Why do little kids think Elmo is the shiz-nit? For the life of me I cannot figure this out. He is the most moronic monster on Sesame Street, can only refer to himself in the third person, has an unhealthy obsession with his goldfish and yet he is like toddler crack. About a month ago, the Elmo addiction invaded our house. Prior to this Jillian could care less about TV unless Wheel of Fortune or the Sleep Country USA commercial was on (she seriously loves that commercial for some unknown reason). Now, at least a dozen times a day, she brings us the TV remote saying "Elmo, Elmo!" Smart kid. She knows that we have episodes recorded. The second we start directing the TV to the DVR screen showing Big Bird she screams with delight. Then it's "Elmo" this and "Elmo" that. Until Abby the flying fairy comes on. For some inexplicable reason Jillian detests Abby. She'll say "No! Abby no! Arrrghhh! Abby no!" and then she'll bring you the remote again demanding that you fast forward past the Abby segment.
We only have about a dozen episodes of Sesame Street recorded so Jeramy and I know them all. We can sing along with the songs. We know the words, numbers and letters of the day. We know the names of all the monsters. Even worse, we know the names of all the people too. We know all the different segments (personally, I like Murray Had a Little Lamb). My God...I didn't even get this much SS watching in when I was three.
Being such responsible parents and paying close attention to all that research admonishing TV for children under two, we have tried widening her television show repertoire to no avail. Any time the TV is on she wants "Elmo" and we either need to distract her, ignore a fit or cave. How about Clifford? Or Dora? Or Sponge Bob? But all I hear is "No, Elmo!"
*sigh*
This is one phase I could do without. At least Hayden is happy to watch whatever I want to see on TV.
9 comments:
We don't have cable. We watch very little actual tv. We (I) also was adamant that my child would not be watching television at a young age. Yet my 16 month old knows Elmo. And her eyes light up & she swings & dances when he comes on at 10 am. She watches tv while eating breakfast- I know the hubs parks her in front of it, but only for that time. I'm not thrilled about it- but hey- at least it's not Dora! Oh- we have this one commercial for Wawa (like a 7-11, but so much better!) that has all psychedelic colors & hippies getting hoagies & she just LOVES it!
And Elmo has been 3-1/2 for about 40 years now... it may be time to grow up a little!
Katherine LOVES Elmo. She hasn't figured out to ask for him yet - Thank God. But she loves any puppet character. Her first love was Jack from Jack's Big Music Show...
Trip likes Elmo, but his Dad decided Sponge Bob was more palatable. So my child won't say much, but he sings "Ooooooohhhhhh...Puh-Bob Puh-Bob, Puh-Bob Puh Bob". Sigh.
Jen, it really could be a lot worse...remember Barney?
I wanted to stab myself in the ear whenever he was on tv.
We just started t.v. over here this week and Elmo is a favorite, too. But for some reason, Will was obsessed with him BEFORE he even knew that he was on t.v. Will also likes Caillou (which I find even more annoying than Elmo) and. . . BARNEY (also more annoying). Hopefully, it's just a passing phase.
I'm scared for what Elmo holds for me in the future. Although, I do love Jillian's silly face that she is making because of him!
Elmo was specifically designed to be "the one" that would appeal to toddlers. They did a good job, apparently. LL turns two in less than a month, and we have so far been blessedly spared all obsession (or even awareness) of television characters. I know that it's only a matter of time, though. For now, I appreciate that the only television LL has ever seen is sporting events and political speeches.
E HATED Elmo and now just doesn't like him. So there ya go. They don't all. haha
Ugh - I don't get it either. I would turn the TV on every so often just for background noise and I remember Skeeter being glued to the television - all glassy eyed and slack jawed - when he was really too young to be understanding the TV. It is EXACTLY like crack for babies.
And my biggest hang up - I can't freaking understand a word that little muppet says.
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