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Tuning out TV commercials for children
My four-year-old son is a walking commercial.
My husband and I recently decided that it was OK for him to watch a few cartoons that were previously off limits – SpiderMan, Ben 10, Phineas and Ferb. He’s enjoying the more sophisticated dialogue (Albeit the occasional “stupid” reference, which we have explained is a “bad word.”)
The real problem is the commercials. These new shows are riddled with ads, and my son just eats them up.
In the past week, here are a few of the exchanges my son and I have had:
“Mom, look! Bendaroos! I want those,” he explains to me with the excitement of opening a Christmas gift. “If you buy one, you get another free!”
Ouch.
Last night, my son asked me to take off my sweatshirt, suggesting instead that I use a blanket to stay warm. I explained to him that blankets aren’t as practical because you can’t wear them around the house the way you wear a sweatshirt. It’ll just slide off my arms.
“You can buy a snuggie. Right, Mom?” he said, completely oblivious that he sounded like a pitchman for As Seen on TV products. “That’s a good idea.”
Oh, no.
The icing on the cake came at bedtime, when my son squeezed in a few more minutes of playtime with his Bionicles (which are a new line of Lego toys).
“New, from Bionicles,” he said as he lay them down next to his bed.
That’s it. From now on we are going to Tivo the shows and fast forward through the commercials.
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Comments
It must be an age thing (or the fact that, at this age, we are now letting them watch new shows), but my four year old daughter is the same way! Apparently we need Aqua Globes (a system for watering plants), my response being "Do you see any live plants around this house?" I thin she has her sights on Bendaroos also.
The other thing is computer websites for these shows. My daughter mastered Disney Playhouse website a while back no problems. But recently I've let her try Nick Jr. and I loath it because she's constantly ending up on advertising outside the site.
I know Disney is one big advertisement, but at least at the Disney site she doesn't end up on Tyson Chicken or life insurance websites.
Anne, this is just the first step introducing them to the big wide world!
Posted by: Erin | January 20, 2009 2:06 PM
You are so right, Erin. And, who knows, maybe our kids will have a career in marketing. They could do worse!
Posted by: anne | January 20, 2009 4:06 PM
How about being able to tune out (all) commercials for adults as well!!!
Posted by: Chuck | January 20, 2009 4:40 PM
If you watch Phineas and Ferb on Disney Channel, rather than Toon Disney there are no commercials in any real sense. No products are being hawked, just promotion for other Disney Channel shows. Toon Disney on the other hand is chock full of commercials. I'd also like to note that Phineas and Ferb almost never say the word "stupid."
Posted by: Dan Povenmire | January 20, 2009 11:01 PM