10 Different Ways to Get Kids to Sleep in Their Own Beds

Getting a child accustomed to sleeping in his own bed can be a long, frustrating process. It can make for some long nights and heated arguments, so it’s useful to keep a few tips in mind when you’re in the midst of this epic struggle for mattress control and a good night’s sleep. The following are ten different ways to get kids to sleep in their own beds:

  1. Bribe them – Incentive are a helpful aid. Offer the child some form of reward or privilege for spending a full night in his own bed. Treats, a later bed time, or a trip to a favorite ice cream shop could do the trick nicely.
  2. Up their room’s “coolness” factor – Use appealing bedding (Batman, Barbie, etc.) and room décor. Make the kid’s room attractive enough that she’ll want to spend more time in there, and even feel more secure in it.
  3. Provide small comforts – You may want to let the child fall asleep with the TV or a radio on at first to give them some soothing white noise, or let a family pet sleep in his room with him for an added dose of companionship.
  4. Stay with them – If necessary, you can lie in the child’s bedroom on the floor or sit in a nearby chair until he falls asleep. You don’t want to sleep together if the idea is to wean the child into sleeping solo. That could be a step backward in the process.
  5. Be firm – Your desire for an undisturbed night of sleep leaves you vulnerable to capitulation for the sake of getting some shut-eye. Don’t do it. If the child sneaks in during the night, escort her back to her bed calmly, yet firmly.
  6. Put up a barrier – Consider the use of a child gate, either at her bedroom doorway or yours, to alleviate the likelihood of those wee-hours incursions. Get the point across that he is persona non grata in your bed, and needs to sleep in his own, period.
  7. Make bedtime fun – Turn going to sleep into an enjoyable event when you’re putting them into their own beds for the night. Read bedtime stories, croon them to sleep with a sing-along or lullaby, and possibly even have a small family gathering for additional reassurance and positive reinforcement. It could be just what you need to do the trick.
  8. Be consistent – Each time your child attempts to join you in the middle of the night, don’t let your weariness cause you to cave in and let him stay. Calmly yet firmly walk him back to his bed and tuck him back in. No more bedtime stories, glasses of water or lying down with him.
  9. Be there in a small way – You might also consider leaving a little bit of yourself behind. That is, you could use one of your t-shirts as the child’s pillowcase or leave a stuffed animal from your room with her. A scent of you in the room might also help, in the form of your perfume/cologne. Providing some comforting form of yourself may be just what they need to fall asleep more easily on their own.
  10. Tell them how grown up they’re being – Reinforce the message that big boys/girls sleep in their own beds. Tell them that to be treated like a big boy or girl and have the privileges that come with that status, then they have to show they can sleep all by themselves.

10 Things That Aren’t Appropriate for a Nanny Profile

A good nanny profile should include all of the basic information, such as work experience, employment history, education and contact info. You can also add in other data such as hobbies, certifications, or references; but there are some things that are better left out of your profile. Here are 10 things that aren’t appropriate for a nanny profile:

  1. Social Security Number – Although at some point you will need to provide this to your prospective employer, it should be left off your resume/profile. This is something that need only be shared when you’re reasonably certain that you’ve got the job.
  2. Social Networking Profiles – Unless you use it for business purposes, it’s best to leave your Facebook profile off of your nanny profile. Separation of personal and business lives, as a rule of thumb, is the best approach when creating a resume or business profile, and you don’t want any non-work appropriate wall posts or pictures influencing your potential employer’s decision.
  3. Photos From Inappropriate Settings – No one wants to see their prospective nanny getting down at Tootsie’s Roadhouse. As fun a night of dancing and revelry as it might have been for you, save that story for another time, audience, and venue.
  4. Salary Requirements – You do need to have a good idea of what your requirements are, but it’s not necessarily a good idea to state them in your profile. There may be other compensation available to you in jobs that would not otherwise meet your criteria, which you could then miss out on by pricing yourself out of consideration.
  5. Driving Record – Unless it’s clean and current, it isn’t a good idea to provide this information up front. A background check will be included in the hiring process anyway, and if there are some questionable transgressions you would be better off giving yourself a chance to explain them in an interview than potentially being flagged as someone who isn’t a safe driver and thus not an option.
  6. Personal References – You can list former employers, teachers, and the likes as professional references if you choose. Family members are not considered objective references, for obvious reasons. Using your friends as references could raise a red flag with potential employers.
  7. Unexplained Gaps In Employment History – Whatever the reason for periods of unemployment, they should be addressed accurately and honestly. Too often job seekers will fudge in areas like this, and almost as often it results in a disastrous effect.
  8. Political Leanings – Regardless of how passionate you may feel about a topic, a candidate, or a cause, a resume or job profile is not the appropriate place to express it. Anything that isn’t specifically relevant to the job should be left out.
  9. Derogatory Remarks About Previous Employers – No matter how badly your past work experience may have been for you, it’s deadly to refer to prior bosses in an unflattering light. No prospective employer wants to be faced with the prospect of being in that employer’s shoes one day.
  10. Inaccurate Data – Your dates of employment, education, degrees and certifications should all be up-to-date and accurate. You don’t want to have to explain later, after a background check, why your profile contains false information.

