New Mom: Public Enemy Number One – Elmo!
Let me be crystal clear about one thing. ELMO. I HATE him. New Girl doesn’t watch TV, expect for on a few occasion when she is sick. She’s never seen Sesame Street or Elmo’s World, or anything of the like. But three months ago we went to one birthday party that had an inflatable Elmo, and it was like crack for babies. She couldn’t stop staring and saying his name. Now she has noticed (as have I), all of a sudden, that Elmo is on her diapers, her band-aid from the doctor, her friend’s mother’s key chain. She even noticed the Elmo books that had been a gift at a baby shower and which I thought I had tossed aside. She wants me to read them to her every night.
Part of my problem is the simple fact that she has developed a completely unnatural attraction to something that has never done anything for her. He never spoke to her, did any tricks, or cuddled her in a time of need. Just standing there at a birthday party was enough to get her hooked. My other big problem is that this character created for supposedly non-commercial public television, which I had always believed was at least committed to the best interest of children and education, is the biggest commercial force there is. You have to actually go out of your way to buy diapers, band-aids, sippy cups, birthday decorations, and the like, WITHOUT Elmo on them. And the books are the antithesis of educational material. They are everything an early educator would warn you about, with no rhyme, no rhythm, no story, terrible illustrations — and they are, in fact, just an ad for more Sesame Street characters.
I know I could switch diaper brands, ask the pediatrician for plain bandages, and throw away the books, but New Girl, whose diaper’s have never leaked, who doesn’t cry when she gets her shots, and who loves the bus on page 6 of Elmo’s Guessing Game About Colors, hasn’t done anything wrong in loving the red fuzzy guy. So I ask, what’s a parent to do?
RSS
2 comments:
Children just have strong attractions to certain things or characters. As a mom of 4 grown children and a former Parent Educator, I would not make an issue of the Elmo attraction. (all of my kids loved Elmo :)) Have fun with as much of it as you can tolerate and appreciate her interest and use it for her benefit. There will be many things bigger than this to worry about so in general I would try to take a more laid back approach to this kind of thing. There will be wonderful things to share with your child and you will have more fun and feel much less stress if you set this kind of thing aside.
Good luck!
Have you ever watched Elmo? Have you ever watched Sesame Street? VERY EDUCATIONAL! As a matter of fact Elmo does talk to the kids. He has an upbeat voice and is very warm and fuzzy. You must remember that these are children. In addition to learning their ABC's and 123's, most parents would agree it doesn't always have to be work, play is just as important. Why not let her idolize a character who TEACHES!!!!? These programs teach letters and numbers and in many languages. I am friends with many College Professors, many early educational teachers...no one ever said that Sesame Street or ELMO was bad education. I would reccomend checking out your sources. As any pediatrician and they will back up Educational Programs, just like Sesame Street. I grew up on it, my spouse grew up on it, our siblings grew up on it, so our will our children. If a program is so BAD for kids and their development, then why would the FCC allow them to be on for almost 5 decades???? Maybe your resolve would be to shut the TV off and spend time doing other activities such as nature walks, or a day at the park, or beach. Today, its an ELMO phase...tomorrow, it will be something else.
Post a Comment