Something about kids & tv that really has been bothering me

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's just the voice - although that had been my theory, until my DD. My DD (19 mo now) is in LOVE with Elmo - and she hasn't seen much of him at all on TV. Around 3 or 4 months ago, I bought a shower faucet cover that has Elmo in a bathtub. Cute, I thought. During one bath, she pointed to Elmo and I said "Elmo". She repeated the name and that was it. We had a few books with Elmo in them and from that moment on, I had to read the books to her or she had to have them in hand, looking at the books. I had only had Sesame Street on a handful of times before this, and she had never shown much interest. However, starting about that time, "Elmo" would be the first word out of her mouth in the morning. In the car she has an Elmo book. At her daycare, they have a couple of Elmo books and she loves them. (They don't have TV at daycare.) She has an Elmo book in her bedroom and one in the family room. When she gets tired/cranky, she'll cry for Elmo.

So, I can't figure out where her love fest came from or how she got so attached, but she is in LOVE with Elmo. I've shown him to her a couple of times on TV and she'll jump up and down, but we don't watch it that much.

Go figure.

[Anonymous]

My 23 month DD loooves Elmo, but he's on a bit of tie with Big Bird ("birdie") as well as Ernie and Burt ("Ernie and Burp"). However, Dora is her all time favorite.

[Anonymous]

Between the show and this series of Sesame Street books we have, I spend way too much time thinking about this show. My joke is always that I can't figure out how old most of the characters are supposed to be - in one story/skit Grover's getting tucked in by his mommy, in another he's a waiter! In one of our books, Bert & Ernie go to a playdate, but they have an apartment together! With an attic!

But I've actually gotten over Elmo. I don't love him, but I don't mind him anymore. What are you gonna do - my 3yo loves him. At least he also loves Grover, Bert & Ernie, and Murray.

[Anonymous]

Wait... Who's Murray??

[Anonymous]

He does the intro on the show. "Hi, this is Murray, and I'm looking for... the word on the street!" He does a bit at the end, too.

[Anonymous]

My 20 month old is obssessed with Elmo. It started around 15 months she started saying Elmo all the time. She didn't own an Elmo book or had even seen Sesame Street. Then I realized he is plastered all over Pampers and daycare has books/ Sesame Street toys. Now that she watches Sesame Street she has left Elmo for "Big Burt" and "Tootie Monfer"

[Anonymous]

Why does Elmo refer to himself in the third person? It's kind-of weird when reading Elmo books to my 2 year old. It just sounds weird, so I usually change it to have Elmo say "I like baseball" or whatever instead of "Elmo likes baseball."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does Elmo refer to himself in the third person? It's kind-of weird when reading Elmo books to my 2 year old. It just sounds weird, so I usually change it to have Elmo say "I like baseball" or whatever instead of "Elmo likes baseball."

It's typical baby-talk. I know so many parents who say "give it to mommy", or "does Baby want milk?"

There are no Elmo books at our house, but if there were, I would change it to first-person as well. Baby-talk is NOT to be encouraged. Drives me nuts when otherwise normal women refer to themselves as "mommy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
There are no Elmo books at our house...

Of course there aren't!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does Elmo refer to himself in the third person? It's kind-of weird when reading Elmo books to my 2 year old. It just sounds weird, so I usually change it to have Elmo say "I like baseball" or whatever instead of "Elmo likes baseball."

It's typical baby-talk. I know so many parents who say "give it to mommy", or "does Baby want milk?"

There are no Elmo books at our house, but if there were, I would change it to first-person as well. Baby-talk is NOT to be encouraged. Drives me nuts when otherwise normal women refer to themselves as "mommy".

I remember reading in a few places - BabyCenter emails and elsewhere - that encouraged this, because very young children don't always get pronouns. At the very least, their point was, the child understands you much better, your words are much more concrete in his head if you refer to yourself in the third person. So, while I know it's fun to mock, there is actually a developmentally appropriate reason you hear children (and sometimes parents) do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He does the intro on the show. "Hi, this is Murray, and I'm looking for... the word on the street!" He does a bit at the end, too.

I equate him to the MC of the show. He introduced the segments and reinforces the number and/or letter of the day. I have to admit, I think the whole "Murray had a little lamb" song is catchy.

[Anonymous]

"Elmo" was my 18 month old nephew's first word. He elongates the "o"... like "Elmoooooooooooo". My SIL said it's kind of like his "Ommm" during meditation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He does the intro on the show. "Hi, this is Murray, and I'm looking for... the word on the street!" He does a bit at the end, too.

I equate him to the MC of the show. He introduced the segments and reinforces the number and/or letter of the day. I have to admit, I think the whole "Murray had a little lamb" song is catchy.

Hee! It is.