are we doing our children an injustice??

Question

are we doing our children an injustice by showing them Disney movies which are unrealsitic? Love doesn't always have a happily ever after, your prince charming doesn't always come to you, you have to work hard to make a relationship work, dating is part of love and so are heartbreaks. (that is true reality)

Answer 1

No its not an injustice, but catering to their happy childhood. Children are too young and nieve to be trusted into controversial relationships issues like so many of us adults deal with every day. Disney shows the ideal situation, and yes, alot of happily every afters are really out there. I would like my son to play and have fun at age 3 and not take life too seriously. Cartoons are innocent entertainment by Disney at least, and contain alot of positive messages that I would like him to learn.

I for one have been married 11 years and have one son. Our relationship is so comfortable that we work side by side together in a business that we made together 10 years ago. I and my wife are extreamly happy, because we work at it every day. Nothing comes free in life, especially those things most near and dear to us.

Answer 2

It's a little too late to start now, isn't it?

By the way, fairytales have been told so far back that their influence is entrenched in the culture of every civilization~not just fairytales but the stories of myths and legends. Disney isn't the only purveyor of these stories. There are dozens of other providers besides Disney/Pixar/etc.

If we don't grow beyond understanding that these are just stories, the fault isn't in the storytellers or the stories. The fault must lie elsewhere. It's the same with treatments of sex and violence in the media.

There always will be Peter Pans and victims of the Cinderella "complex". It's human nature, and it's been like that nearly as long as civilization has been around. Surely, there always will be boys and girls who dream of better lives or who are in situations where they believe all they need is true love. Take away the stories, and I'm certain they'd experience the same emotions and have the same dreams.

Along the way, lots of these stories are teaching some very good lessons. Many fairytales and fables were intended as teaching tools as much as entertainment.

Answer 3

In our home we have a good balance of Shirley temple movies, Disney, Signing Time, and other educational movies like the Einsteins.
The Shirley Temple movies normally have her being an orphan or having lost at least one parent, it ends with smiles, but is full of very sad times. - these can get way to down if you watch to many of them.
Disney - a good variety from Robin hood, to the illusive prince that shows up at the end to rescue the princess.
Signing time - a family favorite full of songs, silliness and teaches a second language. - both of my children love these
then we have other favorites like the spy kids, harry potter ect..
Disney does over due the happiness and as my kids grow they will read the grimm brothers real versions of the little mermaid and the little matchstick girl, both beautiful and very tragic. I was the only person in my 8th grade english class to know the real ending to the little mermaid or the original authors of the story.
I also believe that they need a balance, I also believe that it needs to be age appropriate as to when and how it is introduced into their lives.

Answer 4

No, would you rather show them movies that would likely turn them into optimists and maybe later be slapped in the face and then gain from that in the long run. Or have them being pessimists watching movies that have sad endings and then they are prepared for about anything in the world but then again they have low expectations and acheive little I'm still young and I've watched disney movies my whole life. I know that not everything is cotton and roses but I know that not everything in the world is going to suck either. Heck Disney movies probably are the best things for kids to watch if anything other than maybe those educational things. I watched Snow White, Little Mermaid, Aladin, Toy Story, Bugs Life, Beauty and the Beast, Balto and stuff like that and I know what the real world is like and know what to expect, my little brother's watchmovies like Cars, Monster's Inc. and movies like those I am sure they'll be able to coap with sad things in life I've seen them they get upset but don't lose it. I'm sure happy movies are a million times better than showing them movies that'll end badly.

Answer 5

well have them watch Pirates of the Caribbean, then. That Disney movie didn't have a happy ending. At least in my eyes. If it did, Jack would've ended up with Elizabeth.
But to answer your question, no. children need to be happy children as long as possible. we watched those movies and we are fine. They will get to know the real world soon enough, let them have fantasy for now.

Answer 6

Does that mean we are doing our kids an injustice by allowing them to believe in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy?

Childhood is supposed to be about having fun and imagination. Most kids start learning about the real world too soon through real life experiences. I'm all for allowing them to enjoy movies that are about escapism, entertainment, and fantasy for as long as they are willing to watch them. Besides, most fairy tales have moral lessons that apply to the real world.

Answer 7

Disney movies have been around forever, didn't you watch them when you were little? Most people would have seen disney movies when they were little and are able to cope with life, love and relationships today.

I think these days kids see enough divorces and single parents and unhappy relationships to understand that life is no fairytale.

Isn't it nice to have dreams and believe in love and all thats good, and to maintain ones innocence as long as possible?

Answer 8

No way, the only time we allowed to have an unrealistic outlook on life is when we are kids.

Should we stop feeding and housing are kids so they aren't confused that food and shelter are an entitlement that comes with being alive, no we leave them to their blissful ignorance, there is plenty of time to learn what the real world is like after childhood.

Answer 9

when you watch all of the movies in a row, it does seem like that. but the message is: There is a difficult situation, work hard to overcome it. Take the dumbo movie for example. An Indian elephant(small ears) gives birth to a baby with big ears(African elephant). Interracial sex was taboo back then and dumbo and his mother were shunned by the rest of the elephants. Dumbo had to work hard to find his place in society

Answer 10

What's wrong with providing hope and a cool story to the people that we love most in this world? Because without hope, we are nothing. Who are you to deprive a child of part of their childhood? It sounds like you've been burnt, and I have too, but that's no reason to give up on a happy ending. They do exist. You just haven't found yours yet.