That’s right. I said it. Dora is ineffective. To be fair, if the effect you are going for is a glassy eyed child, you will have hit your mark with Dora the Explorer. But if your goal involves your child getting up and moving, you would be better off throwing your kid, a loaf of bread, and a pound of bologna on the porch and locking the door. (Not that I’ve ever done that. Bologna isn’t cheap like it was when I was a kid.)
I was able to get some pictorial evidence of Dora’s ineffective attempts to get my kids moving.
“Can you say leche? (Pause for them to participate) Good! Muy bien!”
“Everyone! Count with me to save the baby jaguar!”
“Uno! Dos! Tres! You can do it!”
“Can you help the wind blow the hot air balloon higher? Bien! Higher! Muy bien!”
“Great job! You helped so much!”
Uh, Dora? Over here, Dora. They didn’t do anything to help, and I get the idea that they are very much aware that you can’t hear them. Dora, do you think my kids are dumb? Because you talk like you think they’re dumb. We haven’t met yet, Dora, but I happen to be the mother of two kids that aren’t taking you seriously. They’re too clever.
My kids used to, for a little while, respond and help Dora. But very quickly they realized that it really didn’t matter what they did or said. Dora wouldn’t hear them.
On the other hand they do still tell Super Why what their names are.
Ryland never did participate in the cartoons when told to. Raylee on the other hand, jumps and yells, and claps and does whatever they tell her to. I’m sure she will grow out of it soon when she also realizes that it doesn’t really help Dora along.
What a crazy show.
Bella participated more at about 3. Now she sits and stares. Not even Larry’s silly songs get her moving anymore.
Kenzie never participated. I saw Ian almost do what Diego told him to do one time, but his lip wrinkled and he paused to see if his inactivity would be noticed. He saw that it was a scam and sat back down.
Good news is that our kids appear to have critical thinking well in hand.
This is so true! We’ve never watched Dora, but Mickey does the same thing on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and I would sit there with my girls and be trying to get them into it, and they just do like your kiddos… stare. Which is why we’re back to PBS and why we’re buying a playscape!!! No more couch potatoes, warmer weather is coming!!!
(By the way, I totally cracked up when I read this post, and I showed it to Josh and he did too.)