Speaking of TV...

I severely dislike Dora the Explorer and her little pal Diego. I'd rather Lauren watch Barney than that load of shite.

I will tell you why.

Those two characters yell more than any other character on TV. What the hell is up with the YELLING?? I sometimes forget to change the channel after Lauren watches Backyardigans, and it comes on immediately afterwards. Without fail, whether she watches an episode or not determines if it will be a Lauren yelling day. When she watches, she YEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLS. When she doesn't watch, she coos and babbles.

Also, can someone please get Dora and Diego some ritalin, because holy crap they have a severe case of ADD. They have to rescue the poor tree sloth (whatever) from certain time-sensitive death, but FIRST! lets count the flower petals!  Oh, right, the sloth... but hey, check out the ants. Let's do a special little dance with the ants. Weee!! Sloth who? Oh yeah, sloooooooth.

And so on..

In one episode, they took it upon themselves to free a bunch of dogs from the pound. They eventually did so (after a million other distractions), and all the doggies went to live in a happy rainbow village of doggies...

...You know, instead of contracting diseases, harassing cats, fatal vehicle altercations and other realities of setting free a huge pack of dogs to run wild in the world.

I can't stand Dora and Diego.

Comments

[Kirsten]

THANK GOD I am not alone! I forbid my 4 yo DD from watching either Dora or Diego in my presence, and I tell her "I don't like that show because they yell too much!"

"Great!" "Alright!" "Vaminos!"

She understands and we let her watch something else. In fact, she got a Dora book for Christmas, and she said, "you don't have to read this one Mommy because you don't like Dora." Too cute.

[BethanyWD]

I know! My kids like Dora and Diego, but my niece LOVES Dora. I just don't understand why the HAVE TO YELL ALL THE TIME! =)

[Julia]

Delurking to warn you away from Caillou, just in case you haven't discovered what a bad influence it is, yet. Caillou is the whiniest kid, ever. Definitely encourages kids to whine more than most normally would.

[Beret]

Caillou sucks.

I love Dora and Diego. I love their adventures, their voices, and their crazy friends.

My severely speech delayed little boy just started talking and wowed us by counting to 7 in Spanish and asking me to open the fridge by saying "abre Mommy please!".

It was a sad day for me when my oldest child grew out of these toddler/baby shows. I really missed the Wiggles, Dora, etc until my son got into them.

[Stacy]

I can not stand Dora and Diego! They drive me nuts. James will watch thier shows but is not disappointed when I turn off the TV in the middle of one. He loves Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. Mrs. Spider is also a fav. All 3 of those shows have lots of music in them and don't jump around like Dora and Diego.

[Jenn (dish)]

I like the bilingual aspects of D&D, but I do hate the YELLING. So, we don't show them in our house. I have to agree with the sentiments on Calliou as well. Whine, whine, whine. And why is a four-year-old totally bald? Is he ill? When I first saw it I thought he was a verbally advanced young toddler (I had no hair until age two, so I can't be too picky), but when you listen to the theme song, he sings that he is four. (and that song is waaaaaay too much of a music grenade, but that's another story).

Happy rainbow village of doggies? Who makes up this crap?

[Carmen]

Speaking of dogs, has anyone else seen Raggs? My kids started watching it so I watched it with them and it's a really freakin' good show. The music is awesome... the boys dance around to the songs and wear themselves out. Good music and tired kids. Can't ask for much more:)

[Natalee]

My niece and baby sister love Dora. All I ever hear is "Backpack! Backpack!"

Did you ever see the TV Funhouse Dora spoof? Frickin' hilarious!! I think you can catch it on YouTube. Sample line: "Do you know why my father left me?" "Bueno!"

ROFLMAO!!!

[Carrie]

Not a fan of Dora and Diego here either. We rather like Playhouse Disney. Phoebs is really into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Ok, I admit it. So am I.

[Tiffanni]

I think most kids shows are obnoxious. What ever happened to Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo and The Flintstones?
Ok..Spongebob is ok, but that's about it.

[Georgia]

I like the Backyardigans too, but I really like Yo Gabba Gabba. Have you checked it out yet? Try it, you'll like it...
Gigi

[Maria P.]

LMAO!

I let my kids watch both when they have time. No wonder they yell so much. :)

[Melissa]

My daughter knows about Dora because someone gave us some books, but I have tried very hard to hide the existence of Dora as a TV show because I caught a snippet once and it was so freaking irritating. Instead, we watch nice quiet shows: Miffy and Friends, Maisy, or Signing Time. Stupid Dora.

[kim]

My 18 month old hasn't gotten into Dora or Diego yet...thanks for the head's up!

Our house is filled with all things Elmo. He's pretty harmless, I guess, just irritating. And I'm not sure what she really learns from him, when such things as feet and bananas are the topics on "Elmo's World." Sesame Street annoys me, it's not the show we watched as kids. It's full of stereotypes (Rosita, who basically does nothing but play Spanish guitar and run around shouting 'Ole!'; Abby Cadabby and Zoe, who are all girly-girl and pink and purple) and nowadays everyone gets on Cookie Monster's back for eating cookies. (Yet Sesame Street is sponsored by McDonald's, so go figure.)

Personally, I'm a fan of Big Comfy Couch, another show my daughter loves (and it's really cute when she tries to do the "clock stretch" along with Loonette). No stereotypes, no obnoxiouis characters, just a whimsical clown and her donut-loving doll. Love it.

Ahhh, um, stutter ... am I the only one who doesn't let her kids watch any TV?
Evelin

Ahhh, um, stutter ... am I the only one who doesn't let her kids watch any TV?
Evelin

[Shelli]

But sometimes they yell in Spanish. So that makes it educational, right? ;)

[brad]

What?!? You've been letting her watch tv while I'm at work? Why isn't Lauren playing with that Peruvian hemp-woven sack I bought her! She doesn't need tv when she has hemp woven sacks to play with... from Peru!

[brad]

Also, what about that 6 set DVD collection of ants eating dead carcases? If you're going to stick her in front of the tv, it should at least be educational.

[Molly]

Ummm, SHUTTER... I cannot IMAGINE not having PBS and Playhouse Disney to rescue me some days! NK LOVES Clifford, Curious George and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. And if it weren't for Baby Einstein videos... dirty dishes from the week she was born, 22 months ago, would STILL be in the sink! And let me tell you.. if it's scarring her... the kid will be able to tell me in a complete sentence. I don't know HOW she learned to talk... spending all that time in front of the tv. *scratches head*

My kids love tv when they see it ... I don't think if I let them have it they'd ever let go. I'm not up to starting that battle. But I guess I am alone on this one. Evelin

[stephanie v]

Preach it. Yelling aside, her voice is reminiscent of a small woodland creature being skinned alive. It's unnatural.

[Katie]

My 2 yr old twins love both Dora and Diego... as well as all the other annoying children shows. I noticed that there's more yelling but my kids get so excited when the characters say something they understand or are interested in. It gets them talking, singing, and dancing and I like that. What I can't stand is Teletubbies. OMG, if I hear "Uh Oh" one more time, I will pull my hair out. I watched one show and that was enough! Plus, it is extremely slow-paced and the same stupid things happen all the time. BORING!

[Suzanne]

ok Garner LOVES Diego and he can tell you so much about SO many animals. I can't give D all the credit though. We're at the zoo at lest 2x a week. But he loves playing "rescue" with his little toy animals. I on the other hand am bored to death by Diego. AND look out! there's another one...Ni-Hao Kai-Lan. Yep. Chinese Dora. I like the animation better, but it's still loads of yelling. Have you seen Yo Gabba Gabba???? It's REALLY good!