Toddler

Cartoons Don't Turn Kids Into Brats, Parents Do

by Julie Ryan Evans January 10, 2012 at 8:58 PM

Peppa Pig

Move over SpongeBob, it seems there's a new cartoon villain in town. Her name is Peppa Pig, and she's causing quite a stink with parents.

Personally, I'm no fan of the cartoon. Pigs with a British accent are pretty cute, but all that snorting drives me mad. Other parents have much bigger issues with the porky little cartoon character, however, and claim she and her cheeky little ways are driving droves of toddlers to act like brats.

Parents say they're banning the show, because their toddlers simply can't behave after watching Peppa. The Telegraph reports that from sassy backtalk to their parents to splashing in mud puddles, this pig is promoting some piggish behavior. Because clearly no toddler would ever jump in a puddle or speak with anything less than respect to an adult if they didn't see a pig do it first, right?

Hogwash.

One father told the paper:

George Pig, who my son loves, says 'Yuck' at vegetables and only wants to eat chocolate cake. A day after watching that episode, my son wouldn't eat his cucumber and tomatoes.

Let's roast the pig!

I certainly have shows I don't let my children watch. SpongeBob is a good example, because I find that guy creepier than hell. But I don't think he's powerful enough to overcome the parenting lessons I try to instill in them the rest of the 23 and half hours a day when they're not watching him. IF I do let them watch it on occasion (only at an Embassy Suites Hotel -- long story), then I watch with them and we talk about why that kind of behavior isn't nice.

I'm all for parents denying their children any program -- all programs for that matter -- if that's what they think is best for their family. I just don't think that Peppa Pig should be blamed for terrible toddler behavior. Parents should.

Our kids are going to be subjected to all sorts of "bad influences" throughout their lives, many of which we won't be able to control. If it's not Peppa, it's going to be that brat in their Little Gym class, and so on. So I think it's best if we get used to the idea now that our parenting needs to be more powerful than any outside messages and stop passing the blame onto cute little pigs or anyone else.

Do you let your kids watch Peppa Pig? Do you notice any bad behavior because of it?

Image via eonefamily/YouTube

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

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Comments 21

Nonmember comment from TJ

January 11, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Peppa is the new villain? Laughable. My daughter LOVES Peppa and so do I. The piggies and other characters on the show act like normal children and tend to overcome their difficulties by the end of each episode. The parents are patient and loving towards the children AND towards each other. My daughter likes jumping in puddles, too, EMom! Went to the park yesterday and found quite a few from all the melting snow. Should I assume she doesn't have a brain in her head and needs a cartoon to show her how fun it is to jump in puddles? Now, Max and Ruby is a whole other story. No parents, a grandmother that shows up in some episodes, and Ruby with her type A personality. Yet my daughter also loves Max and Ruby and I let her watch it. Even bought her a few DVDs. Good lesson for your child to learn that we all have acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and that some should be emulated and which should be shunned. BTW, George does not only want to eat chocolate cake, he is shown eating spaghetti, pizza, carrots, and with a bit of convincing, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce, and of course ice-cream (no convincing there!).

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Nonmember comment from Shannon

January 11, 2012 at 8:51 AM

One of my best friends in high school once told my little sister (in elementary school at the time), "You sound like you're on TV." And she really did. She quoted her favorite shows and imitated the characters, and it was not cute. I taught kindergarten for a few years, and I saw the same thing in the young kids at school. When we were kids, cartoons were not full of the mean-spirited, sarcastic things that even some preschool shows have now. There were shows where kids talked back to their parents and adults were shown as dumb and clueless, but they were on at night and we didn't watch that much of it. Now that kind of thing is on Nickelodeon and Disney. It's a parent's job to tell their kids that behavior isn't acceptable, and all kids get snotty and rude as they get older, but it seems to me it starts earlier now, and I think too much of the wrong kind of TV is helping that.

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Nonmember comment from Cassandra

January 11, 2012 at 10:04 AM

I'm shocked! We love Peppa Pig in our household...it's one of the few shows that makes my 3 yr old laugh out loud. I've never noticed any subsequent "bad behavior"...only piggie noises. ;D

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outtame

January 11, 2012 at 10:29 AM

I for one have no issue with Peppa Pig. We are big fans of Yo Gabba Gabba here, which I think teaches some really good lessons. I personally cannot abide by Caillou (the whining) - anf frankly, I think Dora has a hearing problem. The child YELLS everything she says.

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cjsmami29

January 11, 2012 at 12:16 PM

I agree with jpfsmom i CANT STAND olivia..i cringe when the music even comes on

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Nonmember comment from Brad hunter

January 11, 2012 at 2:36 PM

OK seriously. Peppa pig is a great cartoon. Children for generations have been playin in the mudd and puddles of water. Peppa pig has only been on tv for a short period of time parents. If u wanna slander a cartoon try watchin the " regular show" or " the adventures of fin and jake". I saw those shows and looked at my wife and said "the are u kiddin me" as i walked and turned the channel. Peppa pig , in my belief promotes emagination growth. For the person who slandered peppa pig, GET A GRIP.

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jessicasmom1

January 13, 2012 at 12:37 PM

Team Sponge Bob Here too...

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AlynLydia

January 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM

Peppa Pig is adorable! My fiance worries more about Olivia and her super ego than Peppa pointing out "how big daddy pig is."

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fluffnera

January 15, 2012 at 1:28 AM

Never seen this cartoon but I cannot stand Caillou because of how whiny he is. That said, my kids love love love Spongebob, as do I. I think it's a cop out to say cartoons are teaching our kids bad habits. My kids love the episode of Spongebob when he figures out cussing but you don't see my son cussing up a storm.

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ManiTheCat

February 8, 2012 at 6:28 PM

We are definately a Sponge Bob family. I have my favorite episodes and my children (8 and 9 years old) loved watching Sponge Bob when they were toddlers. I think the entire cartoon is absolutely a riot to watch. I would blame bad behavior on how the child is being raised in this case and not by watching a kids show. I do think the Teletubbies were very strange along with the BOO-BAHS. My kids loved them also so. I cannot stand Barnie!!! LOL

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