Children's TV Show "Caillou" Has Its Feet Firmly Planted in Fantasy Land
If You Want to Feel like a Really Bad Parent, Watch This Show
The key is plucking the gems from the pile that is children's television rubble. That's when you'll find shows like Caillou, The Wiggles and Dora the Explorer.
While Caillou is one of the gems due to its educational value and practical life applications, the interpersonal dynamics are so far from what we all experience on a daily basis that it's difficult to overlook. This is true with most shows aimed at the 2-6 year age group, but in the case of this show, it's taken to a whole new level.
Caillou is a bald four-year-old boy who lives with little sister, Rosie and his mom and dad--who are only ever referred to as "Mommy" and "Daddy." They apparently have no noteworthy identity beyond that. It's also apparent that efforts were made by the creators and writers to portray them as a modern average family. Mom is frumpy (so as to reflect the size of the "average" woman), Dad does housework and bakes, they live in a modest home and share one car. Caillou and Rosie sometimes fight over toys, Grandma and Grandpa are present regularly, though not too often. Everything is just right, as we continue on to Fantasy Land.
Caillou is quite the whiny, shrilly, babyish four-year-old boy. His voice actually has the potential to hurt your stomach. He gets scared of things that a two-year-old girl wouldn't blink at. He cowers behind his mommy at the sound of a voice over a PA system. The very nice narrator lady thinks this is all perfectly understandable. When he is defiant, demanding or disrespectful, there is never a consequence. Rather there is further coddling from parents who have never raised their voices.
Caillou is often extremely annoying, yet "Mommy" never just tells him to cut it out and go do something else. Instead, she is delighted that he has interrupted her for the 40th time to whine selfishly and demand stuff. When Mommy has to take Caillou and Rosie places like the zoo or the park, she doesn't sweat or have a headache with angry eyebrows. The answer to every request is an enthusiastic, "Sure!" It doesn't matter what she's in the middle of, or how unreasonable and unnecessary the request is. Instead of just telling Caillou, "You know what? You really need to go pick up all those clothes that are all over your floor," Mommy says (in the usual chipper fashion), "I have an idea that will make helping around the house more fun!" This of course is followed by a great opportunity for a craft as Caillou and Rosie help make stickers that will be given as rewards for things they should be doing anyway.
Mom isn't the only one who appears to have a steady drip of Oxycontin flowing through her veins. "Daddy" is also thrilled to be awakened by an impatient Caillou at 5 in the morning on his day off. He cheerfully does the laundry while caring for little Rosie, and he will drop whatever he is doing to indulge one of Caillou's whiny requests just like Mommy. Daddy is today's sensitive, forget-what-you-ever-learned-about-the-male-role kind of guy . When you first watch the show, you might even mistake him for the mom, what with his slightly grown-out tender-hearted hairdo. He never gets angry or annoyed, even though he probably can't be left alone long enough to go to the bathroom. No, every frustrating circumstance is met with a smile, and sometimes even a hearty chuckle.
If Caillou's parents aren't "pretend" enough, there is also the friendly plumber who gladly engages Caillou in conversation, and doesn't mind entertaining him while he works. And he certainly doesn't overcharge Mommy and Daddy before leaving. There are also the not-too-busy garbage collectors who are happy to talk to Caillou about the job they love. They are surprisingly articulate when they speak, and they aren't even dirty.
Let's not forget about the car salesman who doesn't try to sell them anything--though that could easily be attributed to the fact that the salesman sized them up and determined they wouldn't be worth his efforts. After all, they've been wearing the same clothes for like 8 years. Everyone in Caillou's world is idealistically kind. Imagine how strange it must be for children when they compare these people to the ones they see everyday!
These robotic beings programmed to behave the way child development "specialists" (many who don't even have children of their own) have determined we all should behave, certainly make us "real" humans look like monsters. Real parents just do not operate this way. Sometimes the answer to our children is no. Sometimes we raise our voices. And sometimes we actually deliver consequences for bad behavior. Caillou's family life certainly looks like a dream, because it is. While it might serve as a reminder to parents how short they fall when it comes to "proper" parenting, it should actually be acknowledged how short this portrayal of human interaction falls when it comes to the real world.
