Just a bit of fun?

We all sit around worrying about watersheds and the TV sex and violence to which we expose our kids but recently I have been thinking about all the subliminal messages we are sending through medium specially designed for children. Two examples taken from my experience yesterday; Littleone likes to watch Milkshake (Channel Five’s equivalent to CBeebies) before she goes to school, I’m not a big fan of Five but this is the only time in the day when we watch it. As if the advertisements for fast food, non-nutritious cereal and hideous over priced toys are not enough, yesterday straight after Winnie the Pooh they showed this advert, which goes something like this. These three young girls are sitting there and curly haired one wants straight hair and straight haired one wants curls. The voice over says something along the lines of ‘Not happy with who you are? You can change it!’ I was so shocked I forgot to note the name of the company but it was for hair straightening and curling appliances for children. After a toddler’s program! Whatever happened to bringing up our kids to be happy with who they are?!
My second example is from the school Christmas party for the nursery and reception class. What makes us think that just because our children are 3, 4, or 5 years of age they are going to have a poor taste in music, and therefore we can play them any old poppy shite at the school disco? As I sat there trying to hide in the corner like a wallflower mum, I thought I’d study the lyrics to some of the songs. First up was that Kylie song ‘Can’t get you out of my Head.’ I’ve seen the way she dances during that video and there is something highly un-nerving about watching kids barely out of nappies tying to emulate it. And come on we all know what she means when she sings ‘Your love is all I think about’ Is this a healthy attitude for our kids to be exposed to?
Next up is that ‘Oooh baby, I wanna know, will you be my girl.’ Yep Littleone this is the highest accolade to which you can reach in life, being owned by a man. Consider yourself honoured that he even asked.
The Purple Elephant prize for ‘Sentiment most suitable for 3-6 year olds’ has to go to S-Club 7’s ‘Reach’ As much as the song irritates me, it is nice and catchy for the little ones. Encouraging them to follow their dreams, whilst hinting that it won’t all be plain sailing.
Just a bit of fun? I think it’s all too sinister.