This article sparked my interest yesterday. Then I read this guy’s post, and now I have something to say. DadCamp sat down with his family to watch a special that he and his wife probably would have considered a Halloween classic when, oh the horror!, Charlie Brown is teased by friends and gets a few rocks in his Halloween bag.
They have now banned this iconic show as well as all other Charlie Brown specials because they do not want to expose their children to “bullying”. While I understand that bullying has been put in the spotlight and there have been some terrible cases of extreme bullying, there is definitely a difference between bullying and teasing amongst friends.
DadCamp’s reaction to the tv special set me on edge. I called my mom and asked her if she thought I learned to be a bully from Charlie Brown. While I don’t have children of my own, I know that I am 27 years old and have watched this TV special for as long as I can remember and that it didn’t teach me to be a bully. While Charlie seems to get quite a few rocks, he is still out with his friends. Sure, he’s called Blockhead but I can think of a song or two that many kids hear that call people worse things. If a child is not exposed to a little bit of cartoon teasing vs. bullying how will they know the difference? Also, I feel that if parents see a situation in a cartoon or real life that shows a little bit of the real world that makes them uncomfortable, then maybe it’s a good opportunity for a teaching moment with their family. If you don’t want your kids teasing their friends because of their costume choice, make sure that you let them know. Don’t leave it up to the tv special to be the last word. The Charlie Brown specials are great at illustrating life lessons, good friends, and a little classic Americana. Would you rather have your kids (or grown children with their kids) sit down with you to watch Linus wait for the Great Pumpkin or wait until you go to bed to watch some slasher movie?
While I don’t want to tell anyone how to parent I do want to say one thing to DadCamp. Good Grief, it’s just Charlie Brown!
Make sure you watch the Charlie Brown election special! No really, it exists and I own it on DVD.
Wonderings of a Twenty Something 
Seriously?! What’s next – the Road Runner? I mean really, they drop an anvil on the coyote’s head over and over. And run him off cliffs. Maybe we should just be responsible for our own actions…
I just think that this guy need to use this as a teaching opportunity for his kids instead of banning some of the classics!
“banned?” That’s a little strong, and I never said that. You have linked to someone else’s interpretation of my article, not my original work. Try reading what I wrote here:
http://blogs.babble.com/kid-scoop/2012/10/20/its-time-to-retire-charlie-brown/
I just don’t think the program has appropriate language and themes for a FIVE and THREE year old. That is my parenting lens (as I clearly explained in the original piece). My boys are young.
Personally, I’d like to see a reboot with content relevant to 2012, instead of 1966. That was almost 50 years ago.
Thanks for weighing in.
@dadCamp Thanks for your comments. I linked to both articles I believe but thanks for making sure we have the right url. I understand that your children are young but if your 5 year old is in school/daycare he might be exposed to these themes. Isn’t it a good time to talk to him about teasing in terms he understands? Might have some good illustration points.
People need to lighten up and teach a sense of humor. Overly sensitive people are annoying and have a hard life. Laugh and go back to sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” It still works.
(and let’s stop revising “classics”…create something new, OK?)
Oh, please remember the son of the last Russian Czar: hemophilia. THey actually wrapped all the trees to try and protect him from harm. In the end they couldn’t protect him from life.
There is a similarity. You can’t protect kids from everything. Best to raise self confident kids who are strong enough to take difficulties/conflicts without being destroyed.
Thanks for leaving a comment! Really appreciate it! Really hope that most kids get to enjoy the things that make them kids, like playing outdoors and watching great cartoons!
Kids that young need to be working on gross and fine motor skills and building vocabulary – none of which is assisted by watching TV (the great babysitter..which practices eye muscles focusing straight ahead – not moving sideway to side as needed for pre-reading/reading)
But sure certain blogger thanks everyone for getting his stats up.