How old is Diego supposed to be?

[just_lily]

Because yesterday he was driving a jeep. And not even looking where he was going I might add... he and Dora were too busy singing for him to pay attention.

I thought he was supposed to be eight or so.

That show really creeps me out.

[soccermama]

Yeah, I thought so, too. That's bizarre. DS enjoys Dora much more than Diego.

[Ruthla]

I think he's about 7 and playing in his backyard and only pretending to rescue all those animals. Or maybe he lives in a rainforest so all the animals he sees in the backyard really are rainforest creatures. I'm convinced that Baby Jaguar is either a stuffed toy or a regular, full grown cat.

The jeep he was driving has to be one of those toys that run on battery power and go about half a mile an hour.

[chelko]

They are supposed to be in Costa Rica (both Diego and Dora).

But, yeah, the driving and going off into the jungle/forest/whatever alone bugs me.

[LittleBlessings]

That is a good question. I am also curious to know and I also wonder if Diego is going to grow up when Dora does

[Ruthla]

Yeah, it's intensely disturbing if prepubescent kids are wandering the jungles alone. But if you imagine that they're just playing in the backyard or the neighborhood and PRETENDING all this stuff, it turns back into good clean fun.

[frontierpsych]

It reminds me of Commander Keen (old DOS game). The kid was supposedly battling all these "bad guys" that were stuff he found in his back yard like slugs, mushrooms, bouncy balls, etc. He wore a Green Bay Packers helmet and traveled by pogo stick. I thought it was fun, it was all imagination. That's how I take these shows to be. It doesn't really bother me. I don't think kids even think about it in those terms. When I was I kid I loved watching Rugrats. It wasn't until I was older that I started thinking "Man, those are the worst parents EVER!"

[amcal]

Wow. I don't mean to be rude but you guys read way more into these cartoons than I would ever even think of.

Kids used to wander in the woods by themselves all the time. They would go explore, use their imaginations etc....

This is a cartoon. I highly doubt it's going to inspire any 8 year olds to run away to costa rica and go live in the jungle by themselves.

[ece602]

I think he is supposed to be in the 7-9 range. I always thought he was just playing make-believe not actually driving....

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by amcal

Wow. I don't mean to be rude but you guys read way more into these cartoons than I would ever even think of.

Kids used to wander in the woods by themselves all the time. They would go explore, use their imaginations etc....

This is a cartoon. I highly doubt it's going to inspire any 8 year olds to run away to costa rica and go live in the jungle by themselves.

Yeah but 7 yo's can't drive.

Dora and Diego have really shot legs and really big heads IMO, and that's more creepy then the driving.

I'm thinking it's either just imagination, or suspended reality to actually make the show go somewhere.

[Ruthla]

They can drive something like this

[serenekitten]

Originally Posted by amcal

I highly doubt it's going to inspire any 8 year olds to run away to costa rica and go live in the jungle by themselves.

"Mom! I'm running away to Costa Rica!"
"Okay, be back in time for dinner."

[just_lily]

Yeah, you guys definitely read a lot more into this that I have. I have to say that I have never even thought about the make-believe angle.

Do you think kids think it is make-believe? I just think back to the likes of Mr. Rogers, and he was always very clear about what was real, and what was in the Land of Make Believe.

Not that I think it really matters. I consider Dora and Diego to be like junk food.... ok in small doses, but not for every day.

The driving just struck me as odd. I have seen Dora ride on trains and whatnot, but the train (or whatever) had its own personality, and appeared to drive itself. But this jeep (and it certainly came accross as a full size jeep) was being driven by Diego.

Oh well. Just thought it was wierd.

[dantesmama]

I don't think there's anything wrong with a cartoon depicting a little boy roaming the jungle, driving, rescuing animals, and whatever else Diego does. It's not supposed to be realistic. Kids fantasize about doing independent, grown-up things, but they live in the real world and they understand that, for example, kids don't drive. (Nor do backpacks turn into kayaks or snowboards.) The show has been on for a few years now, and I haven't heard of any kids running off to live in the rainforest, so I don't think we have anything to worry about.

[queenjane]

Well, bears can't talk either, but i doubt anyone thinks Little Bear is deeply disturbing.

And Oswald is an octupus that has a pet dog, that actually looks like a hotdog. And his friend is a giant talking flower. That actually IS a little disturbing.

Katherine

[LiamnEmma]

Originally Posted by queenjane

Well, bears can't talk either, but i doubt anyone thinks Little Bear is deeply disturbing.

And Oswald is an octupus that has a pet dog, that actually looks like a hotdog. And his friend is a giant talking flower. That actually IS a little disturbing.

Katherine

See? That's why it takes all types. I just see that as good old-fashioned Puf-n-Stuf fun!

[onelilguysmommy]

Originally Posted by just_lily

The driving just struck me as odd. I have seen Dora ride on trains and whatnot, but the train (or whatever) had its own personality, and appeared to drive itself. But this jeep (and it certainly came accross as a full size jeep) was being driven by Diego.

not picking at you at all, it just made me that the train steering itself and talking is fine but a kid driving a jeep was the odd part. hehe!

hes supposed to be 8 i was told by someone from nick.