Is This TV Show Ok for a 2 Y/o???

Children learn from the programs.
This is a good time for you to set down and explain the things that go one in the animal kingdom, so I agree with the father on this one.

I'm kind of with you, M.. My husband is an avid hunter and loves to watch hunting shows on TV. I struggle with my 2 and 4 year old girls watching the "killing" part of it, but they don't seem to be bothered by it ... and since it is such a passion of my husband's, I try not to over-react too much. I do, however, insist that he refer to deer meat as venison when it's served - by him! - for dinner, as I'm definitely not ready for them to make that association.

Tell him sex is nature too, but you wouldn't let her watch that either. Kids don't know the difference between fact and fiction, right and wrong, and "what can happen to me" vs. what happens to animals on TV. Show her too many shark attacks, she'l never swim. Keep the TV on age-appropriate stuff when she's in the room. Or, better yet, turn off the TV and play with her or read to her. My kids don't watch TV and there's never a dull moment:)

Hi, M. -

I love nature, and I realize that there is a great pecking order and that nature must take its course. That said - *I* do not enjoy or find it necessary to watch nature taking its course. I know that lions have to eat and that's a fact of life, but I do not need to see it. I don't think it's *wrong*, per se, for your daughter to be exposed to it, but, with so many other less-disturbing and beautiful things to see, I think it's not the best choice for a little kid.

There will come a point when you can discuss what's going on and why, but I don't see a single reason to introduce that imagery at such a young age. If you owned a zoo or had to work with wild animals or something - where dealing with life and death and survival of the fittest was an integral part of your daily life, then I'd say go for it.

But, I don't see any reason to bring more dramatic, shocking, and troubling life and death elements into a child's life before they have a way of understanding them enough to process them.

Good luck!
H.

Deb T said she watched Mutual of Omaha's Animal kingdom--so did I! And Jacques Cousteu was one of my favorites too! just a short story:
A couple years ago my fiance and I were camping at a state park sitting at a picnic table enjoying the sunset and wonderful weather when a bunny came out of the bushes and started hopping about and nibbling on the grass when suddenly a weasel leaped out and caught the bunny(it shrieked like a child!) and started eating it. Well, that was a little more of nature than I really wanted to see on a romantic evening with my sweetie--but the weasel needed to eat too! We did not have any kids with us on this trip but if we did they would have seen it too. As someone who was raised on a farm (as 99% of people did up until just a couple generations ago), I find it amusing to some degree that modern parents are so worried about keeping their children "innocent" about sex and the reality of eating animals. My grandpa killed chickens and my grandma cleaned them so they could eat during the depression--I don't think they worried that the kids were around while it was being done anymore than when they were harvesting and canning vegetables, in fact my mom remembers having to pluck feathers at a very young age! And we all saw animal sex--so mom had to explain what was going on when I was quite young! I am far more worried about the horrible ways sex and violence are linked together in so many of the video games and horror films--I can hardly stand to go into "family" video store as every other DVD is a horror movie with a scary cover I don't want to see let alone any of my grandkids who might be with me! So anyway I would not worry about your kids watching nature programs--though an adult should always be with her to explain things(I don't think TV should be used as a babysitter)

This is a tough one. I know that we were watching a similar show and my daughter didn't really make a comment about it one way or another, however, when she watches the Lion King, I know she gets very upset with Scar and what he did (it amazes me that she kind of understands this). I would agree with what someone else said, watch her reaction or even talk about it with her. But, if you're uncomfortable with it, talk with your husband and let him know how you feel, maybe he won't necessary agree with your reasoning, but he will respect your decision if you discuss it.

I have a 2 y/o. And my vote is "it depends"....it depends on how much she's really paying attention to it while it's on. Most things on the planet channel or discovery channel are okay - we actually watch them pretty often. There's a lot of times they may not even realize that the lion's eating another animal - they just see that he's eating. Never mind that 2 minutes ago, they showed the lion "taking down" the other animal.

Many times when we have a show like that on, our 2 y/o really isn't paying much attention to it. Our 5 year old might be - but the 2 y/o is too busy motoring around and playing.

But there are shows that I definitely tell my dh that the kids "don't need to see". He was watching some rated r show and I was like, "Excuse me, but do the kids really need to see that..." and he wasn't thinking about the kids being close enough to earshot or something. My oldest has started telling him, "no more football" or "no more racing" when she wants to watch one of her shows or for him to play with them.

Like I said, I think a lot of it depends on how much the children are really watching the show.

Good luck!

Some of the shows can be very gory but as long as it isn't disturbing your daughter I think it's okay

It appears your daughter enjoyed the lion show. If it was graphic and showed the pain and blood and ewwwww I probably would have changed it for me personally. But it appears that your daughter wasn't paying enough attention to grasp what was going on. I think the Nature shows are much better than Cartoons these days. We like PBS and my kids enjoy all the animals shows. I don't think either of you are right or wrong, just different.

