Kids all over the world just love the Brit cartoon Peppa Pig. She’s sassy, funny, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. But over the years, parents have raised problematic aspects of the show. So it’s natural to wonder: is Peppa Pig bad for kids?
The award-wining show that spawned its own line of toys is taking over the world. But some parents don’t buy in to the hype. In fact, one mum even banned the hit TV show in her household. Should you follow suit? Let’s take a closer look.
Is Peppa Pig bad for kids? 6 Problematic aspects of the show
1. Peppa can be disrespectful towards her dad
“Silly daddy” is something Peppa often says. Though some would find this endearing, it can send kids the message that it’s okay to make fun of a parent.
In one episode, Peppa even creates a password “daddy’s fat tummy” for people to be allowed to enter the tree house.
“I let (my daughter) watch the rest of the episode hoping for a positive lesson,” writes a mum on Common Sense Media. Instead, I ended up going over the scenes with my daughter explaining that this secret password to get into the tree house was not funny but mean and disrespectful.”
2. She can be bossy and rude
Mum Nicole laments how the show has made her four-year-old bossy and rude.
And mum Mandi agrees. Not only does she think Peppa is a bully, she thinks she always has to be star of the show.
“She is always saying negative things to her family and friends,” she writes.
What’s more, she can be a bully to her little brother George.
Is Peppa Pig bad? Some parents think she promotes bullying. | Screenshot: YouTube
3. She can be rude to her friends
“The main character is so rude and downright ugly towards other characters that are supposed to be friends. And the parents do absolutely nothing,”
says parent Sydney.
Parents agree that she tends to whine, and she also doesn’t take losing well.
“I don’t like you anymore! You’re not my best friend,” has become a common catchphrase throughout the show. Remember that time she
slammed the phone down on Suzie sheep for simply knowing how to whistle when she couldn’t?
4. Peppa tends to promote unhealthy habits
But Peppa isn’t the only character who’s being viewed as a questionable role model. Her little brother George throws fits and tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. He also hates vegetables and loves chocolate cake.
But some parents would argue that they’re just depicting normal kid behaviour, and this makes it endearing.
Many parents can relate to the struggle of having a picky eater! | Image source: Peppa Pig Facebook page
5. She always tends to to say ‘no’ and ‘yuck’
“Too much verbal aggressions and bad role models. Peppa is disrespectful with her parents, and almost all the episodes have some kind of contempt for Peppa’s father. There are many other better choices for the same age,” writes Jacob, a dad of a three-year-old.
Though Peppa’s quips and reactions are intended to be cute, parents believe this teaches kids to be snarky and hostile.
6. She can present problematic concepts of gender
There’s nothing wrong with embracing traditional gender roles. Peppa is super girly; she wears a red dress and loves dolls. But it gets tricky when she refuses to do “boy stuff.”
This is a subtle quirk, but it might be reinforcing stereotypes that can be disempowering or limiting for children.
How to turn these problematic aspects into a good thing
Are there good lessons to be learned from Peppa Pig? Yes, aside from the fact that the show can be funny, it also promotes the value of family and staying positive through life’s struggles.
What’s more, the show also celebrates strong female role models like Mrs. Rabbit, who is super hard working.
Mommy Pig is also an inspiring character because she strives to teach Peppa what’s right from what’s wrong with love and patience, even if Peppa can be stubborn at times.
Despite the show’s problematic aspects, the Pig family love each other. | Image source: Peppa Pig Facebook page
Some might think Peppa promotes “naughty” behaviour, while others disagree. The reason why the show is a hit is because the “flawed” characters are so believable.
At the end of the day, whether or not you think Peppa Pig is a good or bad role model, you can use TV cartoons as an opportunity for learning.
If you can’t seem to ban the show in your household, that’s perfectly understandable. Compromise. Why not use it as an opportunity to open up a dialogue with your kids?
Communicate with them to find out what they understand from the show. Reinforce that it is important to:
- Love and respect elders.
- Remember that being a good leader doesn’t mean being a bully.
- Practice healthy habits (veggies are good!).
- Have good friends by being one yourself.
- Choose kind words and embrace diversity.
There are good lessons to be found on television, but your kids need your guidance and wisdom to see them. Answer their questions openly and patiently.
With your supervision, they will only take away the laughs, positivity, and good lessons from Peppa Pig and their other favourite shows.
Sources: Common Sense Media, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, news.com.au
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