Despite studies and evidence claiming how bad TV is for children, many parents have testified that pre-screening certain shows has benefited their toddlers and preschoolers.
The key picks gems from a pile of television scraps. That’s when you’ll find the shows Caillou, Wiggles and Dora the Explorer< /a>.
While Caillou is one of the gems for its educational value and practical life applications, the interpersonal dynamics are so far removed from what we experience on a daily basis that it is difficult to ignore. This is true with most shows aimed at the 2-6 year age group, but in the case of this show it is taken to a whole new level.
Caillou is a four-year-old bald boy who lives with his little sister, Rosie, and his mother and father, who are only known as “Mom” and “Dad”. They seem to have no significant identity beyond that. It also appears that attempts have been made by the authors and writers to portray them as an average modern family. The mother is frumpy (to consider the size of a woman “average”), the father is a housekeeper and cooks, they live in a modest house and share one car. Caillou and Rosie sometimes fight over toys, Grandma and Grandpa are there regularly, though not often. All is well, as we continue into Fantasy Land.
Caillou is a very whiny, chatty, four year old baby boy. His voice has the potential to hurt your stomach. He gets scared about things so that the two-year-old girl doesn’t panic. behind his mother on the sound system over the PA system. It is very nice that the lady narrator thinks all this is perfectly intelligible. When he is stubborn, demanding or disrespectful, he never gets results. But it is more flattering to parents who never let their voices be heard.
Caillou is often extremely annoying, but “mommy” never just tells him to shut up and do something else. But he is pleased to have interrupted himself for 40 times to complain about himself and demand things. When mommy takes Caillou and Rosie places like zoo or park, they don’t sweat or raise their eyebrows in anger. The answer to every request is an enthusiastic: “Certainly!” It doesn’t matter what it’s about, or how untimely and unnecessary the request is. Instead of just telling Caillou, “You know what? You really need to get rid of all those clothes that are all over your floor,” Mom says (in her usual TITTO fashion) “I have an idea that will help bring it around.” house more fun!” This of course results in a great opportunity for craft to help Caillou and Rosie make stickers Rewards will be given for things that they do anyway.
Mom isn’t the only one who seems to have a steady drip of Oxycontin flowing through her veins. “Dad” also had to be woken up by an impatient Caillou at 5 a.m. to get off his morning routine. He happily does the laundry while Rosie cares little and indulges in whatever he does about Caillou’s requests as mommy grunts. Dad is sensitive today, forget what he always learned about the manly side of a guy. When you watch the show for the first time, you’ll even be mistaken for a mom, what with a tender heart. He never gets angry or upset, even if he probably isn’t left long enough to go to the bathroom. There is no cure for a smile sometimes, or a big pill.
If Caillou’s parents aren’t “pretending” enough, there’s also a plumber friend who likes to engage Caillou in conversations and not entertain his mind while he works. And I certainly won’t burden Mom and Dad before he leaves. There are also not too busy garbage collectors who enjoy talking to Caillou about the job they love. They are wonderfully articulate when they speak, and they are not even dirty.
Let’s not forget about the car salesman who won’t try to sell them anything–even though it’s easily given. That the salesman expanded and decided it wasn’t worth the effort. After all, they’ve been wearing the same clothes for like 8 years. Everyone in Caillou’s world is idealistically kind. Imagine how amazing it must be for children when they compare these people they see every day!
These robotic programs have been programmed for child development child “specialists” (many who don’t even have children. own) decided that we all we should behave, surely we “real” people should look like monsters. Real parents don’t act this way. Sometimes the answer is our children. Sometimes we raise our voices. And sometimes we even deliver the consequences of bad behavior. Caillou’s family life certainly looks like a dream, because it is. While it may remind parents of how short they are when it comes to “proper” parenting, it is important to recognize how short this description of human interaction with the real world falls.