10 Reasons Some Nannies Make More Than Doctors

For working parents, finding the right nanny to entrust with the care of their children is worth all the money in the World. So it should come as no surprise that many are very well compensated for their services. In fact, some are better paid than the pediatrician who provides your children with medical care. Let’s look at ten reasons why some nannies could make more than doctors:

  1. Wealthy families – Nannies who make that kind of coin are often hired by very affluent parents who can afford to pay a princely sum in order to ensure the best care possible for their little prince or princess. When it comes to our kids AND money is no object for us then it makes complete sense to pay to hire the best nanny we can find.  Just consider how influential this person is going to be in the lives of our children…
  2. The nanny’s commitment – The demands of the job increase a nanny’s value significantly over some more traditional employment options (like daycare centers or even schools). Consider that a nanny is, in essence, committed to the family to the exclusion of most of her personal life and often for quite a long period of time as the children age.  This level of commitment should be reciprocated by the family with steady increases in pay for a great nanny.
  3. Unique skills – Unique skills will frequently set a nanny apart; several of which raise her value as a caregiver. These could include culinary, language or veterinary skills; in fact, whatever abilities that a family might consider required or preferred training for their unique situation.
  4. Local demand for caregivers – Demand for highly competent and reliable nannies typically outstrips the supply. So a nanny who comes with the right credentials and references is going to command a higher than average salary especially in highly affluent areas like Manhattan (NYC) for example.
  5. Excellent references – Strong references from influential former clients, such as celebrities, politicians or corporate executives raise the bar considerably. This kind of pedigree makes a nanny far more desirable to families of similar social status. Speaking of which …
  6. The nanny’s social circles – The value of social climbing cannot be disregarded. Some families seek out nannies who have worked for clients who represent a step up from their social standing. These nannies have connections and relationships which can open doors for a family.  Now, please do not misconstrue this as an attempt to leverage the kids to improve the family’s social status but more as a way for their children to be exposed to experiences and individuals they may not otherwise have access to.
  7. Perception of value – It’s human nature to associate high price with high value, so a family might be more apt to hire a more expensive nanny on the assumption that they will be getting superior child care for their money. That’s not always the case, but the perception often drives the market value and in general it is true with caregivers (the best know they are the best and know the value of their services).
  8. Feelings of guilt - Parents may not always be able to balance their work life and family life as they really would like to for various reasons (some careers make that exceptionally difficult).  However, they do want their children to have the best life can offer as they enjoy and make the most of their childhood.  This can cause some feelings of guilt that may contribute some to the desire to hire the very best nanny they can afford.
  9. The nanny’s education – Advanced degrees in child care, psychology or other job-related field will also increase a nanny’s worth. Such advanced study not only makes a nanny more capable of performing her job, it also demonstrates a long-term career commitment, which has enormous cache with families in need of a caregiver.
  10. Relative worth to families – Due to a purely subjective micro-economy in which it’s all but impossible to establish a true market value, a nanny is essentially worth whatever a family deems she is worth. And when that family has substantial means, it may be simply relative to their lifestyle (everything costs a lot in their World).

