My Sixteen Year Old Girl Watches Nothing But Cartoons!?

Question

I am a little worried about my sixteen year old daughter. She watches cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants, Fairly Odd Parents and children-oriented shows like Drake and Josh and Lizzie McGuire. I am absolutely fine with that - I enjoy a classic cartoon every now and then myself. But that's ALL she watches! Her peers watch shows like Friends, The OC, Gilmore Girls, MTV, Sex and the City etc. But those shows bore her. After twenty minutes of giving a different show a try, she reverts back to watching Rugrats. I don't want to stifle her - but she is an only child, has no friends, has poor social skills and has very little interaction with people her age. Should I be concerned that she's 16 and ALL she watches are shows meant for the 12 and under group?

Hello, everyone - how about *actually reading* the background info before jumping to conclusions? Her grades are more than okay, but she has an incredibly difficult time relating to her peers. I am constantly being told how my daughter acts like a 6-year-old. I hate to admit it, but I do know where they're coming from...at home, she literally babbles nonsense words like a three-year-old, has ZERO responsibility (even though I try to trust her). She is not mentally deficient, because her grades and ability to communicate with adults has proved otherwise. Oh and she won't even watch animations like The Avatar Last Airbender or Kim Possible - she purely sticks with purely silly goofball cartoons, and I really just want her to act her age.

Answer 1

I would be concerned but concerned in an interested sort of way. As her parent, she needs you to guide her towards more structure. Instead of encouraging other television shows, try getting her to watch less TV and use this extra time to bond with her more. You don't even have to formally tell her what you're doing. But in helping her to disconnect from these kinds of shows and helping her to connect better with you and with things that require thought and consideration she will come to associate you as an anchor in her life. Adolescence is tough. She's reverting back into childhood because she's afraid of all these changes taking place and she doesn't know how to handle it. But you really can and are the one to help her. If you want to talk more about it just msg me.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

I know what you mean, cartoons today don't have the depth that those classics do. Saturday mornings, I'd get up at 8 am, couldn't wait for Fox Kids and Kids WB. In the afternoon, I'd flip to Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon. Scooby-Doo, Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, PowerPuff Girls, Jackie Chan Adventures, The Centurions, Gargoyles, Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Quack Pack, Animaniacs, Freakazoid

Answer 3

So she likes - and would prefer to - watch cartoons? I am in my 30's, and I watch cartoons most of the day.

She might feel like she is treated like a child, and is acting out in a way. These cartoons might also offer comfort to her, for she is afraid of growing up, like the others her age.

Speak to her teachers. Are her grades okay? Does she hand in her homework, and does she participate during class?

She is at a tough age, and teenage girls (let's face it) are not nice. They can be mean, and they can make anyone feel like crap if they are not part of the "right" crowd. She might be having a hard time socializing, and the girls around her are not making it very easy for her. I would relax. Talk to her. Ask her if things are going okay at school. Maybe offer to take her and a friend to the movies or out to eat. She might just feel like she can't be social with others because she has nothing to offer. It is up to you as the parent to give her the tools for socializing and being confident in herself. Is she good at something - a hobby, talent, sport? Does she enjoy the cartoons due to the animation? Maybe there is a budding artist within. . .

I would let her alone. If her schoolwork is suffering, then maybe getting her to a councelor, or someone that she can speak to in total confidence, and will be able to get her to talk. But I don't really see any cause for concern. Everyone matures socially at different rates. Maybe in a few months she will think all the shows she is watching are all immature, and will move onto the shows like the ones the others her age are watching.

And really, most of the shows listed that her peers watch aren't really that fitting for sixteen year olds. I mean, Sex in the City? I think that show is aimed towards a more mature crowd.

Answer 4

The more you worry about it, the more she'll camp there. By no means give her the impression that there's something wrong with her. I am sure it's a phase. She must be lingering in that stage where she doesn't want to give up childhood, and that's ok. The fact that she's an only child may have played a role here, since children w/out siblings tend to be overwhelmed by adult role models more than the others... just let her be a kid. That's what she's yearning after. It will pass.. Encourage her to find friends that enjoy some of the same cartoons... The reason she doesn't have good social skills may be because she can't relate to anybody in her universe..
Just wait it out. Good luck!