I can completely relate to this question. I think you should use your mommy instincts and let your concerns B. heard that you think your child isn't ready for this yet. You don't think it's age appropriate. My oldest is 10 yrs., and there are things that he will turn off himself, without me telling him. I think because of the way I would change channels if it was innappropriate.

Recently had a tiff about a Star Wars gamecube game rated Teen that was given to us. Some of them were OK, but this one had one on one guns and I stood my ground and the game dissappeared. It did bring up a lot of tension though, because hubby thought it was OK. I guess because he is watching, or playing, and doesn't want to give it up.

So, maybe if hubby is saying it's all right, and you feel strongly and don't want to argue, maybe take stand by removing your child from the room until it sinks in with hubby that you really mean it.

It comes down to the specific show/episode. Some animal shows are more graphic than others when it comes to showing animals killing and eating each other. My older kids (ages 3 and 6) LOVE the National Geographic Channel and Discovery. My oldest has been watching it since he was about 3 and since it's on, my youngest has been watching pretty much her whole life. I usually watch with them and if I sense a "killing moment" coming up, I'll distract or talk with them or have my finger on the remote control. Kids should learn about the "circle of life" but they don't need to see it in graphic detail. If it's a "distance" shot, my kids watch it. If they zoom in for a close-up, I tend to distract or hit the remote and talk about it.

I also loved watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom when I was a kid (yes, I'm really dating myself... it was the >only< animal/nature show on and just one afternoon a week!). I remember watching the lions chasing down and killing when I was just 4 or 5 and it never bothered me at all. Then again, I grew up on a farm and farm kids learn rather early that the cow or pig in the barn will soon be on our table. I'd rather have my 2 year old watching lions killing on TV than being in the barn watching a butchering (I saw my fair share of that when I was 2 and never had nightmares or anything like that because of it). It's just a fact of life.

Hi M.,
My daughter is almost 2 1/2 and my husband and I avoid exposing her to any type of violence (even in nature). Personally, we don't want to have the death/dying conversation with her any earlier than we have to. Additionally, she is at the age where her imagination is really developing and she has more vivid dreams. She has already had a few nightmares. I couldn't possibly tell you what her nightmares are about, but she has woken up crying and calling for me. My husband and I don't want her to see an animal getting chased down and hurt because we would hate for her to dream about something like that. Maybe we are over-protective, but there will be plenty of time in her life for dealing with violence and death and we just don't feel the need to expose her to it at such a tender age (whether she truly understands it or not).

All my best!
A.

I'm very open with my son and always have been. He's 5 now, but he's been very interested in animals from a very young age. I have taken him to the zoo since he was 12 months old. We have alwasy discussed that some animals eat plants, like gariffes eating trees, and others eat other animals. If they didn't there would be too many animals around. On that note, when he does watch tv, I'm always around, even now, to discuss anything. He watches the animal shows and nature, we discuss the differences in how they eat food verses humans, and what kinds of meat we eat.
I also allow him to watch other shows like myth Busters. Again only with me there to explain each "science experienment" and remind him that they "went to school to learn how to do these things safetly." He LOVES science.
The three two year olds I occassionally care for would never think twice about watching a lion eat on tv. My son would have, but more from a why stand point not from an inmating one. I think it depends on the child and how they use the new found information.

Well in my house it was my son who was like this and i felt the same way and had the same conversation, i lost, it didn't bother him, and i couldn't very well control everything his father did, i still can't. lol. Turns out though that at age 9 he'd still rather watch animal planet than cartoons. and if you think of some of the cartoons out there that other kids his age are watching (cartoon netwrok is TERRIBLE)well i actually think he's made the right choice and his father may have been right all along, just don't tell him that.

some rules of thumb- tv isn;t good for any kid no matter what the subject matter....i personally think this is better hten anything on nickelodeon or disney channel but limit all tv time to less then 1/2 hour a day.

M.,

For 2 years old, she might not really be processing what is happening on the screen yet. But I'm with you, I think I'd jump for the remote during the "Momma lion tramples on the baby gazelle" moment as well. It's not being over protective, it's just YOUR momma instinct. And being hyper-sensitive is your own perogative, so hush your husband up! =)

Kids are going to find something to be afraid of. Monsters, ghosts, big dogs, strangers and hungry lions ... it's inevitable something will haunt their nighttime thoughts. Why not try and stave that off as much as you can? Why serve it to them? I'd just fast forward during that scary devouring the lamb moment. That way,they would know what's happening, but they wouldn't need to hear it or see it in real time.

J.

If your kids aren't upset about seeing it, than I would suggest using it as a time to teach about the ways of life for animals. My son saw the same things about age 2, he's 3 now, he asked why it was eating the animal. We just told him that's what animals did and it was hungry he actually seemed to understand. But to reasure you, I thought it was a bit much at first also. My husband was the one that explained to him animals can't go to the grocery store

Personally, I would change the channel simply because I feel that may be too violent for that age. Simply a mother's protective instinct. Even though it is nature, it depends on how you feel about them possibly having nightmares inspired by such violence.