In the end there are many reasons why some nannies make more than doctors, lawyers, or whatever other career may typically be associated with high salaries (the fact that we used doctors in the title is almost irrelevant).  While most nannies offer very affordable childcare services, they absolutely deserve and should demand salaries that are consistent with their training, education, and skills in general (just like every other career).  In addition, it is also true that nannies are entrusted with our most precious loved ones, it only makes sense that as parents we should value that highly (in fact, at the top of our list).

We do highly recommend that nannies and parents review the INA’s 2012 nanny salary survey to get some great facts on nanny salaries and salary trends.  We also highly recommend reviewing our own nanny salary guide.

10 Ways the Word Nanny is Used in Other Ways

Have you ever noticed how many different ways the word “nanny” is used nowadays? We have, and in each case it tends to convey the same meaning, which is namely that “nanny” is universally understood to mean a trustworthy, attentive guardian. So it doesn’t surprise us that the word is being used elsewhere too. Here are 10 instances where the word “nanny” is being used in ways other than its traditional meaning:

  1. Nanny State – A term used to describe a government which is considered to be excessively involved or overly protective of its citizens, to the detriment of free choice. In the U.S., the phrase is often used in reference to conservative policies that protect special interests.
  2. Nanny Tax – Refers to taxes that must be paid for the employment of any household workers (maid, nurse, gardener, etc.) by the employer. In recent years this term has gotten a lot of media attention due to high profile politicians who have neglected to pay these taxes.
  3. Nanny Cam – These devices, generically referred to as spy cameras, are specifically intended for use in monitoring domestic care employees, like sitters, nurses and nannies. They are typically mounted inside a common household item, such as an alarm clock.
  4. Net Nanny – A brand name for software that can be installed to track internet use, block access to unwanted websites, and monitor chat and IM usage. This type of software allows parents to customize and safeguard their child’s internet experience.
  5. Nanny Mania – An online and downloadable video game that challenges you to manage a busy household and tests your multitasking skills, all in the role of the family nanny.
  6. Nutmeg Nanny – A food blog, named for its author, Brandy, who shares an extensive library of some very tasty looking recipes, as well as a link to her store where you can purchase cookbooks. Nutmeg Nanny can be found on Facebook as well.
  7. Nap Nanny® – A baby recliner that is designed for floor use, complete with a three-point harness to keep your infant secure. Its shape allows for the baby to sleep or play securely.
  8. Nanny 911 – A reality TV show that showcases families with incorrigible kids in need of some serious nannying. It originally aired on FOX in the U.S., who have since sold the rights to CMT.
  9. Supernanny – Another reality TV show, which originated in the UK starring Jo Frost. Think of Jo as a sort of kiddy whisperer, complete with her trusty “naughty chair”, and you’ve got the basic gist of this popular reality series.
  10. Server Nanny™ - Network and server monitoring software, it will log failures and then automatically correct many of those failures; it also sends notifications when failures are detected. Once again, the word “nanny” expresses those watchful, reliable qualities that we’ve come to associate with our real live family nanny.

10 Reasons Kids Might Be Afraid of Clowns

For all the mirth and merriment they’re known to bring to children of all ages, not every kid loves clowns. In fact, some children are downright terrified of them. So why is it that some kids go ga-ga over Bozo, and some don’t? We’re here to tackle the big issues in life, so fear not. Here are ten reasons kids might be afraid of clowns:

