It was different times when we had TV with just DD1 and DD2
and even then our parents needed Remote Control to switch channels. It was not
to see what was coming up on the other channel but to avoid awkward moments in
family time.
My kids are role playing in the room and suddenly I hear one saying
“Swami” (Master) and other one replies “Kiss me”. And they repeat, younger
one says “Swami” and elder one replies, “Kiss Me”. It is funny when you are alone
or with friends and you know the context they are referring to is a Chewing Gum Ad with the Tag line "Zubaan par rakhe lagaam". But when you are sitting with your Father-in-law and imagine your kids
playing this in front of him. He doesn’t know where they have seen this,
“Swami” and “Kiss Me” act. What are you supposed to do in that moment, Silence
or Explanation? Both are equally awkward, because that is a different
generation, who switched channels on us even during “Krishi Darshan”.
It is everywhere now, Cartoons, Ads, Songs or Soap Operas. A
princess kisses Chotta Bheem and there are hearts bursting in the air and
blushing. You should see the expressions of kids at that moment. I wonder what’s
going in their mind that very moment.
There were times when I used to encourage my kids to watch
Songs, but since the evolution of Item songs and Sunny Leone, I cannot leave
them unattended for a single song.
My daughter learns Bollywood dance and was being taught,
Baby Doll in class (don’t even ask me why the teacher chose the song in the
first place). Now she comes home and asks me to play that song on You Tube, so
that she can watch and learn (Yeah right, watch and learn what). Thank god for
mp3 songs where you don’t have to let them watch and they can still practice.
So the excuse I make is if you watch this on Youtube, you will get confused
between what’s being taught in class and the actual song. It is not so easy to
make excuses every time you have to deny them watching something.
I can still understand (or try to understand) the ads like Diapers
and Noodles coming in commercial breaks on Kids Channels, kids are their target
audience. But what have Kids got to do with Perfume, Condom, Soap and Razor Ads?
That’s is unnecessarily pushing the kids mind to go way beyond their age and hamper
their natural growth process.
I keep saying “No, this is for Adults”, “No, it is PG-13”, “Sorry,
you are not allowed to watch this”. But that makes them more curious and itching
to see it. Now I miss Teletubbies and channels like Cbebbies, where there were
no Ads and the content was dull and boring.
I wonder if there is any censorship for TV esp for Kid’s
Channels. It is not just about obscenity, but also violence and quality. I am not asking the TV to become a babysitter (I have
DVD player for that). All I am asking is for the kids to enjoy watching
something age appropriate. You can’t become a helicopter parent (I learnt the term recently) or a control freak. I want to prepare them for the life ahead but not so
fast, not this way. Or am I already a Control
Freak and have nothing better to do?
