I Hate That My Kids Hate 'Dora the Explorer'

Indulging in abusive language or describing abusive behavior towards the younger and helpless and laughing about it is inappropriate. It tells your children it's okay to be a bully. Sam, who is 14, is really mature and astute. (I only recently read about the early onset of puberty in our nation's children.) My kids are 12, 9 and 4. The 4 year-old loves Dora, the older kids dislike her. But I put an end to their abusive chatter -- it may seem "harmless" but what comes out of one's mouth has the power to hurt, and to instigate harm; controlling one's tongue is the first step in self control. Whenever the kids rag on her I remind them of their own attachment to shows or characters.

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I agree with you. My husband worked in HomeDePot for almost 7 years. They let him go. I had a baby girl June 30th. Since my husband is out of a job, the state has my daughter. They want my husband to get a job not to live at my father's house.
He can't even get a job cause they are hiring these Mexican and South Americans ILLegals. If I had my daughter back, I do not want her to learn Spanish. But yet these Illegals are having like 6 kids.

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Martha,

Sadly other people like you really do believe that garbage. Perhaps the saddest part is that those children, the ones you refer to in a derogatory manner, and their parents are worth more and have more right to be in the United States than someone like you.

I would welcome an illegal immigrant over an ignorant, narrow-minded person like yourself any day.

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Ok, let's not blow this out of proportion people.

This is coming from the POV of a soon-to-be fifteen year old, which I'm sure will make many of you discount this comment. That is, if your still reading. To those of you who are, congratulations, your more daring than most adults.

The main problem with this "complaint" is its validity. Sure, there are many children of many different ages who either like or dislike Dora. I'll be totally honest: when i was younger, I did enjoy the show. Now, I consider it to be wretched.

However, the point many of you are either missing or choosing to ignore or hasn't been brought to your attention is this: the children who dislike her, dislike her because it she become INVALID to THEM. They no longer need a small animated figure to help them make all their decisions, and "teach" them. They are now ready to graduate on to more interesting shows with more detail, or perhaps funnier or more dramtic. Of course, if they grow up like most of the children in my generation, they will unfortunately been sucked into the wretched world of pop music and pop culture, which in most cases is horrible. To each his own, on a level. If you enjoy mindless crap, you should be left to enjoy your mindless crap, I suppose.

Also, I'd like to adress the remark about Spongebob. I think this was ill-advised (perhaps the author has watched four, maybe five episodes of the show?), and should really be reconsidered. Spongebob provides some geniune comedic entertainment for children seeking something funnier than the norm. Most television shows aim towards children as if all children are stupid. The problem is, the television show's are right. The majority of children have become more and more stupid, particularly in the past 10-20 years. This is CAUSED BY THE TELEVISION SHOWS as well! When children are set in the living room to watch tv, they are generally watching shows that are "helping their learning process by providing valuable information for them in a kid-friendly environment". I hear that all the time, and it's a load of bull. I remember thinking how bogus that was, especially when that's the pitch teachers used to use at school assemblies, etc, to convince the parents that what they're doing is "good for the children".

Children don't need a "special learning environment". When you force them to learn in a little kid type way, then all of a sudden one day it's time for the real world (which does happen before you graduate highschool, despite the fact that many of you would like to deny it), it's incredibly hard for them. Now, this ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT MEAN that the transition should be made smoother. I can't stress that enough. What I'm saying is that there shouldn't have to be a transition AT ALL. If you talk to children the same way you talk to adults, and act the same way, and teach the same way, and expect them to learn the same way, you'll find that they grow to be smarter and more aware of the environment in which they live.

A prime example of this is the wonderful situation I like to call "Wine in France". As many people know, children are brought up in France to drink wine with dinner, etc, from an early age. THIS IS GOOD. They have the right idea over there. When you raise the child around this substance, and they are given the chance to try it and decide whether they like it or not, they're better off. The reason for this is that it doesn't seem forbidden. Here in the U.S., the focus is always "stop underage drinking! it's horrible!". That's because the kid's see it as a form of rebellion. They know they aren't supposed to, but they do it anyway, just to avoid the rule of their parents. However, if they were brought up around it, they would be less likely to go out and get absolutely trashed. However, I digress.