  1. Coulrophobia (you know it’s serious when it has its own phobia) is a fear of clowns or mimes, and can stem from the radically different appearance of clowns from those familiar faces that children draw comfort from. The unfamiliar is often frightening, especially to young children.
  2. Negative imagery associated with clowns in film and literature (Killer Klowns From Outer Space, or Pennywise from It by Stephen King, for instance) creates a genuine fear of all clowns.
  3. Obscuring of facial features is regarded as mysterious and menacing, and triggers a defense mechanism in many children. Much like masks, face painting can make children fearful.
  4. Clown makeup looks the same as a mask, which strikes fear in some children due to their inability to identify the person, to determine their intentions or emotional state. That is, they can’t tell whether the clown is friendly, mean, or otherwise.
  5. Similarly, exaggerated face paintings elicit extreme responses in kind, which will in many cases come in the form of fear or revulsion. Sad clowns and very happy clowns can both create feelings of intense anxiety.
  6. The slapstick comedy associated with clowns can frighten children, such as the physical nature of slapstick, like seltzer bottles, or the loud noises such as bicycle horns, etc. It is startling instead of surprising.
  7. Even real-life portrayals of clown are linked to evil deeds, ie John Wayne Gacy, who masqueraded as Pogo the Clown when he wasn’t working his main gig – as a serial killer. Hmm, life imitating art? Or vice versa?
  8. Jack-in-the-boxes are toys that are designed to startle a child (albeit with a musical accompaniment), by having a clown pop out of a box and into their terrified little faces. So how mysterious is this phobia, really?
  9. Children are taught to be afraid of strangers. So clowns, with their obscured facial features, are inherently strange to children, and so are looked upon with suspicion and fear.
  10. Some clowns, when in character, don’t speak. This can be disconcerting for a child, who would find that unusual, and make it more difficult for them to ascertain the clown’s intentions or actions.

Not all children fear clowns, but many do. Avoid situations that force children to remain around clowns and try to assure them that they are just people underneath all that makeup. Sometimes an explanation is more comforting than reassurance alone.

10 Things Kids Really Want From Busy Parents

Juggling a hectic schedule with the demands of parenthood can be challenging in itself; deciphering the unspoken needs and desires of your children can be even more difficult. These ten things are the most commonly sought-after desires among children of busy parents.

  1. Affection – Children crave affection from all of the trusted adults in their lives, but they especially want to feel it from their parents. If you spend a significant portion of your child’s day away from home, try to make up for it with plenty of affection during the time you do have together.
  2. Acknowledgment of Accomplishments – When you acknowledge the accomplishments and milestones in your child’s life, especially if you weren’t present for them, it shows that you’re thinking of them when you’re away and are proud of the things they’ve done.
  3. To Feel That Their Parents Are Interested in Their Lives – Missing out on the largest part of your child’s day-to-day life can lead them to believe that you aren’t interested in the things that are important to them. Even if you have to quiz the nanny about the big parts of the day, your child needs to know that you’re interested in their life.
  4. One-On-One Time – For working parents with more than one child, making time for some one-on-one time with each child can be an almost insurmountable task, but it’s one of the things that they need most. Finding a time when you can connect with each child individually should be a priority, even though it’s difficult to accomplish.
  5. Whole-Family Interaction – While kids want to spend time alone with their parents, they also need to interact with their family unit as a whole. Spending time together will not only fulfill their needs and help to smooth the friction of sibling rivalry; it will also provide you all with invaluable memories.
  6. To Feel That They Are Important – Kids may understand intellectually that their parents work hard in order to provide for them, they can still feel like they’re consistently taking a backseat to the “more important” task of working. Letting your child know that you miss them, and that they’re the most important things in your life can soothe these pangs before they become full-blown resentment.
  7. Attendance at Events – Over-scheduled kids can have more events than a stay-at-home parent could attend, but there are major events that children are devastated for their parents to miss. An annual recital or championship game might cause a scheduling snarl, but it will make your child’s day to see you there, cheering them on.
  8. For You to Be Less Stressed – When a New York childcare worker polled children for an upcoming book, she asked them what they most wanted from their parents. Instead of the predicted “more time,” the majority of kids simply answered that they wished their parents were less stressed over work and money.
  9. To Be Listened To – Knowing your time with a child is limited for the day can create the temptation to force all of your parenting lessons in during the course of a conversation, but what most children truly need is to be listened to, without criticism or correction.
  10. Your Presence – Even if they’re sleeping or playing in another room, it’s comforting for your children to know that you’re home and accessible, should they need you. Simply being present satisfies one of your child’s strongest emotional needs.

No matter how busy you are, you can always make time for your kids. They don’t always need quantity, but they do need quality. Make sure the time you spend with them is enjoyable and productive for you both.

