bj72
03-26-2010, 11:15 AM
So, I am enjoying a break this morning (unusual with four children). I am sipping on a cup of coffee, reading email and the forums, when my nine year old comes out of the playroom to announce that she is less than satisfied with what she saw as she and two of her three brothers were watching Nick Jr's Team Umizoomi show.
She said the characters on the show wanted some milk (I think it wasn't delivered as normal or something), so they went to the farmer's house. They peaked through the window (she later said it was spying), and he was sick in bed. So they went and got the milk. I didn't catch the problem at first, and then it hit me, lol.....I had her clarify, and then she very clearly pointed out they stole it. I asked her if they knocked on the door & asked for the farmer's permission (or maybe called). She said "No Mom, they just went and got it without asking...isn't that stealing?" Pending no prior agreement (which was not conveyed on the show), I'd have to agree that was stealing. She went promptly back and turned off the show (I didn't say a word, all her, lol). She announced in the playroom it was "not appropriate" :)
Then one of her younger brothers (six years old) got upset. I'm in an adjoining room and hear all, so I told him to come speak with me. He said the show wasn't bad and wanted to watch it. I asked him to relay what he saw. As he did, he all the sudden got a "click" of a recognition in his face. I then asked him that if the three individuals (someone in blue, someone in pink and a robot) knocked, asked the farmer for permission and he said yes they could have milk, but said he was sick and they'd need to help by getting it themselves, would that be stealing? He replied "no", and I agreed they'd be okay in getting the milk since they asked first and received permission. I then asked if they knocked and he said "no, not today", or "no", that if they continued to get milk, would that be stealing? My son said "yes", I of course agreed. I then asked my son if they entered on the farmer's land, do not knock or ask for permission, and then go take the milk is that stealing? He looked down, and nodded. He then asked the obvious question "Mom, why would they teach that to us?"
Now we don’t watch a ton of tv, but we do allow KidsPBS and Nick Jr on occasion as well as a few select other shows on stations. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find shows that are wholesome to watch, and we’ve noticed with some of the “wholesome” shows that material is slipping in that alarms us. Most of the stuff my children watch is on DVDs. We are scheduled to move next month, and dh is seriously considering canceling DirectTv (tv in general...no cable either). When he hears this tonight, this will probably just solidify his decision.
Unfortunately my daughter had already switched the station by the time I thought to go look myself. I looked up Team Umizoomi on Nick Jr’s page. It was Season 1, episode 7 “The Milk Out”. There is one review on Amazon now: http://www.amazon.com/The-Milk-Out/dp/B0037LIZLA. In the review the parent says “When Milli (dress changes to match patterns), Geo (has special shape-making belt), and Bot (belly screen) want to have cereal for breakfast, they find out they need milk. At the same time, the Umi alarm goes off, and it turns out kids all over Umi City have run out of milk as well, hence "The Milk Out." Milk is not available anywhere. The team zooms over to the farm, only to find the farmer is too sick to work. Using their math powers, the team gets the cows to their stalls for milking, and get the milk to the factory to fill all the cartons in the right order. Milli makes chocolate and strawberry milk with her power, and Geo puts together a super milk truck. The milk order is delivered to Umi City just in the nick of time. Educational themes in the show include: patterns, classification/sorting, and simple geometry.”
Now, in the review I do not catch them asking the farmer for permission either. I guess presumably the farmer gets paid since the milk goes to the factory. But is this really the case? I mean, if the farmer is having a “sick out” and doesn’t want the cows milked then didn’t Team Umizoomi impede on his property rights? It appears they didn’t ask according to my children and this review. Isn’t this a case of a small “mob” going and taking the farmer’s property and distributing it without his permission for the good of Umi City?