Published by Superdork
I am a wife, and a mother of two children. These two roles are my favorite parts of being alive. I'm one of the most imperfect humans I know. And I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. View profile
- Bilingual Toys Help Kids Learn English and SpanishLearning Spanish and English can be fun for both you & your child. Bilingual toys are a creative way to learn. If you can't find these toys at a local store, hop on the web and you'll most likely find them online at w...
Amanda Knox Update: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's InvolvementThe Donald wants Italy boycotted, Amanda's parents want her free, and Hillary is willing to play diplomat and listen, but the family of Meredith Kercher is who we should be supp...- Are Parents Ruining Athletics and Interscholastic Relations?This editorial covers the involvement of parents in athletics from t-ball to high school baseball and also the involvement of parents within the school board.
- Jon and Kate Plus 8: Let's Stop Exploiting the ChildrenJon and Kate Plus 8 is a nasty look into the lives of two dysfunctional parents and their eight children that they are exploiting in their ongoing marital saga.
- Watch What You Say Mommy and Daddy: Little Ears Are ListeningI was so embarrassed that I wanted to crawl under the table, this so was not my intention. I should have kept my thoughts to myself that night or at least waited until I got the children home before I mentioned it.
- Free Printable Paper Dolls
- Mommy and Daddy the Risk of SIDS is Up These Days
- The Hidden Mickeys of Magic Kingdom's Fantasy Land
- Fantasy Land at Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids
- Outstanding Mommy and Me Classes in the Los Angeles Area
- Redwall: The Amazing Fantasy Land of Animals by Brian Jacques
- Bongs, Blunts and Joints - Which is Best?
- Caillou is actually a good show for kids, but extremely unrealistic.
- Caillou's parents are probably really robots.
- Caillou is pretty much a wussy brat.
35 Comments
Post a Commentand was stopped from watching any more) and then they see Caillou getting what he wants.
Maybe Grandpa takes him on a field trip and a lesson is learned in the process, but that lesson is 9 times out of 10 lost on a toddler. All they see is whine and demand, and be rewarded.
Hi All, I am an early childhood educator currently working as a nanny to a 2 year old. He LOVES caillou but is not allowed to watch it.
While i think the IDEA behind Caillou of seeing the world through the eyes of a young boy, and experiencing the lessons he learns is a good idea - unfortunately the target audience is too young for that angle to be successful. I also have an english/pshcyhology degree and am well aware that kids under 12 are not mentally developed enough to experience a cathartic like lesson from a show..
Instead at this 2 - 6 year age, they operate on a "monkey see - monkey do" level....They don't get what the narrator says adding to the story, and they definately don't relate what happens after a series of events as a lesson - Instead they see Caillou yelling things like "it's not fair!" and "i don't want to!" in a very defiant and demanding tone (The 2 year old i care for learned BOTH of these phrases, and the tone of voice, after a week or so of watching Caillou
My 2 year old loves caillou. I think that the things this show teaches (using imagination, being creative, sharing, being kind and helpful) are good lessons. He may not get yelled at, or grounded or spanked....then again, think of family friendly shows that do....none. Part of tv is to show the good in things, but he is told to play nice, or to share. Those of you that think "mommy" and "daddy" spend too much time with caillou obviously shouldn't have children
Although Caillou can be annoying at times with his whinny voice, my son can't get enough of him. I'd rather he watch Caillou then sit in front of the tube and watch a shoot-em-up episode of Bakugan or other violent toon. The other day I was looking for a birthday gift in a Caillou theme and struck out at the big box retailers. Seems that none of the big stores carried him. That's when I set myself on a missing to find Caillou merchandise on the net and ran into KimmyShop.com. They have a bunch of stuff online. Found some DVDs, a nice school bag and a Caillou hockey doll. Here is their direct link if anyone is interested: http://www.kimmyshop.com/cartoon-toys/caillou.html