10 Times “Because I Said So” is Appropriate

Do you remember when you were a kid and your folks would answer one of your many, “Why” questions with the cliché response of, “Because I SAID SO!”  Didn’t you find that annoying?  You probably even took it one step further and told yourself that when you grew up and had kids of your own you would never say that to them.  You vowed you would always answer their questions with a real answer.  Until that day when your son or daughter had asked you “Why” for the twentieth time and then you snapped.  Check out 10 times that the “because I said so” response really is appropriate:

  1. When your kid asks why they can’t go swimming in the winter: It’s fine to say something like, “because it’s too cold outside”, or that they would catch a cold if they did. However if they continue to whine “but why” repeatedly then you need to use the tried and true, “Because I said so, that’s why!”
  2. When the reason to their question is too complicated to explain: “Why do I have to wash my hands before dinner?”  Your kid is three so it probably isn’t going to work to try to explain that germs are bad and by washing they will get rid of most of the germs, but not all of the germs.  Your little one isn’t going to understand the real answer so just tell them because you said so.
  3. When you don’t know the answer: This is the best time to use the statement, “Because I said so, that’s why!”  Your child asks why they have to wash their hands after they sneeze.  You say, because there are germs on your hands and you could make other kids sick.  Why?  I don’t know won’t really cut it at that point.  Just tell them because you said so.
  4. When you don’t want to explain: Your son wants to know why he can’t get an earring or your daughter wants to know why she can’t have the micro mini skirt.  There probably is a good reason that you don’t want them to do those things, but do you really want to explain it?  Just tell them because you said so!
  5. When they don’t want to wear their helmet on their bike: “Mommy I don’t want to wear my helmet, it will mess up my hair. Why do I have to?”  Or, “Daddy, why do I have to wear a helmet when I’m on my bike? It’s not fair; none of the other guys do!”  Kids think they are invincible and won’t understand so just tell them because you said so.
  6. Take a coat with you: “Why do I have to take a coat with me?  It’s nice out and I don’t want to carry it. Nobody else is going to have their coat, why do I have to take a coat?”  Just tell them because you said so.  Because about the time you respond with, “Because it might rain”, it inevitably will not and then they will come back and say they shouldn’t have had to take their coat in the first place.  It’s not worth your breath to argue.
  7. All my friends are going on Spring break: The dreaded Spring break conversation. “Mom why can’t I go to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring break?  All my friends are going.  What’s the big deal?  You never let me do anything.  Don’t you trust me?  Why can’t I go?”  Do you really want to go over all of the horrible things that might happen on Spring break?  It’s much easier to just tell them because you said so.
  8. I don’t want to wear my seatbelt: “Why do I have to wear my seatbelt?  I’m in the back seat and I want to lay down and I can’t lay down if I have my seatbelt on.  Why can’t I go without wearing my seatbelt?” It’s a safety thing and you are well within your right to just say because I said so.
  9. I want to wear make-up: When your young daughter comes to you and wants to wear make-up to school or the big dance, it’s usually a safe time to pull out the, “because I said so”.  She tells you that all of her friends are doing it and why can’t she?  This isn’t really a safety issue so you can’t use that.  It’s not really a money issue because make-up is cheap.  You are better off just saying, because I said so.
  10. Why can’t we get a Wii: This works with any big ticket item that you don’t want to get your kids.  Maybe it’s a flat screen TV or an Xbox.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to get it because of price or because you don’t like the games,  or that you are afraid they would spend too much time on it and not get enough exercise… whatever the reason is you can always just say, because I said so!

10 Ways to Handle an Ungrateful Child

Jimmy Kimmel had his viewers give their kids yucky gifts and get video of their responses. The results were hilarious! Some children seem to have some pretty lofty expectations when it comes to getting gifts and can be less than gracious when they don’t get what they want. Unfortunately, commercial advertising has greatly contributed to these high expectations especially during the Christmas season. How do parents deal with a kid who doesn’t appreciate the gifts they receive? Here are 10 ways to handle an ungrateful child.

