Sorry I've been MIA lately. Between work, volunteer work, and parenting, I'm not sure which end is up these days. And I confess, there are some days that I turn on the TV so I can get dinner ready without having kids pull at my pants legs. Is that so wrong?
Maybe so according to Time magazine. I have to admit that this isn't news to me. Of course TV isn't great for a developing child's brain. The real question is whether it's actually harmful. Is a lower vocabulary based on a child's TV watching, or based on the fact that parents who let their kids watch a lot of TV also neglect to interact with their kids? I don't know. I don't let the children watch TV everyday, or even every other day. But they do watch a little. When I resort to the TV, I'm probably too stressed out to be interacting with them in a positive way anyway. I'll confess, though, that the "Repeat Play" button on the Baby Einstein videos is a a little evil. I wonder if that button appeared before or after Disney bought them out?
Showing posts with label disney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disney. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Anthropomorphism
Esme watched Wind in the Willows last night, and she was enthralled by the characters - that flamboyent and selfish Toad, wise old Mr. Badger, witty Rat, and homely Mole.
I know from experience shopping around a children's book I wrote a few years back that agents and editors don't like to see anthropomorphism in new stories, but I can't figure out for the life of me why not. Okay, so there is something cheesy about it, but the kids love it. And while it may not be accurate to imply that animals have feelings just like humans, it is important that children understand that animals do have feelings. And the differences between animals's personalities can sometimes help illuminate different human personalities (as in the Wind in the Willows).
So I say bring it on. We'll read Wind in the Willows, and when Esme gets old enough, she'll read Watership Down, which isn't just beautiful for kids but is an amazing book for adults too. Considering all the crap I see in the children's section of bookstores these days (let's just say Disney and other TV brands should stick to video), maybe these editors and agents need to rethink what they're looking for.
I know from experience shopping around a children's book I wrote a few years back that agents and editors don't like to see anthropomorphism in new stories, but I can't figure out for the life of me why not. Okay, so there is something cheesy about it, but the kids love it. And while it may not be accurate to imply that animals have feelings just like humans, it is important that children understand that animals do have feelings. And the differences between animals's personalities can sometimes help illuminate different human personalities (as in the Wind in the Willows).
So I say bring it on. We'll read Wind in the Willows, and when Esme gets old enough, she'll read Watership Down, which isn't just beautiful for kids but is an amazing book for adults too. Considering all the crap I see in the children's section of bookstores these days (let's just say Disney and other TV brands should stick to video), maybe these editors and agents need to rethink what they're looking for.
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