Okay perhaps “hate” is a bit strong… but for some reason the show really, really annoys me. Am I alone in this? Don’t get me wrong, my 21 month old daughter can’t look away when it’s on. And now they have 69 Dora games online. Dora is like crack for toddlers! But the show drives me up the wall. Have you heard that song “I’m the Map”? The comedian Brian Regan talks about it here at Comedy Central.
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Does it make me a bad parent just because whenever that song starts “I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’M THE MAAAAAAP!” I silently sing to myself, “Lose the map, lose the map, lose the map, lose the map, lose the map, lose the map, LOSE THE MAAAAAAP!” In case you’ve no idea what I am talking about here’s a quick clip:
Now I’m not saying that I want Dora to get lost. Well… okay, that kind of is what I’m saying. How about this… what if I could arrange for Barney the Dinosaur to get lost with her so she’d have company?
p.s. My wife just took our toddler to Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live and I must admit it looks pretty cool! So maybe I could have tolerated Dora in that format?
p.p.s. NickJr has also created a bunch of Dora the Explorer Games you may wish to check out. They include Dora alphabet games, spelling games, etc…
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Danielle
May 5, 2010 at 7:11 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
What drives me nuts is that she is Dor-ahh the Explor-ahh,, and not a good /r/ a sin ExploERRRR sound.. If something is going to enthrall kiddies and is parental-approved why intentionally encourage a speech impediment that many kids suffer from anyway,,, why not give the ideal pronunciation so that they can learn how to speak clearly and have a good model to listen instead of a flawed one…
makes me NUTS and I do not even watch that show.
aDaddyBlog
May 5, 2010 at 7:21 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Good point, Danielle. With a PhD in Audiology you should know, too. Every night before bed I read books to our wee girl, and I do go out of my way to pronounce words correctly and clearly. Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a great Wednesday!
rose
May 5, 2010 at 8:38 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
can I say that when visiting, I DIDN’T CARE FOR THIS SHOW.I have to admit that even though I’m a gramie, I DID ENJOY SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. In loving little Molly, I guess we might just break down and watch Dora.Do you think we can sabotage this program?
aDaddyBlog
May 5, 2010 at 10:55 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yes, I quite enjoy some of the other programs like Maurice Sendak’s “Little Bear”. It’s very sweet and old fashioned. I’m not saying I don’t like any of the new CGI and motion capture kids’ shows, e.g. “The Backyardigans” and “Sid the Science Kid”, but I really don’t much care for Dora. As for sabotaging her program, if I can just get my hands on that map maybe she’d get lost?
Have a great day!
Laura
May 5, 2010 at 12:39 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hahahaha! I haven’t had much experience with Dora but I remember Emmy, when she was a baby, LOVED Blues Clues. We would watch that together on occasion and it was cute for her and she would dance along while I sat there wondering..do they really have to sing EVERYTHING? For example, the mail song:
Here’s the mail
It never fails
It makes me wanna wag my tail
When it comes I wanna wail…
MAIL!!!
I had that song stuck in my head forever. And then one day, over a year later, at work I got a delivery from our very friendly messenger and, yes, I sang the mail song. I thought I was pretty hilarious…he looked at me like I was a ferret. So I guess as long as you don’t find yourself singing I’m the map when you’re walking through your building at work, it’s probably ok. But be prepared for those songs to stay with you long after Molly stops watching Dora….maybe some show sabotage is in order after all! LOL
aDaddyBlog
May 5, 2010 at 2:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
LOL. I can see that, Laura. Too funny. I’ve watched Blues Clues with Molly a few times. Shannon said the boy on that show has been changed because the original got too old. I have definitely gotten kids songs stuck in my head a lot lately. Most recently it was “The Backyardigan’s” theme. And actually the one that most gets stuck in my head is the “Wonder Pet’s” theme:
Merry120
May 5, 2010 at 10:10 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Dora doesn’t bother me too bad. There are much worse/weirder shows out there like In The Night Garden and Waybalu. They are both just plain weird. I get the songs from so many of them stuck in my head & they are pretty much impossible to get out. I walk around at work humming the Toopy & Binoo song. AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!
aDaddyBlog
May 6, 2010 at 9:29 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi, Merry. Being down here in the U.S. I don’t think we have access to the same BBC programs that you might in Canada. BBC America has a select set of UK programming, but shows like In The Night Garden and Waybaloo aren’t among them. Does Canada have access to the BBC channels proper? Back here in the States we have to wait for even the programs we do have access to (e.g. Doctor Who) for several weeks after it first airs in the UK. On the worse/weirder front check out my blog on “What Scared You as a Child?” The CGI program I mention (and picture) at the start of that blog is about as weird a kids program as I’d care to see.
Katrina
May 19, 2010 at 1:37 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We watched Dora for a total of maybe four days. It’s the same annoying songs (map song included) *every* day. Same story basically. So we switched to Sesame Street, which I *LOVE*.
aDaddyBlog
May 19, 2010 at 4:16 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yes. Sesame street is what Molly watches in the morning on PBS. I also discovered I can stream Fragile Rock on Netflix to our TV, so that’s very cool and retro, too.
Jenibelle
July 29, 2011 at 10:28 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
What an awesome way to explain this-now I know everything!