Answer 5

when I was 16 I was looking for hot romantic sex and whatever would get me high. You are lucky she sound very authentically sweet and the innocence and preference for childlike things just means she is not trying to grow up too fast. BE GLAD. When she meets someone she feels safe enough around to be freinds with I'mm sure it will be a lifetime friendship. Let her be sweet. Maybe she'll be a primary grades teacher when she's grown. Childlike spirit is a fantastic trait. Help her get a job in a toystore or babysitting for children. Then she can work on social encounters. Cartooning classes at the community center or college. Go with her at first if you have to , never hurts to know how to draw a little something. Then she can create her own cartoon. Cartooning software exists with drop and drag editing and sound. I like drake and josh and SB

Answer 6

You really want her watching MTV??? Have you seen some of the crap showing on there lately??? She's better off watching cartoons!

So she's not popular at school. So what? At least she's not on dope or sleeping with half the football team.

If she watches primarily animated shows, why not steer her toward some Japanese anime. Anime tends to offer subject matter geared toward someone of her age. You may want to check with your cable or satellite company to see if the Anime Network or the Funimation Channel is offered. I'm sure the Cartoon Network is in your home as anime like Naruto and Inu Yasha are shown on there frequently. And if you have a Netflix or Blockbuster Online account, enter some anime DVDs in your queue. Let your daughter select some if space permits. There's lots out there to choose from. And check to see if there's an anime club in your area. Most colleges have some kind of club. Also, check to see if there are anime conventions held in your area. The latter two suggestions may help with her social skills and making friends with similar interests. You'd be surprised how these activities can help without making you out to be the heavy.

BTW, who says Spongebob et al is only for kids? Some of those shows have a broad appeal regardless of age. I personally like those classic Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry cartoons. And anime, of course.

And check out some of the links below dealing with anime.

Answer 7

You know i barely find 16 year olds watching this sort of stuff, I personally think its great, its one less younger teen out there that you have to worry about being pregnant or doing drugs possibly. When i was 16 i had friends that loved cartoons like that and even designed there bedroom wall with it and thought it was the coolest thing ever i myself was interested in Friends and MTV those were like my fav shows to watch. Even now i dont like cartoons but my hubby enjoys them and he is 30 but has a wonderful social life, i dont think cartoons would fail your social life or stop you from interaction with other people its all how the individual goes about it, at that age i didnt have much of a social life only cause i choosed not to i did interact with other people but not my own age people that were already in there 20s only cause i felt that i had more in common with them and than i met my hubby and he showed me around and i have a better social life than when i was 16. She probably wants to waite until she is a little older to have that sort of social life. But your daughter is just fine. Good Luck

Answer 8

no, dont be concerned. thats just what she likes to watch ..and come on the o.c. and sex and the city? you should be glad shes not watching that i think she just likes those shows better, finds them interesting, funny and more entertaining than others you mentioned.
listen, i stopped watching cartoons until i was about her age..actually i still watch those kind of shows when i have time.. i live with my 3 little cousins so when theyre watching carotons i join them( nickleodeon, disney chanel)..it was until later that i started getting more interested in mtv and other shows

but yeah, dont worry, just give her time to grow, some people like me, take a while but its no biggie, she has many many years to be an adult but not as many to be a child so its kind of nice that shes enjoying her youth :P

haha i love avatar the last airbende and fairly oddparents and im not ashamed to say it!

but if you want her to be a little more mature about other things you can try making her feel more independent and grown up

Answer 9

I'm 32 and Drake & Josh is one of my favorite shows. I love it. I also watch Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and a few other cartoons.

Maybe she doesn't watch those other shows because she can't relate to them. I mean...Sex and the City?! Have you watched that show? I have and I would rather my 16 year old daughter didn't. It isn't what I'd consider appropriate and I doubt it is anything close to what she can relate to. The OC? Complete crap. MTV? Again, crap!

Maybe you should give your daughter credit for knowing crap television, that panders to the lowest common denominator, when she sees it.

Answer 10

You know I have a 12, 10, 8 & 5 year old.
they all love cartoons and I am so happy that there are fun cartoons out there that I can watch with them! They grow so fast! I wouldn't worry about it too much. Have you tried to take her out for coffee and had a chatt see what she is going through?
Maybe she need some mom time. Hope all goes well

Answer 11

NO!, you should not be concerned. Everyone has their own style in everything. For an instance, you wouldn't watch MTV- mainly because it is targeted to the younger generation. Your daughter has is still in her teens. Teens have alot to decide for themselves. Eventually, she'll grow out of it and move on to something else. Remember, you cannot make choices for her, she has to make the choice of stop watching cartoons. Otherwise, seek a family psychotherapist, if you feel that you need to.