Is it o.k. that my 2 and a half yr. old daughter likes to watch.....?

Question

Dr. 90210 on the E station. She loves plastic surgery. She loves the before and after shots. I've asked a few people and they said it was fine and that maybe she'll be a nurse or doctor. But, the other day she told me that a girl we saw at the store needed rinoplasty(nose job). I told her no one needs one unless they can't breath through their nose. She says, "Mom, trust me, she can't breath with that nose". Should I not worry until she starts thinking she needs it? So far, she's never had a single moment of low self-esteem. If anything. she tells everyone how pretty and smart she is. She knows Jesus loves her. If I change the channel when there's plastic surgery on she flips out.

Answer 1

She is 2 years old. What she is seeing is how people are 'helped' out by surgery. In other words, because she sees people being made 'better', her mind equates the surgery with something that is good, and that people could/should use.

Also, her experience is very very limited; she doesn't have the depth of knowledge to know whether or not someone truly needs to have rinoplasty done or not. Her confidence and conviction that people need to be helped are enough 'information' for her to determine that her opinions are correct.

Try sitting down with her while the program is on, and asking her advice on what is going on. Have her explain why she thinks the people are getting surgery. You don't want to blatantly contradict her, but you do want to gently present her with other ideas. Since I have never seen the show, I don't know what people are being helped on it, but it sounds like a doctor who helps people not because they medically need it but because they emotionally and psychologically need it. In other words, they might be doing it because they have money to spend, and are afraid of looking 'ugly'. Try to encourage her that feelings and fears of being ugly can be why people do things too, and that someone who doesn't believe they are ugly doesn't have to have the surgery done either.

She could also be at the 'princess' stage, so grown-up images of glamour and transformation can make a person feel happy. You could try reading her stories where it is the feeling of being loved that makes a person beautiful too, something that can balance against what she sees. It is not that she is wrong, it is simply that there is more than one way to be 'beautiful' in life.

Answer 2

A 2 1/2 yr old telling you a woman in a store needs a nose job? You have got to be kidding me. First of all, Dr. 90210 is an adult show- I have watched it a few times, and they talk very openly about the "private" parts of a body- I would not allow my child to watch it at all- that is of course up to you. She flips out when you change the channel? You are the mom she is a toddler- I think that is enough said, don't you? If she is judging others already at 2 what do you think she will do as a teenager? God created all of us. She is already obsessed with looks- be very careful. She knows Jesus loves her, and since God does not make mistakes you should be teaching your child that the value of a person is not in their looks but in their worth that they have in being children of God.

Answer 3

This is something she should probably not be watching anymore. If she likes to watch surgeries, there are plenty on the Discovery Channel, TLC, and others that don't focus on improving your appearance and will maybe help her realize that surgery is usually done for medical necessity. Also, pay attention to the rating system on the TV shows. She probably shouldn't be watching anything other than a TV-Y or TV-G rating. You can find the ratings guidelines at www.tvguidelines.org

Answer 4

The last line of the paragraph really concerns me. "If I change the channel when there's plastic surgery on she flips out." Its important that you as a parent are in control and not giving in to her "fits". Now, because this question is under "religion and spirituality", I should note that vain plastic surgery, is prideful and the bible never refers to pride as a good thing; ever. Perhaps you could replace watching a secular TV show with reading scriptures to her?

Answer 5

I am a person of faith also and the father of 14 and 11 year olds. I suggest you nip this in the bud. What I am hearing you say is that she is learning judgment at a very early age. Judgment gets a bad name in non-Christian circles. The fact is that we all do it and its not necessarily bad as long as we are judging according to God's standards rather than our own.

I would be concerned if my child was pointing out other people and saying they "need" plastic surgery. When she has a cow because you won't let her watch what she wants, put her in time-out and tell her she is not allowed to treat you that way. You make the rules about what she watches.....not her.

You will have many confrontations in life with your child. It would be prudent for you to establish who is the boss right now. Otherwise, in 10 or 12 years she will tell you that she has decided to smoke pot and really doesn't care what you think about it. What would you do then?

Answer 6

It's not a matter of low self-esteem, her self-esteem is probably too LARGE...She seems like a stuck-up, mean, brat, and it can only get worse when she gets older, it's not right of a person to let their 2! year old daughter watch a show like that...sounds like there is trouble in the future.

And ofcourse -God- loves her, but your her Mother and you need to teach her what's right.

If my young daughter said that about somebody, I'd be teaching her one huge lesson.

Answer 7

I wouldn't want my young daughter exposed to all that. There are certainly worse things she could watch but I wouldn't go putting that in her head just yet. People should think of plastic surgery as abnormal, not just a regular part of life, and if she's exposed to it regularly at such a young age she might develop a skewed perspective of how common it is.

Not to mention they only present the good side of plastic surgery in there, never a balanced perspective. It would be like letting your kids learn about drugs from only listening to "The Chronic." They ought to hear both sides of the story if they are going to be exposed to it at all.

Answer 8

The only problem I've read is that your daughter "flips out" when you change the channel. What will her reaction be like in ten years? Something to consider............

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Answer 9

I believe your daughter was a doctor in her past life. It is very common that young children remember details from their past life more than adults can do.

I saw a boy once, not much older than your daughter that he could talk about the engines of airplanes with a lot of mechanical details. He could even describe strategies of attack in the air. He could even say names of pilots. After a long search, we found out those names he was talking about really existed in WWII. So, there is only one answer, that boy had something to do with airplanes and war altogether in his previous life. It is amazing.

So, don't be scared. It is natural. She just remember her past life. She might forget those details though as time passes by and she grows. But if she really loves it, she will probably look forward to be a doctor.

Peace!

Answer 10

I think your little girl is a very smart little one;
Let her watch it; what harm can it do? If she has questions, answer them honestly and concisely. You seem to be doing a fine job of it so far, and you know that some folks who hold high-level jobs, or actors, etc., say they have had the desire since they were barely able to walk. So, sure, maybe she is destined for a medical career.
Let her watch it; God bless her, she's really a cool little kid!! You must be very proud of her...