  1. Define gift – The first step a parent should consider is to define the meaning of gift to the child. Let him/her know that a present is not something they’re entitled to receive, but rather something given freely without expectation of reward. Explain that showing gratitude and hiding any disappointment is the least he/she could do.
  2. Lesson in manners – This would be a good time for a teachable moment. Children need to learn what is and isn’t sociably acceptable behavior. A little lesson in proper manners would be in order by explaining what the proper response to receiving a gift should be.
  3. Give gifts to charity – If your child is ungrateful for his/her gifts, go ahead and give them to your local charity. Make sure to take the child along when you do this and explain that there are plenty of less fortunate kids who would appreciate them.
  4. Ignore it – If this is the first time this happens, especially if the gift is less than thrilling, you may just want to ignore the situation. Young children don’t have the ability to hide their feelings until they have the maturity to learn what is expected of them.
  5. Return gifts – Of course, if your child really doesn’t like the present, you can just take it back. If you are the one who gave the gift, just keep the money or put it in the child’s saving account.
  6. Exchange gifts – If it really was a disappointing gift, perhaps you can have the child exchange it for something else they like. Since this is common practice for adults, kids may as well learn how the process works.
  7. Guilt – If this ingratitude becomes a repetitive problem, maybe a little guilt trip would be in order. Kids need to know that there are other children who are far less fortunate than they are who don’t get any gifts at all.
  8. Shame – If guilt doesn’t work perhaps a little shame would be in order. Ask your child how he/she would feel if you didn’t like something they gave to you or someone else. Putting the shoe on the other foot may help them realize why ingratitude is not acceptable.
  9. Threaten – If all else fails, you can always threaten to withhold any gifts on the next occasion. Remember, this will only work if you follow through. It may be a difficult thing to do, but empty threats won’t work.
  10. Laugh – On they other hand, you can take a cue from the Jimmy Kimmel videos and just laugh. It’s not the end of the world if kids are unappreciative. You only need to be concerned if this behavior becomes a pattern or if your child has unrealistic expectations.

Whatever you do, don’t fall into a trap and let your kids make you feel guilty yourself. Parents can get themselves into financial trouble trying to fulfill their children’s unrealistic expectations. Kids need to know that they can’t expect to get everything they want. Even if you can afford it, it’s not healthy for children to expect their every wish to be fulfilled. There are always disappointments in life and children need to learn to deal with it eventually. A level headed approach plus a little humor can help diffuse an unpleasant situation and help your child learn the real meaning of giving.

10 Safe Alternatives to Teething Rings

More and more parents want options to the plastic teething rings available on the market today. The key is to find a safe replacement that your child will be happy with. If you are one of those parents and don’t have a clue as to what the alternatives are check out this list.

  1. Frozen mini bagel – Food is still one of the best choices for teething babies. Freeze a mini bagel and let baby gnaw away on it.  Keep your eye on it though to make sure the baby don’t get a piece off of it causing a choking hazard.
  2. Zwieback bread – You don’t hear much about it, but it is sweetened bread baked twice and it resembles Melba toast. Years ago this was very popular for teething babies. It works just as well for babies now!
  3. Gum massage – Wash your hands and give your toothless baby a little gum massage. As long as there are no teeth to bite you it should be safe to rub baby’s gums with your finger. No doubt your little one will enjoy nibbling on Mom’s finger.
  4. Frozen waffle – Another safe food alternative is to give the baby a frozen waffle. As the waffle thaws it will turn to mush in the baby’s mouth so you won’t have to worry about any choking hazards.
  5. Wooden spoon – A well worn wooden spoon works wonders as a teething toy. Just be sure you are in the mood to listen to a little drumming because once baby finds out that the new teething stick works as a percussion instrument everything within reach will get banged on!
  6. Wet washcloth – A nice cool wet washcloth makes a soothing alternative to hard plastic teething toys. You probably will just want to use this one at home since chances are the baby may drop it from time to time and put it back in the mouth. Family germs are one thing, but you definitely don’t want your little one picking up public germs.
  7. Amber teething necklace – Many mothers swear by this substitute. Amber is said to have healing and calming properties so for the fussy baby this might be worth looking into. There are places online that sell amber teething necklaces at reasonable prices.
  8. Wooden rattles – As the world begins to go green there are more natural alternatives being offered in the place of plastics. Wooden rattles are a very nice organic choice for baby. If you notice your baby chewing on the crib railing or other pieces of furniture you will definitely want to check out a wooden option.
  9. Frozen juice or fruit – For a tasty teething alternative make cubes of frozen fruit juice and give these to baby or use dye-free natural cloth tea bags and fill with cold fruit.
  10. Large cold carrots – Before the teeth come in large carrots are okay to use however after teeth erupt you really need to be careful about baby biting off chunks that could cause a choking hazard.

