The title sounds like monkey business, eh? Actually, I am talking about a more serious issue here. It's about exposing children to the violence and profanities that a lot of movies or games which are often simply rated U here to allow more audience and to boost up ticket sales. Yeah, many would say that I am just over-protective ... but something that little b said today reinforced my need to filter all the things that gets to his eyes and ears...
He was playing with his Ninja Turtles figurines... and was talking to himself...
"Hey, I am a lady, which one of you are attracted to me?"
Actually, this was a line said by King Julien in the Madagascar 2 trailer.... There's nothing vulgar or inappropriate about this line. It's just the fact he's repeating the words without knowing the meanings of it that bothers me.
*note: I have parents telling me that they hear their sons repeating profanities such as the following after playing some games.
"Die you a**h*le!"
"F*ck!"
"Sh*t! Not again!"
You see, I am very careful about what movies that little b gets to watch or what kind of games he can play... online or otherwise. I have trained him from young to avoid TV shows or movies which are too violent, too much blood, or has too many swear words or shouting going around. I told him that these are "adult movies" and he would often tell me that he prefers to watch cartoons or disney channel whenever there were killings or fist/sword/gun fighting movies are around. Also he would tell me about violent games he comes across online and I would tell him to avoid playing them and play with educational games such as Fisher Price, Barney, Disney Channels etc instead.
Lately, he has taken up the fancy of watching movie trailers on the Apple website. I allow that because I trust that US have strict movie ratings systems and even the trailers have ratings. And so I gave him full access to watch anything he likes and since he's been trained to avoid those horror/thriller movies, he'd go for cartoons, and comedies. Then again, cartoons are being catered for adult viewing nowadays and so the dialogues in it may not be too appropriate for younger viewers.
Maybe I am a little paranoid, maybe I am over-protective, maybe I have to accept the fact that little b is growing at his own pace... no matter how fast it may be. Yeah, he's growing up real fast. With the internet, his access to knowledge is way faster and is way beyond the frontier of what it used to be during our "ancient" (before internet) times.
Oh, side track a bit, yesterday I brought him to his new school to register for Year 1 and as I watch him mingle with the other 6-year-olds, I wonder where and how all these 6 years flew pass. I really can't remember it all. When I see other flustered parents; bumbling around looking for their classes, their books, the teachers, fussing over their kids with cameras and video cams, I know I am not alone in bringing up my bundle of joy.
And none of the kids cried or cling to their parents. I can hear parents telling the children, "Quick sit in front" or "Just tell the teacher what you want" or "Say your name loudly" ... to which the children reacted positively... i.e. they sat in front, and told the teacher that they wanted to sit next to a girl all by themselves, and wasn't afraid of public speaking. And then I realised that this is the new generation. A generation who are not afraid to speak their minds, very independent and is highly capable of taking care of themselves and their own needs.
So, back to our topic of filtering the best for our children, seeing how assertive this new generation can be, I still think it's best to filter out the good things to "feed" to our children to build their foundations. I know that I can't protect him forever, and he's expose to 1001 bad things out there but I can rest in peace knowing I have done my best for him. The rest is up to God and himself... :)
He was playing with his Ninja Turtles figurines... and was talking to himself...
"Hey, I am a lady, which one of you are attracted to me?"
Actually, this was a line said by King Julien in the Madagascar 2 trailer.... There's nothing vulgar or inappropriate about this line. It's just the fact he's repeating the words without knowing the meanings of it that bothers me.
*note: I have parents telling me that they hear their sons repeating profanities such as the following after playing some games.
"Die you a**h*le!"
"F*ck!"
"Sh*t! Not again!"
You see, I am very careful about what movies that little b gets to watch or what kind of games he can play... online or otherwise. I have trained him from young to avoid TV shows or movies which are too violent, too much blood, or has too many swear words or shouting going around. I told him that these are "adult movies" and he would often tell me that he prefers to watch cartoons or disney channel whenever there were killings or fist/sword/gun fighting movies are around. Also he would tell me about violent games he comes across online and I would tell him to avoid playing them and play with educational games such as Fisher Price, Barney, Disney Channels etc instead.
Lately, he has taken up the fancy of watching movie trailers on the Apple website. I allow that because I trust that US have strict movie ratings systems and even the trailers have ratings. And so I gave him full access to watch anything he likes and since he's been trained to avoid those horror/thriller movies, he'd go for cartoons, and comedies. Then again, cartoons are being catered for adult viewing nowadays and so the dialogues in it may not be too appropriate for younger viewers.
Maybe I am a little paranoid, maybe I am over-protective, maybe I have to accept the fact that little b is growing at his own pace... no matter how fast it may be. Yeah, he's growing up real fast. With the internet, his access to knowledge is way faster and is way beyond the frontier of what it used to be during our "ancient" (before internet) times.
Oh, side track a bit, yesterday I brought him to his new school to register for Year 1 and as I watch him mingle with the other 6-year-olds, I wonder where and how all these 6 years flew pass. I really can't remember it all. When I see other flustered parents; bumbling around looking for their classes, their books, the teachers, fussing over their kids with cameras and video cams, I know I am not alone in bringing up my bundle of joy.
And none of the kids cried or cling to their parents. I can hear parents telling the children, "Quick sit in front" or "Just tell the teacher what you want" or "Say your name loudly" ... to which the children reacted positively... i.e. they sat in front, and told the teacher that they wanted to sit next to a girl all by themselves, and wasn't afraid of public speaking. And then I realised that this is the new generation. A generation who are not afraid to speak their minds, very independent and is highly capable of taking care of themselves and their own needs.
So, back to our topic of filtering the best for our children, seeing how assertive this new generation can be, I still think it's best to filter out the good things to "feed" to our children to build their foundations. I know that I can't protect him forever, and he's expose to 1001 bad things out there but I can rest in peace knowing I have done my best for him. The rest is up to God and himself... :)
My Movie Blog
My Car Blog
My Japanese Blog
My Poetry Blog
Posts
2 comments:
No matter how you protect, things will come. Might as well leave with it and make the best out of it. Last resort, CANE!!!!!
Never really need to use the cane on him so far, Thank God for that... And the naughty boy corner still works... but boys will be boys.. and I foresee steeper roads ahead .... Let's hope the ride is not a bumpy one... :)
Post a Comment