The internet has traumatized my child
My 3 1/2 year old daughter can't read books yet, but she can use a computer and navigate the Nick Junior website. It's wild stuff man.
Recently she found some pretty disturbing videos on it. She's was crying for half an hour saying "It's a person. Click the camera. It's a person".
She had found some clips of the actors who do the voices on the show Go! Diego Go!. "Click The Camera" is a cartoon camera on the show and Rosie Perez does the voice.
Up until that moment, she thought the show was real. A cartoon show. With talking animals and cameras. I dunno either. But she's 3 1/2 so I'll cut her some slack.
Anyway, she was very upset. When I explained that actors do the voices and it's make believe, they just pretend so that it's fun, she just cried more. When I asked why she was crying, she said she didn't know.
Poor kid, she was just overwhelmed.
Eventually she calmed down and became curious and rewatched a video of the boy who does the voice of Diego. Then she wanted to go visit the voice actors. I explained that California is a long long way away, and she just started balling. I then said someday we'll go to California to meet them. But not now.
I regret making that promise, but it's not like I can keep it anyway. We can't just drive up to their houses and say "Howdy! Beautiful Day huh? Listen, my kid wanted to meet you, can we come in?" I think I have to keep making excusing and putting it off until my daughter is old enough to understand how awkward that would be.
Posted January 6, 2008 2:47 PM
Comments
A lot of the studios have studio tours; so if you come by Los Angeles it might not be so impossible. :-)
I tried searching for it and came across this, that your daughter might like:
http://oceania.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=253376
(assuming that you are in the US)
:-)
- ask
Ask Bjørn Hansen, January 7, 2008 2:43 AM
I hear ya! Mine -- just now 4 years old -- hasn't quite figured out that cartoons are not real, but she has figured out some other things and generally has an adverse reaction to it herself. I think it all has to do with their sense of the world and how it operates. When they come to these realizations everything changes drastically. After all, keep in mind that to her cartoons are a big big part of her world and very important. She doesn't know any thing about bills, mortgage, jobs, politics, etc. yet so cartoons and the like fill that gap as major centers of importance. And then one day, in a flash, it all comes crashing down.
During Christmas my daughter saw Santa so many times it was ridiculous. And, of course, each one looked a little different. She picked up on this pretty quick and when the old stand-by answer of "that's not really Santa, he's one of Santa's helpers" was given she just looked at me with that "don't BS daddy, I see right through you" look. So, I don't know how long this whole Santa thing is going to last and I totally sympathize with you!
Corey, January 7, 2008 4:34 PM
Of all the poor people traumatized by internet videos, I think she got off pretty easy. Here's hoping this was her first and last time.
Cynic, January 9, 2008 4:10 AM
Perhaps you can take her to Go! Diego, Go! On Ice! Then she can meet the real Diego and prove that not everything on the internet is true.
Bill, January 10, 2008 12:02 AM
Great story, brings back fond memories of my son at that age. My favorite was discussing the moon with him while driving him home at night. Why is it moving around and following us. Out of sight out of mind.
You'll be amazed at what you'll do for her. Everyone is accessible, especially for the children. After all what else is there. Enjoy it man, in an instant you'll be writing a comment like this :)
Bob Dionne, January 10, 2008 7:38 AM
Just wait until the connection is made between chicken the animal and chicken the food.
Thankfully, beef and cows are not the same.
Andy Broyles, January 10, 2008 2:51 PM
IT'S A COOK BOOK!!!!!!!
(ok, time for me to get to bed)
John Smart, January 12, 2008 1:43 AM
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