There are many alternatives to plastic teething rings nowadays so it’s just a matter of deciding what’s going to work for you and your baby.  Whatever you use again you always need to be aware of what your baby has in his or her mouth and watch for anything that could break off and become a choking hazard.  We simply cannot stress the importance of that enough.

10 Politically Incorrect Things from Kids Cartoons

I think it’s a pretty well-known fact that the creators of cartoons almost always include some adult humor into their cartoons.  They know that parents are basically forced to watch cartoons with their child and in order to get the parent’s vote for what to watch they include some humor that only adults will understand.  Many times these things are politically incorrect.  Check out 10 politically incorrect things from kids cartoons.

  1. Power Rangers’ costume colors: The yellow power ranger is played by an Asian, the black power ranger is African American, the pink power ranger is a girl and the rest are white.  These criticisms were taken seriously by the producers and when they needed to recast the black power ranger they used an Asian actor and the yellow power ranger is played by an African American woman.
  2. Sponge Bob’s hometown: Sponge Bob lives in Bikini Bottom and one of his best friends is named Sandy Cheeks.  A sponge living in a bikini by itself is not very PC.  The adult humor abounds in this very popular cartoon.  Sponge Bob runs around in his underwear a lot and he and Patrick Star call each other stupid and jerks.  This cartoon has come under fire from a lot of parents.  Churches and religious organizations have also suggested that this cartoon is promoting homosexuality with their use of rainbows in many of their episodes and the close relationship between Sponge Bob and Patrick.  Creators of the show have denied any hidden agenda.
  3. Princess and the frog: This movie is set in New Orleans and includes a lot of voodoo and jazz references that have been criticized as stereotyping the less than savory neighborhoods of New Orleans.  New Orleans was the site of a lot of racist crimes against African Americans and questions have arisen as to why Disney would set this cartoon in this location.  Creators claim that they decided on the locale first and the rest fell into place afterwards.
  4. Dumbo: This Disney classic used a group of black crows in racist roles and they are characterized as being stupid and one crow is shown wearing a pimp hat.  One of the original opening songs sung by the crows talks about working all day and all night having never learned to read or write they were happy-hearted roustabouts.  When others have gone to bed we slave until we are almost dead.  The song goes on to talk about when they get their pay they throw it away.  The blatant racism in this song is very politically incorrect.
  5. Bugs Bunny in Black face: Many of the early Bugs Bunny cartoons were very politically incorrect.  Bugs Bunny appears in black face portraying stereotypical African American traits in a negative light.
  6. Speedy Gonzalez: In Speedy’s first appearance in a cartoon you see a bunch of sombrero wearing mice behind a wired fence and they want the cheese on the other side.  They refer to Sylvester the cat as a gringo and they send for Speedy Gonzalez to get past him.  Sylvester is guarding the border.
  7. Song from Aladdin: In the opening song “Arabia Nights” the lyrics talk about getting an ear cut off if they don’t like your face, “It’s barbaric , but hey, it’s home”. The lines in the song came under such strong criticism the lines were later changed to be less offensive to Arab people.
  8. Simpsons: The Simpsons was created to make fun of dysfunctional families.  The stereotypes that exist in the show are part of what make it funny.  Bart appeals to kids, but he’s disrespectful and tells people to “Eat my shorts”.  Homer spends a lot of time drinking beer at the bar.  Christians are depicted as being stupid and fanatical.
  9. Family guy: This show has come under a lot of criticism for its use of animated nudity, profanity and violence.  They had one episode where a barber shop quartet danced and sang around the hospital bed of a guy with end-stage AIDS and sang about his diagnosis.  The series came under a lot of fire from AIDS organizations for indecency.
  10. Lion King: Hyenas depicted with African American and Hispanic characteristics live in the dangerous shadow areas of the jungle and they portray it like a jungle version of an inner city ghetto.  The stereo types of these two cultures abound.  The hyenas are lazy, killers and willing to make a deal with the devil (Scar).

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