Well A. Kids aren't stupid. That's all I'm going to say on that because I feel rather insulted right now.
Yes, which is why I find it inappropriate for my kid. I don't need for him to have this topic shoved in his face even if he 'knows' about it, because I think he deserves to continue to just be a kid with all the innocence that comes with that.
Again, exactly why I don't feel it to be appropriate for my kid. He shouldn't have to think about stuff like that.
Again I kind of feel like you're talking down to both me and my kid right now. Of course he understands it, he's not dumb, kids understand far more than we give them credit for.
I grew up in perhaps one of the most unsheltered homes ever and for me, I don't shelter a lot, but when it comes to certain things yes I do because I want to protect my child from growing up too fast which I myself did. Kids should get to be kids and if that means holding off on watching shows like Angel for a few years then I don't think that's unreasonable because it was never meant for kids at all.
So yes, Smile Time is hilarious for me as a grown up, but over-protective though it may be I will not let my kid watch it yet because no, he's not stupid and the undertones that make me uncomfortable will not pass him by.
I totally, totally agree with you. My oldest daughter is incredibly smart, and she's very mature for her age. My husband and I have worked hard to show her what is right and wrong, and she's now at the age where I'm beginning to explain in more detail why certain parts of her body are off limits for anyone else to see/touch. As someone who was sexually molested as a child, I was
disgusted that the "Angel" writers would use a subject as touchy and emotional as that and try to make it funny. Sexual abuse is never funny, and it's CLEAR in the moment when the puppet is telling the child "Touch it!" and then moaning as he puts his hands on the TV that it represents the child touching his private parts, which is sick and twisted.
Just to see if Zoà« is right, I asked my 8-year-old why she thinks I won't let her watch "Smile Time" anymore. She said "Well because the puppets are making the little boy do dirty stuff, right?" I have NEVER ever said out loud to her why I don't like the episode, yet she still knew. The thing about kids, though, is that they are more likely to try to forget about stuff they don't like and repress it. Which is why people like me, who have been through something as traumatic as molestation, will wake up years later having nightmares about their experiences. And even though I know it's just a show, and yes, it's a freakin' puppet, I don't want her watching it.
Maybe this makes me a rigid parent in some people's eyes, but I notice most people who claim that we're being uptight don't have kids of their own yet. So when you have your own children, maybe your opinion will change. but I can tell you that if I had seen this before I had my kids, I
still would have been bothered by the dirtiness of the episode. Maybe it's because of my past, or maybe it's because of my upbringing and morals, but I don't think issues like sexual abuse should ever be made light of the way the "Angel" writers did.