In response to MachoPitcho - I happen to live in a small town in the United States where people are very nice and caring. My kids have actually spoken to working adults that take a moment to talk back to them. Please do not assume that every American and every place in America is the same. In response to this artice I really do appreciate your honesty concerning the parents. I have at times felt that they seem too calm and sugary sweet every minute of the day to be truly realistic parents. It doesn't bother me because I really don't think my three-year-old daughter spends much time thinking about Caillou's parents. She is much more interested in Caillou and his exciting adventures! She loves it when he imagines he's riding a dolphin in the ocean or that he's a drummer for a rock band. My daughter whined like a normal kid before she ever watched Caillou and really I do not see that the show has had any ill effect on her. On the contrary these days she is very much interested in being a
Oh, you're right--this is place is going to be hell. It is well on its way. However, you must have missed in my article that I actually do let my kids watch this show--trust me, I've logged plenty of Caillou hours...thus the article. I don't not want my kids to watch the show, I actually think it is a good show for kids. And I do not do all the Disney and Nickelodeon crap. My observations are just how much in fantasy land this show is when compared to the real world. And Caillou is a little bitch--that is not okay. My son has always been annoyed by his crying and shrilly whining--he covers his ears. Otherwise, great show.
Caillou is the best kid show ever put on american television. How could a parent not want their kid to see that show!
Maybe you let your kids watch all the disney and nickelodeon crap thats gonna fry ur kids brain. U guys have to know that outside the us there is no shame in being a nice and caring person. Outside of the us the garbage man is actually clean and the plumber can take 3 min to talk to a little kid with questions. It's sad to hear...makes me want to move out of here 'cause when ur kids grow up this place is gonna be hell
Did you see the one where Caillou is excited about going to the circus, and begins brushing his teeth? Daddy comes in and Caillou tells him he is getting ready to go to the circus. The air goes out of the room as Daddy says with dread, 'oh no, Caillou, the circus is not until tomorrow.' You can almost hear a tremor in Daddy's voice as he says it, while Caillou obliviously and vigorously brushes his his teeth until it dawns on him. Caillou then blows a gasket.
I fantasized about the folks at SNL doing a TV funhouse spoof of Caillou, with this kind of scene as a starting point. Mommy and Daddy proceed to lose their minds . . . All of Caillous's spills, lies ("I didn't do it on purpose." Yes you did), screwups, and whining results in the as of yet too-quick-to-forgive Mommy and Daddy putting Caillou in the closet and not letting him out until he has smoked a carton of cheap Canadian cigarettes, while Mommy and Daddy go get drunk in the basement laundry . . . .
Hi all.
I HATE Caillou. My 2 toddlers are addicted to the show like a drug addict. I bought 3 Caillou DVDs....they are all in the trash tonight. Any time that irritating show comes on, I have to distract my kids so i can turn it off. Don't I sound awful? Here's the deal: I am a ChrISTIAN mother by the way (!!) who does not like to see her 2 little boys imitating Caillou. He has been an AWFUL role model, especially for my 4-year-old. My kids are whiny little monsters, and every day they are acting like Caillou. I think the parents are kind, which parents should be, but it is WAY too much, I mean, I have actually felt like a bad mom, comparing myself to Caillou's CARTOON mother!!!!
I don't know, I sort of like the show. Granted, the whininess does get a bit annoying, and the perpetual parental cheeriness is like from another planet, but there is a constructive aspect, I think. The whining factor is just a reality of life, at least for many of us with small kids. At least when our little bald protagonist whines and doesn't get his way, he mopes, I've seen him kick a toy, but they DO show him getting over it and moving on to something constructive. (Granted this is usually because the parents have dropped everything to create a diversionary project like a magnificent glow-in-the-dark mural, but that's a whole different issue.) As those of us with small kids know, the whining doesn't usually end so quickly and can develop into a nasty tantrum.(Only saw an acutal leg-kicking tantrum once on the show, and the dad did get angry about it.) So for the long run, I think it's probably helpful for kids to see that when a parent says no and their choices are refused, frustra