boy back! I mean, he's got a magic carpet, right? Nine out of ten princesses agree that boyfriends with magic carpets are worth fighting evil mermaids for. This is all very useful information that kids will glean from this story. How could you be against her watching this essential documentary on life and values, Kris?
I think somebody needs a Princess Party...
posted by Caleb G. @ 11:50 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
YES! Can't you just see me in a pink princess party dress, surrounded by glowing 3 year-old princesses, leading "Jasmine Says"?
I usually fast-forward through the ads when I watch a video with her . . . this time I hit the wrong button. You can't isolate them from the world- I think lots of times we take things too far to shelter our kids, too. (I heard Cookie Monster only eats veggies now? -that's taking it a bit far) They have beetter judgement than we give them credit for, sometimes.
There must be a balance somewhere. I kept telling myslef that so long as the adults around Olivia serve as better role models than Jasmine, it'll all even out eventually.
You know, I'm trying to imagine you in a pretty pink princess party dress, maybe with a magic wand with a sparkly star on the end of it as you tap each fellow princess lightly on the head.
....yeah, I don't see it. :)
It just bothers me how they market to kids, like in the videos. Nope, you can't watch the movie you paid money for until you watch all these commercials for toys. I remember back when VCR's first came out. One of the benefits was NO COMMERCIALS. And here we are, fast forwarding through commercials on our videos or DVD's before the movie actually starts.
Simiarly, HEB (and Wegmans, if I remember correctly) have "No Candy Lanes" for checkout. This is the lane that all good parents should use when wielding kids. "There's no candy in THIS lane, parents! Use this lane and save your kids' teeth!" Ahhh....but what awaits bored, irritable, and tired-of-grocery-shopping kids? TOYS! COLORING BOOKS! PLASTIC CRAP THAT IS PRONE TO BREAKING BEFORE YOU CAN POP YOUR TAILGATE! And how about that - they're all at the ground floor, at the same height as....most children. What a coincidence! Yeah, no candy lane. How about the GimmeGimmeIWantThat lane. Thanks for the good times, Wegmans.
Next time you go to the store, make a note at whose eye level they place the sugary cereals and the kiddie marketed cookies- they're not at yours.
In the end, I guess it'll always be Mom and Dad's job to say 'no.' Can't get out of it. Resisting temptation is a difficult thing to learn- especially when there is a Moderately Sized Chocolate Treat in front of you. (or an ice cream cone, mmmmm . . . or cocoa covered almonds, yes! those are yummy).
Perhaps I should be taking you guys to the stores with me. :S This stuff isn't even placed at my eye-level!
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