Am I reading too much into this, or is this a very subtle way of teaching ends justifies the means to children? My daughter also asked the obvious question “Why didn’t the kids all over Umi City have toast with OJ or water”? lol. We discussed exploring other options, asking the farmer if they could help, etc vice just taking the milk without permission. Perhaps Umi City is a society based of communism? Not sure…Nick Jr shows will now be scrutinized more fully though ;)
She said the characters on the show wanted some milk (I think it wasn't delivered as normal or something), so they went to the farmer's house. They peaked through the window (she later said it was spying), and he was sick in bed. So they went and got the milk. I didn't catch the problem at first, and then it hit me, lol.....I had her clarify, and then she very clearly pointed out they stole it. I asked her if they knocked on the door & asked for the farmer's permission (or maybe called). She said "No Mom, they just went and got it without asking...isn't that stealing?" Pending no prior agreement (which was not conveyed on the show), I'd have to agree that was stealing. She went promptly back and turned off the show (I didn't say a word, all her, lol). She announced in the playroom it was "not appropriate" :)
Then one of her younger brothers (six years old) got upset. I'm in an adjoining room and hear all, so I told him to come speak with me. He said the show wasn't bad and wanted to watch it. I asked him to relay what he saw. As he did, he all the sudden got a "click" of a recognition in his face. I then asked him that if the three individuals (someone in blue, someone in pink and a robot) knocked, asked the farmer for permission and he said yes they could have milk, but said he was sick and they'd need to help by getting it themselves, would that be stealing? He replied "no", and I agreed they'd be okay in getting the milk since they asked first and received permission. I then asked if they knocked and he said "no, not today", or "no", that if they continued to get milk, would that be stealing? My son said "yes", I of course agreed. I then asked my son if they entered on the farmer's land, do not knock or ask for permission, and then go take the milk is that stealing? He looked down, and nodded. He then asked the obvious question "Mom, why would they teach that to us?"
Now we don’t watch a ton of tv, but we do allow KidsPBS and Nick Jr on occasion as well as a few select other shows on stations. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find shows that are wholesome to watch, and we’ve noticed with some of the “wholesome” shows that material is slipping in that alarms us. Most of the stuff my children watch is on DVDs. We are scheduled to move next month, and dh is seriously considering canceling DirectTv (tv in general...no cable either). When he hears this tonight, this will probably just solidify his decision.
Unfortunately my daughter had already switched the station by the time I thought to go look myself. I looked up Team Umizoomi on Nick Jr’s page. It was Season 1, episode 7 “The Milk Out”. There is one review on Amazon now: http://www.amazon.com/The-Milk-Out/dp/B0037LIZLA. In the review the parent says “When Milli (dress changes to match patterns), Geo (has special shape-making belt), and Bot (belly screen) want to have cereal for breakfast, they find out they need milk. At the same time, the Umi alarm goes off, and it turns out kids all over Umi City have run out of milk as well, hence "The Milk Out." Milk is not available anywhere. The team zooms over to the farm, only to find the farmer is too sick to work. Using their math powers, the team gets the cows to their stalls for milking, and get the milk to the factory to fill all the cartons in the right order. Milli makes chocolate and strawberry milk with her power, and Geo puts together a super milk truck. The milk order is delivered to Umi City just in the nick of time. Educational themes in the show include: patterns, classification/sorting, and simple geometry.”
Now, in the review I do not catch them asking the farmer for permission either. I guess presumably the farmer gets paid since the milk goes to the factory. But is this really the case? I mean, if the farmer is having a “sick out” and doesn’t want the cows milked then didn’t Team Umizoomi impede on his property rights? It appears they didn’t ask according to my children and this review. Isn’t this a case of a small “mob” going and taking the farmer’s property and distributing it without his permission for the good of Umi City?
Am I reading too much into this, or is this a very subtle way of teaching ends justifies the means to children? My daughter also asked the obvious question “Why didn’t the kids all over Umi City have toast with OJ or water”? lol. We discussed exploring other options, asking the farmer if they could help, etc vice just taking the milk without permission. Perhaps Umi City is a society based of communism? Not sure…Nick Jr shows will now be scrutinized more fully though ;)