To Avoid During Early Childhood or What?

[Tara]

I guess it would be interesting to share what should or should not be avoided (or at least moderated) during early childhood. The following is just my opinion. Don't be afraid to share yours or inquire.

The following comment was about Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher from the "gas, oil and the british government" thread.

cenk said:

(She also rejected the idea of a Disney Land being built in the UK (I was angry when I was much younger )

Good. We don't need Disney everywhere. Disney and McDonald's... if you can avoid exposing your children to too much of that stuff....I just say stay away... Disney needs to stay away from their stereotypes (or promoting) and McDonald's should continue to try to improve the food so you don't land on the throne

[PhantomsPandora]

Here comes a rant...excuse me....

Ugh..Disney expanding every where. Disney is supposed to be a special thing..not something everybody's sick to death of. And yes. I love disney, but even I have my limits. Take Six Flags for example, most of those are closing. Want to know why? Because a family can't afford to go there for the day anymore and have a good time. The zoo is expensive. I went there back in March(hahah, they wanted me to stay and be apart of the exhibit but I said, nah, I'd much rather be wild). I don't know how it ever got to be so high.

OOH and were the people there rude! It used to be, that no one could bring their own strollers, they used ones(nice ones that children loved shaped to look like zoo animals) from the zoo). It was an awful experience in that we did not get to see everything we wanted to, the parking was bleh, I mean I didn't really want to go back. We paid so much for a bad time. Don't get me wrong, a city like Fort Worth has to have a zoo and has to have things to bring in people. They just won't bringing in me, that's all.

The movie theater is one thing that's to be avoided for small children. I'm sorry, I know childrens movies are geared towards children and that's fine, cool. But leave your BABIES AT FREAKING HOME! Everyone knows they're going to cry. I'd cry if I were in a noisy place, didn't know what was going on, people were laughing like hyenas, and there was a big screen in front of me.

I understand children are going to act up, because everybody's got to press buttons, but I also think that too many parents out there are waaaaaaaaaaay too selfish. Meaning they're willing to let a child act up in public and not remove the child who is ruining everyone elses good time. So I'd say most restaurants, a great deal of films...they're just off limits until the child is old enough to behave itself or.. I don't know. I haven't had any children and I know people with children always get so mad when someone without goes on about how they think they can raise them.

[dianaholberg]

I tell you one thing I'm all for: gym classes for young kids at the gym while Mom works out.

One of the new gyms near me just started offering this. I think it's great. It gives Mom a break and lets her work out in peace, plus allows the kids to use up some of that energy.

When my brother and I were kids, we ran and biked all over the neighborhood... climbed trees and fences... ran relay races all the time... Today kids aren't able to run free, so they're all super-hyper.

I'm surprised no one has opened supervised parks -- fenced in with lifeguards (like at the pool). If it weren't for the insurance costs the owners would have to pay, they'd make a fortune. (By the way, that's probably why the zoos and parks cost so much -- they have to insure themselves against possible lawsuits for the various things that might happen...)

[ophelia97]

Definitely leave your kids at home when you go to the movies. It's rude to disturb the people who paid to see the movie, and if your kid is old enough to follow along with it, they probably shouldn't be seeing more mature movies anyway. I remember watching an R-rated horror movie once and hearing a kid (about 5 years old, estimate) crying until the parent took them out of the theater.

I also think it's really sad when I see kids that are obese because their parents spoil them by giving in to whatever junk food they want to eat.

[Tara]

Yeah, that happend to a cousin of mine. Her mom took her to McD's everyday. Now, although she isn't extremely overweight or anything, but she gets made fun of and I see how it hurts her. I hope she pursues dance since that's what she really seems to enjoy.

[ophelia97]

I was thinking about how bad it is for their health, but now that you mention it, being overweight can't be too good for self esteem either. Kids can be so cruel with teasing.