Okay, I have had the firm rule of NO Spongebob Square pants in my house, but when I tell other parents they look at me like I'm crazy! The few times I have seen this show I have found it to be rude and disgusting, and honestly I do not want kids to act like that! I do not want to offend anyone, but that is how I see this show. Do you let your kids watch this show? Why or why not?
I might want to add all my kids are girls, and maybe that is a big part why I do not like the show. Their ages are 9, 4, and 3 and yes, I have been able to keep my 9 year old from getting into the Sponge Bob madness. Not an easy task I must say, but to me worth it!
We have no TV at home, only DVDs. This is the easiest way to control what your kids watch.
My daughter does watch it when she is at her friend's house. She is 4.
Sure! I teach my kids that just because they see or hear something on television -it doesn't mean they act that way in their lives. Sponge Bob isn't my favorite, so we usually find something else if it's tv time, but he has watched it and really likes it. Kids LIKE gross! Kids LIKE rude! That's why fart jokes and boogers have always been and will always be part of kids' lives. They have to be taught that it's not okay to act like that in real life, but it can be funny to watch. Television shouldn't be your child's teacher -it should be there to entertain them on occasion. If they happen to learn something cool off of Discovery or The History Channel or PBS -great -but no one should let their kids watch tv without reminding them frequently that just because something is funny to watch -it doesn't mean they can do it. That goes for language or broader instruction like -"Just because Jerry can set Tom on fire doesn't mean real people or animals can do that because it would hurt or kill them." I used to love to watch "Absolutely Fabulous" but I don't think it's okay to spend my days deep in a bottle of vodka. Funny to watch though!
spongebob is stupid no i dont watch it
SpongeBob is hilarious!!! My DD does not find interest in it...no matter how much I try...
Its a cartoon....seriously....EVERYBODY CALM DOWN!!!! I grew up in the 70's and 80's....children are smart...they KNOW its a cartoon....and by cartoon, I mean EXACTLY that, C A R T O O N.......
I feel that we as parents these days have a tendency to "bubble- wrap" our kids....expose them a little, teach them a little....let them problem solve and make their own deductions....prepare them for the world...To quote another mother "SpongeBob says 'stupid' and 'shut up'"....do you really think that Johnny is going to travel through life and NOT hear that?
My son is scared of Spongebob, and will leave the room if that show is on. I personally found some of the jokes funny... for teenagers, maybe. Actually my sister and I used to watch it for fun when in high school.
I am a teacher, and most kids I know do not like Spongebob. Quite a few moms have told me their kids get nightmares from him, too... so you are not alone in your opinions!! And I don't really think your kids are missing out....
We love SB. Our boys are 10, 7 and a newborn. It's funny, we actually see SpongeBob and Patrick as an example of a good, healthy friendship. They like each other unconditionally, enjoy acting silly, and are always there to help one another. Squidward is a good example of just how stuffy and closed-minded people can be and Mr Krabs is a good example of just how greedy people can be. Both Squidward and Mr Krabs usually pay a price for their behaviors while SB and Patrick just enjoy life. Sure, not every episode is a life lesson. Some are just fun, but what's wrong with that?
However, you are not alone. We know others that won't let their children watch it either. I certainly respect anyone's decision to not allow their kids to watch it, but with no much garbage on TV these days, we think SB is a good thing.
I think it is hilarious. My kids love it! I think they adore Spongebob, who is always cheerful, nice, and sweet and the other characters that are stupid or rude are not their role models. If there is rudeness, it is not shown to be a good thing.
No!!, I hate that show, I agree with you its rude and disgusting, and the voices are sooo annoying, even my son says ew to some things, so huge no!
You know I did not want my son to watch it because I thought the show was just dumb, but he started watching it with my husband. Well guess what- no matter what their age boys love shows with fart jokes and such. Rather than fight it, I just accept it...and I've got to admit the show makes me chuckle. Boys are boys and even my very sweet little one told me that "instead of cartoons, we should all watch fartoons where everyone farts." SIGH
It's my sons favorite show by far. I am always around him when he is watching TV so if there is rude behavior I always make sure to tell him, " See, thats not how we act" or something along the lines of rude behavior is not acceptable... Now he points out the naughty or rude things himself and says," I can't do that.." etc.. So it actually was sort of helpful! Just like on Kai-Lan... There is a character that is rude... but thats acceptable, right!?! :) Every parent is different!