Hopefully, the few of you who actually read beyond the sentence stating my age managed to glean some good information from this and choose not to discount the whole thing. Responses are always graciously accepted:)

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There was nothing to offend her small ears, as there would be on, say, "SpongeBob"; and there was nothing to offend my adult ears, as there would be on, say, "Barney
you've never seen the dorra aqua pet

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I am 24 and mother of 3. My kids are into the Dora/Diego stage. I am so thankful that not only is it educational but helps my children love themselves. I love that the kids are cousins and visit the other once in a while.

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Kids should learn English only. This is a English country not Mexican or South American. I won't let my daughter watch Dora.
I think Scooby Doo and smurfs are the best for children to watch.

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Brooks: I bet you also watch "The Real Housewives of (fill in the city)" and all those other character-building shows with your kids.

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Brooks 24 is young to be a mother of 3. I will be 38 on Friday and I am mother of 3. You must had you first kid at 16. I didn't have my first until I was almost 27.

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Sorry I mean Brooke.

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Sounds as though she might be ready to start reading Greek mythology.
Captain Catherine Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager is a favorite of ours.
Heros come and heros go, like sign posts along side of the highway.
Life is not about the final destination, its all about the journey. Unless, of course, your a Necramonger like Kera (Jack.) But then, she wasn't always a Necramonger.
Hey, cheer up Christopher, it could be worse.

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Martha you are an ignorant person who is obviously terrified of anything or anyone different than yourself. Get your hateful self some counselling and lay off the internet harangues[Look it up because you know you don't have a clue what it means!].

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Dora wasn't out when my children were in the "target demographic" (they are now 30 & 34 years old) but I do have a 5-year old grandson (not a Dora fan) and a 2-month old granddaughter... Here's hoping she likes Dora!

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You actually have to TRY to be this ignorant. What a waste of your life.

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My girl loved Dora like the author's girl did and became nasty when she outgrew the show and she began berating younger kids who still loved Dora. Its natural... some friend's older sibbling tells them they are babies for liking certain shows and they don't want to be babies... especially once they enter the social structures of the school systems.
We reminded our girl how she loved and progressed from Elmo to Caiyou and Dora. She loved Mickey and Little Bear too. We reminded her that no one made her feel bad when she liked those shows and now that she was getting to be a big girl, she should do the same for her small cousins and friends. The problem ended right there. She seems to understand how things progress
Now the rest of the problem is in my head... I know how things progress too, but my heart does not accept it to well.
I miss that Elmo-fan toddler. I miss that babygirl singing Dora songs in my livingroom and helping Boots and Dora solve problems. I miss everything... now her training wheels sit on a bench in my garage. Those beautiful babies are growing up everyday and it wouldn't be fair for us parents to try and trap a moment... we can only savor the moments as they swiftly whirl by. So my advice to you is this... Savor the moments.

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What a stupid article. Of course kids grow up and change, why all the drama ?

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ok....Iol!! This is great!! Well I actually agree with everyone, although all your views and opinions are all different. I believe the show is....whatever you make it out to be. Everyone views things differently, starting back to when you were first introduced into this world. Think about it. If someone showed a child that something is bad, sad, or scary, then they will interpret that that way untill their understanding of it changes (when they get their own opinion of the subject after learning other concepts about the subject, thus forming his own opinion to reflect the way he/she was raised). This may seem kinda dumb...but if you really think about it, its true. Someone can look at the moon or the stars and think "another day has pasted and ive earned another dollar" while another person can look at the moon and the stars and think "The sky is my limit". Take the time to go back and read other peoples comments....try to understand their point, in other words, why they view it that way...then form a new opinon...be open minded and see how much your opinion might change!!

lol...sorry but i do think this article is lame, but at the same time interesting. It just shows the dynamics of how everyone thinks and interprets things differently!! love it!!

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I never liked Dora, even when I was as young as four. I was a die-hard Blue's Clues fan, and I love the show to this day. (I'm 14.) STEVE ALL THE WAY.

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Learn Mexican, really? Speak American? Wow, hope you are not responsible for your childrens' educations.

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