“Four- and five-year-olds are losing the ability to come up with new games, new concepts and new ideas because they’re so used to being entertained by an external source.”
Open Image Modal
YouTube
Phillips said it would be better if parents interacted with children while they watched such TV shows.
“If parents interact with them during a show, if they want to watch ‘Peppa Pig’ and they’re doing the singing and dancing and interacting, that’s completely different,” she added.
“All three of my children watched Peppa and none turned into the devil,” one mother wrote.
“I parented them well so they didn’t misbehave. You can’t keep blaming programmes. It’s down to the parents.”
Another agreed, adding: “Any children’s programme could be said the same about. Peppa can be a little bossy sod, but surely all older siblings boss the little ones around?
“TV should not be used as a babysitting tool for hours on end, but if you need to cook the tea, put it on for half an hour’s peace.”
However, others felt their child’s behaviour had changed after watching ‘Peppa Pig’.
“I banned it for months as the effect on our son’s behaviour even after one episode was just horrific,” a mother wrote.
Another person wrote: “I hate it! My daughter currently demonstrates echolalia [repetition of speech by a child learning to talk] and she repeats phrases from the show sometimes inappropriately.
“I’m trying so hard to improve her communication and it doesn’t help.”
What do you think?
10 Things All Toddlers Really Want To Do
Post things(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
There is something so brilliantly intriguing about putting something through a hole and it just, well, disappearing. Forever. So, if they can’t reach the letter box to post valuable items from the inside of your house to the outside of your house (car keys for example), they will definitely settle for your credit cards and a gap between the floorboards. (credit:Lumi Images/Elsa Dunkel)
Swing on the curtains(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
Yes, they’ve been told time and time again that if they hang on them the whole pole will fall off the wall... but they don’t believe you, they think you’re just being mean. (credit:RJW)
Cover the bathroom with toothpaste and stick stuff to it(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
It’s frustrating for them that something which looks like glue is only ever dispatched in tiny, pea-sized amounts – and disappears in their mouth. (credit:Getty Images)
Touch the toilet brush(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
Simply because ever since they have been able to move, they’ve been told not to touch it, or indeed go anywhere near it. They don’t just want to touch it though, do they? No, actually they want to clean the floor, and the walls, and the bath with it. (credit:Getty Images)
Cut their own hair(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
It’s something they have been thinking about for AGES. Leave a pair of craft scissors unattended at any point, even the non-pointy ones, and you’ll find your child 15 minutes later, hiding behind the sofa, sitting on tufts. (credit:Summer Derrick)
Write on your work(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
Yes, they have their own paper, but it’s just not the same. They might do one or two pictures on their own pad, but in your diary? They really want to do a picture and ‘writing’ on every last page. Just for you. (credit:Claudia Gopperl)
Take their wheeled toy/buggy/scooter up the stairs(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
Warnings about the dangers of wheeled toys at the top of a staircase fall on deaf ears when all they can focus on is HOW FAST THEY COULD GO DOWN! (credit:Frida Marquez)
Drink squash with no water in it(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
They might not even drink squash as a general rule, but they have a very strong suspicion that neat squash is amazingly delicious. First chance they get, they’ll grab themselves a cup/bowl/vase, fill it with neat squash and hide somewhere, grimacing as they persevere and force it down (because, surprisingly enough, it’s actually quite foul). (credit:Getty Images/Gallo Images ROOTS Collection)
Make an actual successful phone call(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
This usually results in having a proper person on the other end – even if they are saying “HELLO? HELLO? WHO IS THIS? PUT THE PHONE DOWN!” or, alternatively “Emergency services, which service do you require?” They’ll never give up. (credit:Getty Images/RooM RF)
Give the cat a bath(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
When they try, and fail, they’ll really want to make the cat wear a doll’s outfit. When they try this, and fail again, they’ll really want to decorate the cat with very sticky stickers. Bingo! (credit:jurgita.photography)