I was just discussing this with my friends last week! Ha! No, I don't let my daughter watch it. She will be 3 this weekend. I prefer her to still watch the preschool shows while possible. She does seem to like Sponge Bob even though she hasn't seemed to get into other "big kid" shows, but I'm holding off as long as possible on this one! I think it depends how old your kids are, but it's definitely too much for my toddler!
I totally agree with you. That show is just plain dumb!!! I don't allow my kids to watch it when I'm home but my husband does when I'm out and he's watching them. I would prefer that they see something educational. Also this part is kinda funny but my boys 8 and 6 love Food Network, especially Cupcake Wars (they tivo it and watch when homework is done next day) and Iron Chef too. I guess they're not the typical American kids, lol.
I have boys, and they used to love it. They're teens now, and don't think it's funny anymore, probably because it's too silly. But I admit that I loved it when we were watching it. Spongebob taking forever to learn how to make a krabby patty - reminds me of my own cooking skills! Hysterical!
Excuse me - not what you wanted to hear! :)
Dawn
When our daughter was little and she would watch cartoons, I would ask her "Is this real?" "Is this really the way people act?".. She always looked at me like I was crazy and say," NO! This is just a cartoon and it is all make believe".. Do not underestimate children they are very bright.
If you think your children will be influenced, buy all means do not allow it..
I also used to talk to the TV news or make comments to the TV.. When our daughter was 3 she told me , "mom, it is just TV, they cannot hear you."
She is still calling me out on stuff I do..
My daughter is 3 and I don't allow it - it's just too stupid to me. My stepsons are 16 and 17 and will STILL watch Sponge Bob! Every weekend that they were over, TV ended up on Sponge Bob and I was like, really? Surely you have already seen every episode a hundred times! It drove me nuts but their mom saw nothing wrong with it, she thought it was funny. Now we live in a different state from them and they come out to visit 3 or 4 times a year. They were with us this past summer for 2 weeks and no matter what I had put on initially for my daughter (PBS Kids, Nick Jr., etc.), if they were around, it ended up on Sponge Bob. It was if there was a channel somewhere that was all Sponge Bob, 24 hours a day. The pineapple under the sea knew no time zone. I didn't say anything the first few times because I wanted them to enjoy their visit with us and not make waves, but finally I had to start putting my foot down, and tell them, look I don't want her watching Sponge Bob, okay? It's not like she is begging with me to watch it anyhow - she would rather watch Dora and Curious George. There were also all these wacky dumb cartoons they would put on that were on Cartoon Network and more geared toward tweens and I told them not when their baby sister was around.
I totally understand why you don't want your kids watching it, but if they did, hopefully they would not start imitating what they see. If they do, then it's time to have a talk about what is appropriate behavior and what you will and will not accept in your home. We watched Bugs Bunny cartoons growing up but didn't try to do the things that Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam and Wylie Coyote were doing. We knew it was just a cartoon. Sometimes when we totally forbid something, it just makes it that much alluring. Maybe only allow one episode a day to start and see where it goes. I don't like Sponge Bob either but I don't think it's the worst thing they could be watching.
I don't get it. What is rude or disgusting about Spongebob? Spongebob is a sweet, simple hearted guy that has great work ethic and goes a little overboard sometimes, just like we all do. He doesn't care about being popular, or cool (for the most part) and he enjoys the simple things in life. He's a good friend, a good worker, a good citizen, a good son/grandson and he has varied interests. He also never gives up (can't get his boating license but keeps trying). I think these are all things I'm cool with my kids seeing in a cartoon.
My 3 yo son has not seen it, nor have I. Once while flipping through channels I stopped to see what the hype was about, but it didn't hold my interest, so I kept channel surfing.
My 3 year old isn't interested in it, and that's fine, but me and my 9 year old (and hubby) all think it's hilarious. I think it's a pretty wholesome show considering what else there is out there.
I wouldn't have, but it was a battle I was not willing to fight with MY mother, for when she watched my son at her house. The "money money money" thing Mr. Krabs does has been a problem with our son since he started watching it (at age 3), but in he's been in my kiddo's list of heros for 5 years now. (The current list for the past 2 years has been pretty constant: SpongeBob, MasterChief, & Carl Sagan)