Mark your calendars, for this is a momentous day...the day that I admit...that I've grown to like Dora the Explorer. If you listen closely, you'll hear the shocked gasps and at least one little voice sitting behind a desk in Ohio...you know who you are...laughing hysterically.
Here's why...long before my SweetPea was born, I'd made a promise to myself...that my children would never watch Dora. Not that she's a skanky Bratz doll or that the show's full of "not really meant for small children" content (can you say Spongebob?)...I've just never been able to tolerate her whiney voice or that God forsaken Map. When my nephew and niece were toddlers/preschoolers and I had no little ones, I'd be over at my sister's house...Dora would be on and I'd wonder out loud "how the hell can you listen to that???" I'm sure that's right about the time that I made my vow and I've been declaring to all of my mommy friends ever since "I refuse to let my kids watch that show."
Fast forward about four years...and Dora is still as popular as ever. When SweetPea was in daycare full time, watching Dora wasn't ever an issue...yet the force that is Viacom/Nickelodeon was still working against me. Her toddler classroom was full of Dora books and toys and her classmates wore Dora t-shirts. You get the drift. So... even without ever seeing a single show, she knew exactly who Dora was. Once I became a stay at home mom, the opportunity to see Dora cracked wide open and whenever a commercial on Noggin or Nick Jr popped up, an adorable little voice would sweetly ask, "mommy, can I see Dora?" Let me tell you, I fought it...but next thing you know, when we were online playing games together on Nick Jr.com, she'd ask to play the Dora games and I figured "oh why not, at least it's not the show itself"...which was a stupid move on my part because it fed her need to see Dora even more. Finally...I gave in...I grit my teeth and tuned in. Next thing you know, I find myself singing the annoyingly catchy Dora songs with her..."come on, vamanos...everyone let's go..."...I now know all of the character names...and my hubby says to me while we are singing at the dinner table "you LIKE Dora!" Of course I deny it, "no way...I only know it because I hear it all the time"...but I guess the truth is, I've grown to like it.
I'm convinced that whoever makes the show has laced it with subliminal messages telling you to watch Dora more...or at least that's what I keep telling myself. For the record...I still hate that freaking map...and sadly...now Lil Buddy is a Dora fan and his favorite bit...is hearing it sing "I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the MAAAAAAP". Someone save me!
I have to admit, I'm a Boots fan. And also Big Red Chicken whenever he makes a cameo :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, much to my chagrin, I do walk around the house singing "Super Babies" too.
Ugh... I guess I kinda like Dora as well.
Ok, so can you explain to me what's the deal with the Big Red Chicken??? I thought maybe he was the preschool version of Peter Griffin's arch nemisis giant chicken on The Family Guy...but then thought, "maybe not". If I have to really like any character it would be Swiper. I root for the bad guy :)
ReplyDeleteSwiper no swiping!!! Well, let me just say that although I agree whole-heartedly about the annoying characters/songs in the show; the content is just right for preschoolers and the way the show entices them to sing along to those annoying songs or map out the way to the top of the hill....you can't deny that your child isn't learning from the show. So when she shouts out "Use the hammer!", you know you are doing right by her, allowing her to watch an age-appropriate show that's full of adventure and cognative tools to help her make informed decisions throughout her life.
ReplyDeleteI'm just sayin'.....
I feel that way about Barney. He's not allowed anywhere near my children. I know my oldest would LOVE to watch it, but I won't let him in to rot mine and my childrens' brains. I'll leave that up to Super Why and Word World.
ReplyDeleteAnnelie is all about Boots. But mostly, my girls like Diego. They play "Diego and Baby Jaguar" every day, and though I keep trying to teach them that shouting "AYUDEME!" isn't a good idea because our neighbors might call the cops.... my kids are happy with their obnoxious Nick Jr. line-up.
ReplyDelete*sigh* I hate kids shows. Especially cartoons.
Yeah, will in no way relent on Barney. Amelia saw him on Sprout in passing once and she looked at him puzzled and said "what is THAT??" I quickly changed it and got no argument.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually a cartoon-a-holic, but I generally only allow cartoons that entertain ME :)
My youngest's first word was "Backpack" thanks the DVD mini-van.(I had the pleasure of driving her siblings to Kindergarten and preschool almost every day). So, thankfully, Dora kept her from clawing out of her car seat. Just don't get me started again on Calliou. I can't stand that whiny egg-headed kid.
ReplyDeleteDora (or Dorda as my daughter used to pronouce it) is adored by my MoMo. Her oldest brother insists that Dora is a watermelon head freak and that is why he doesn't like her....he now pulls for Swiper and intentionally answers questions incorrectly to annoy his baby sister. I personally agree with the watermelon head thing, but secretly enjoy Tico the squirrel. He has an arrogance about him that I think sometimes points out that the other characters are obviously idiots if they are asking preschoolers to help solve problems. Just watch 'ol Tico sometime and tell me I'm wrong...he's got it all figured out!! :o)
ReplyDeletehahahaha now since you made the Family Guy reference all I can picture is Dora and the Big Red Chicken in a giant bloody fight :)
ReplyDeleteHilarious!