Dora obsession

[orca]

I was in the grocery store with DS (19 mo) this afternoon and he was having a hard time sitting in the cart (which he usually enjoys so I left the sling in the car). He was running up and down the isles, but generally staying where I could see him. Of course he then proceeds to knock over a small display... so, in desperation, I’m looking for something to keep him occupied while I clean up the mess and grab a box of fruit chew things with a big picture of Dora on the box. He has recently become a Dora devotee after we borrowed a DVD to bring along on holidays to entertain him on the plane and the 6 hour car ride each way once we were there. He is obsessed with Dora. : So, needless to say he sat happily in the cart examining the box and chatting about the characters for the rest of the shopping trip. I’m thinking this was easy... note to self for next time. Except, when we got to the checkout I left the Dora candies behind and he freaked out! I mean temper tantrum, wailing and keeling and screaming for Dora! The whole way home he was sobbing. I’ve never seen him like this! Should I have bought the box just to keep him happy? Was it unkind and cruel to have let him look at it in the first place, knowing I would never buy the candies? Should we put a restraining order on Dora and cut him off cold turkey? He has been watching about 30 minutes of Dora a day since we’ve been back this week. Prior to this holiday he was never interested in TV. We only have one TV and it usually only goes on after he is in bed. Now, he asking for Dora the minute he wakes up! Ack! That Dora has stolen my baby! Any advice???

[JayGee]

I swear, they put something subliminal in Dora's face to ellicit these reactions. My DD is the SAME. She knew who Dora was even before she'd ever seen the TV show. Dora yogurt, fruit snacks, cereal ~ she wants it all (but doesn't get it...) Nickelodeon has gone 100% full press in indoctrinating our 2 year olds with Dora. I do not like it at all .

[velochic]

I think it can be avoided. Dd doesn't watch TV and she was over 4 before she knew who Dora was (and then she called her Adora). She has still never seen the show and is no worse for wear. It might take some pain to cut Dora out of your lives, but I don't think there will be any lasting scars.

[elmh23]

The reason they put Dora on the box is so your child would through a tantrum and you'd cave. I think you did the right thing. For my dd, it's Tigger (even though she hasn't really watched the Winnie the Pooh movies.) So instead of just expecting her to stay in the cart with nothing to do, I bring two Tigger dolls (both small and plastic, but it works) and she happily plays with Tiggy. Could you bring a small toy your son likes to the store next time?

I personally, would let him watch it every other day, then maybe go down to once a week or something similar.

Good luck!

[Suzetta]

I don't have a problem with my children watching Dora or other shows that are calming and have some educational value. However, I do not buy them any of the food/toys that are marketed their way, unless it as an item that I would have bought anyway, such as shoes. Dora shoes are actually priced very reasonably compared to other shoes. I never buy any food, candy or cereal that is marketed towards kids, as the nutritional value tends to be terrible.


I do think that Dora and Diego have lots of little lessons that are helpful. I have even heard my daughter say some spanish phrases she learned from the show.

I definitely think that you did the right thing for not buying the candles that you didn't want in the first place...but i don't really see any harm in allowing him to watch the show.

[bright]

My daughter is Dora obsessed also! It's like a drug. I like Dora though, I think if small girls and boys are going to fixate on something mass marketed, why not Dora? She is adventurous, and kind to her friends. I was actually touched during the episode where they had a birthday thing for Swiper. They love him even tho he is always trying to swipe their things.

[RainCoastMama]

TOO funny this thread came up. Tonight Dh took DD to the library...an hour and a half later I called him, panicked, to find out what was going on. DD was on a computer (WTH??) playing DORA!! I reamed DH about letting her get onto a computer in the first place (never let her before, esp at the library). DH finally had to haul her out of there screaming. She wouldn't go to bed unless she had a Dora episode (borrowed from the library of course).

Dora is one of the better ones but why must she SCREAM at me all the time?? I much prefer Diego.

[Jade2561]

Thats so funny that you brought this up because everyone thinks that because we have a 2 year old that shes into Dora. So my dd loves Dora even though shes never seen the show because grandparents buy her Dora themed EVERYTHING. I recently sold all of it at our yard sale (except the Dora hamper that stays in the closet). Ugh! I despise Dora!

[velochic]

Originally Posted by bright

My daughter is Dora obsessed also! It's like a drug. I like Dora though,

It's like a drug and it's okay? You like it? : That is really very odd, IMHO. I don't understand why if it seems to be negative (like a drug), people still pour money into these companies. I'm just puzzled.

[LotusBirthMama]

Eh. We are Dora fans. Sophie has quite a bit of Dora merchandise (in my defense, I got most of it at Goodwill), had a Dora cake for her 3rd b-day, and watches the show every day. The way I see it is, I have shows that I enjoy. I watch them every week/night whatever, and she has shows that she likes. I have no problem with her watching them. And hey! Dora taught her Spanish!

[orca]

Hey, thanks for all the support! Interesting that all of you have daughters who love Dora... Anyone with a boy who loves her??? Diego just doesn’t do it for him. He’s so smitten with Dora...

I’m still undecided about this issue because we have been a mostly TV free household with very little effort up to this point and it seems a shame to start arranging our day around a program. On the other hand, I do agree with many of you that there are educational components to Dora that make the show worthwhile. We had several DVD’s on this holiday (Bob the builder, Thomas the Train etc.) and he was not at all interested in them. There is something intoxicating about that Dora, my husband swears he can see the hypnotic swirls in her eyes!

The mass marketing is annoying. We were at Home Deport yesterday and they had a display of Dora nightlights, flashlights etc. His two favourite things in the world right now are Dora and flashlights so I thought we were going to have a repeat performance, but he just kissed the box a bunch of times and put it back.

Maybe his fit in the grocery store was because he felt cheated. Since I let him hold the box for so long, perhaps he thought it was his and I gave it away?

[LotusBirthMama]

Originally Posted by newmom22

Maybe his fit in the grocery store was because he felt cheated. Since I let him hold the box for so long, perhaps he thought it was his and I gave it away?

that very well may be it. if I know we are just looking I have to make a point not to let DD hold anything, because then she assumes it is hers. I just say "Oh, thats cool, honey. Maybe some other time." It works probably 95 percent of the time.

And as far as boy fans, my son is almost nine and Dora is still one of his favorites. I got misty the other day because an episode came on and I remembered DS being 3 and us watching it together! It was cute, because he remembered too.

Altho, Dora may be taking a backseat to Wonder Pets! They walk around the house singing "Whats gonna work? Teamwork!"