Unless you are a vegetarian she sees you eating animals everyday. Except yours are cooked. Where do you think the meat you eat comes from? If you lived on a farm they would have already seen this. Kids used to all the time. It's something our over protected, sterilized society doesn't see now but maybe they should. It's actually up to you and your husband. But it's not going to ruin them for life or make them violent.

M.,

I agree with your husband. A lion eating other animals is natural, and your daughter deserves the truth--there ARE carnivores out there. Unless she indicates that she doesn't want to see it, there should be no problem.

Best wises,
K.

I think you are right to be more cautious about what your young children watch. There's nothing "wrong" with nature, sex is natural - do you want your child to watch a sex scene, or how about a child birthing show. I think it may be a little traumatizing for her, if she actually sits and pays attention to it - besides, most kids this age don't really like much besides their favorite cartoon. If he really wants her to see a nature show, there are plenty of kid friendly ones to choose from, check for kid-friendly choices on channels like National Geographic, and that sort of thing

If you teach your kids that it's scarey it will be. My grandaughter grew up watching that stuff and everyone hunts around here. She's gonna be 6. She loves it and can't wait to go hunting with her daddy. If there's a dead animal on the road she has to go check it out. Don't make them scared of it.

No, it isn't. 2 yrs old is not old enough to understand the ways of nature if they aren't raised around it from birth. I agree that it is natural and yes when they are older they can have it explained to them. Not at 2 yrs old.

I suppose it depends on your family values. I personally think anything with blood or someone or something getting hurt is too violent for a toddler. My 4 year old feels bad for cartoons that are bonked on the head or look like they have a broken limb. I usually sit beside him and tell him it's just pretend and it's not real. I have to console him to tell him the cartoon is okay. He doesn't really understand the difference between a cartoon and a person. So... I personally avoid those nature channels unless I'm with my boys. Some real life things can wait until they are older when it comes to animals killing prey.

She laughed about it and growled, she didn't have nightmares, and it is the natural way of the world. Frankly my child loved "Discovery", "Animal Planet", etc. when we still had those channels from the time they were babies. I don't see anything wrong with it. Frankly I can't bear to watch it either, but that doesn't mean I am unwilling to accept the fact it is the way wild animals live.
I am not suggesting you take her to a slaughter house. That I think would be inappropriate.

At the age of 2 your dd probably doesn't feel an empathy for the gazelle when the lion eats it like you do. Generally that doesn't develop until later. You'll know when it's too much for her, because she'll "ewww" just like you do. Like some of the other moms have said, animals eat animals, we do too. Children will learn this eventually, anything that normalizes it for them can't be all bad.

From my earliest memories my Dad always loved nature programs. gardening shows and this old house. I was never scared but fasinated as a child watching them with him. I learned so much about the world around me and love animals to this day. Watch your children and see how they react to things they are very young but you will pick up how they feel about things. I think it is a great example verses the other things you could be watching. I would rather have them watch the reality of nature then a program that shows violence, hatered and people throwing themselves at each other.

At our house we like to watch nature shows but are sensetive to how our children react. We like the "How it's made?" show(Discovery), "How did that get on my plate?" , Unwrapped (Food Channel)Jon and Kate plus 8 (TLC) and Little house on the Prarie. We also throw in the occasional Disney and Nickelodeon shows and well as a game show now and again. We try to stay away from sitcoms until after the kids are in bed.

Good luck with your decision.

When my oldest was 2 1/2 her grandma took her to see the Lion King. I think this was more traumatic. Those animals were talking. We have always watched nature shows and talked about where our food came from. I think it keeps them in touch with how life works.
T.

I have three boys (8,4,2) and all of them LOVE the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. I would much rather have them watching something educational then most "kids" programs. My oldest LOVES Science and is very good at it now. The other two haven't yet shown any "subject" that they particularly favor.

I, personally, don't see the harm in it unless it is frightening the child(ren). My 4 year old has no problem watching "Most Extreme" and other shows that can be more "violent" but, is TERRIFIED of The Grinch That Stole Christmas! So, we don't watch that. Your kids will let you know if they don't like something or something bothers them.

Good luck!

Go ahead and let the 2 yr. old watch it as long as she is not freaking out when watching it. It is a good way for her to learn about different life cycles and how animals survive in the wild. I let my kids watch shows like that and they were and still are fine. It did not mess up their heads or anything like that. There is nothing wrong with your 2 yr. old watching a nature program so go ahead and let your husband flip it on and sit with her. He can explain stuff to her in a sense that she can understand, and it will give her a head start in the way of how wild animals live and why. D.

I am 31 and have been married for almost 12 yrs. My husband and I have 3 boys ages 10,7, and 4.