Daenel
September 5, 2010 at 1:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I am sooooo glad my children are past that stage. My oldest daughter came of age with Barney of the “I Love You” fame. I wanted to jab a leaky pen into my ear every time that show came on. And my younger three grew up watching the Teletubbies, what kind of insanity is that? Now, of course, I’m stuck with the oh~my~gosh~are~they~allowed~to~show~that~on~TV antics of Degrassi and their ilk.
adaddyblog
September 5, 2010 at 4:36 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
OMG… I feel so lucky to have (mostly) missed Barney. He is still on PBS here after Elmo (who our daughter adores), but I change channel fast. Oh, and I find knitting needles slightly more effective in the ears when the Barney “I Love You” song starts. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Nicole
September 18, 2010 at 9:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I am right there with you!! I can not stand it either and my 3 year old loves it!! I’ve learned to tune it out or I just put on my ipod while she is watching! lol
adaddyblog
September 19, 2010 at 8:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Fortunately there are many good programs available on PBS and DVD, plus we have Netflix we can stream via the Internet to the TV, so I can usually suggest an alternative if turning the TV off (the best alternative) isn’t an option. Have a great Sunday!
Hellachella
February 7, 2011 at 9:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Check out, “Conquistadora” on youtube.
Could be worse, though.. could be Caillou *shudder*.
Hellachella recently posted..Whats on your isopod
adaddyblog
February 8, 2011 at 7:27 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
LOL… it can always be worse.
Barbara Lambert
February 21, 2011 at 6:57 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Comment from the other side: I like Dora and frankly all the Spanish I know is from watching Dora. There is a method to the madness, Dora looks at the kids and speaks loudly and the kids think she is talking just to them. It works, the kids love her. They all outgrow her, but they love her for those few golden years. And you may laugh at the map song but there is a generation of kids who will actually understand how to use a map because of Dora. Be nice to Dora!
adaddyblog
February 25, 2011 at 6:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
LOL. I stand thoroughly admonished. I learned three (non-English) languages as a kid growing up in Europe, but must confess some of my non-restaurant Spanish comes from Dora, as well. And I can’t argue she’s a hit with kids… didn’t I say she was like crack for toddlers? As for the map… hmmm… I’m pretty sure any dad worth his salt can do a better job communicating that skill. I will however stop encouraging she lose the map and get lost.
Shaun L.T.
November 17, 2011 at 3:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ez nagyon true.I elvész a súlyom csak megváltoztatták az élelmiszer-, az összes vegetáriánus és alacsony szénhidráttartalmú Ez sokat segített, és azt javaslom mindenkinek
Michael Schmid
November 17, 2011 at 4:09 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks, Shaun. I understand your points on diet & weight loss, though confused why you posted it here? Anyway, thanks for the comment.
SayNoToDora
February 10, 2012 at 1:42 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
DTE is garbage, and I would not let my children watch it… It is far better to teach kids the American culture.
Michael Schmid
February 10, 2012 at 3:32 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
While I’ve no issues with my child learning about other cultures and languages, I do feel Dora is not the best vehicle for doing so. I’m a born and bred U.S. citizen and speak 4 languages (not all fluently). “Saying it two ways” as Dora suggests is not an effective way to learn another language. That said, my issues are more with the fingernails on chalkboard type of effect she has on me.
Thanks for your input.
Michael Schmid recently posted..Disney Dilemma: Best Disney World Hotel Options for Kids
Stephen
August 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I was not a fan of Dora. I noticed the shouting almost immediately and couldn’t understand why everything had to be so loud. Blue didn’t shout. Toopy & Binoo didn’t shout. Thomas didn’t shout. Henry’s Bucket of Dinosaurs didn’t shout. What is it about this adventurous little girl that made her squeal at everything? Fortunately, we’re past that stage now. My son, though, believed he was fluent in Spanish, thank to Dora.
Michael Schmid
August 27, 2012 at 11:38 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
LOL. Yes, there are many other shows that don’t adopt the Dora style of demanding interaction from their audience. I’m a fan of shows like “Little Bear” (the books upon which it is based were drawn by Maurice Sendak, best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are). At least my daughter isn’t a Barney the Dinosaur fan. That would have likely pushed me over the edge.
Nick D
April 19, 2013 at 8:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Dora can be grating, though I like to think about SNL’s Dora Parody (http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/1610) whenever DTE comes on at our house, it helps break the terror. Caillou, The Wiggles and Barney have long been the bane of my existence.
Michael Schmid
April 21, 2013 at 3:27 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks so much for sharing that SNL video. I’d not seen it. Hilarious. We’ve moved well past The Wiggles (thought I must confess, fruit salad is yummy yummy), and Barney was never allowed in our home. Sadly I can’t say the same about that little bald, whiny, primary colored clad Caillou.
Karen
December 11, 2012 at 7:24 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Good Afternoon, I was browsing through your pets that you have for adoption and I fell in love with Gonzo French Bulldog/Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix: in Greenbelt, MD. I have always wanted a Frenchy, but never was able to afford a pure bread. And how much better is it to save a pet who needs a home. I recently moved to Baltimore area. I live in Glen Burnie and work in Hanover MD. I am not sure if you know where that is. Currently I have an Himalayan his name I Bentley and he will be 4 next month. He loves dogs and is lonely. We use to live in Wilmington NC and his best friend was a dog her name was Angel. Unfortunately I had to relocate with my company and move away from our family. I read the profile and it does not mention if Gonzo is cat friendly. I soooo hope so. We would love to add another member to our family. It is only me and Bentley right now You can contact me here at the email address.Thank You I am looking forward to hearing back
Michael Schmid
January 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Karen. While I very much appreciate your post… and your love of dogs, I believe you may have gotten the wrong website. This blog by a new daddy is about life, parenthood and the pursuit of sleep. As our subtitle (is that the right word) says, this is not your Mommy’s blog. “A Daddy Blog” targets parenthood from the father’s perspective, and includes a focus the modern dad, social media, technology, entertainment, coffee, cars & cuddles. ツ Oh, and I sometimes write about my deep and abiding love of Dora the Explorer. Have a super day!
Michael Schmid recently posted..Did You Enter to Win the 2013 HGTV Dream Home?
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