Jennifer

My girls are five and seven. This week they've been
spending a LOT of time watching and dancing to the
Wiggles, watching a show called Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse, and playing MMC games on the computer.

I was surprised. Isn't the target audience three and
four year olds? Should I be introducing them to more
things that are "age-appropriate"? Why aren't they
bored watching such basic stuff at their age?

But it was so obvious that they were REALLY enjoying
it (as opposed to just watching it because there were
no other good choices), that I quickly stopped
worrying about it.

Anyway, I was just curious if anyone had something
interesting comments or observations on that kind of
thing.

For example, would a schooled seven year old typically
like The Wiggles, or would they be afraid other kids
would make fun of them? Is it easier for unschooled
kids to like things "intended" for younger kids?

For that matter, is it easier for unschooled kids to
like things "intended" for older kids?

Jenny

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Heather

>
>
> <For that matter, is it easier for unschooled kids to
> like things "intended" for older kids?>
>





Well, my daughter is 9 and two of her favorite things are "the sims" and
all its variations for the PC and a computer chat room called "IMVU", both
which are
designed for 13 and up.

When she first asked for The Sims, I didn't really listen (oops!) because it
was for older kids.
She must have been 8 at the time. She didn't even read much so I assumed it
would be
difficult & frustrating for her. She kept insisting she really wanted it.
I finally listened.
Ha! She LOVES the game & does amazing things with it.
She found IMVU on her own & asked my permission to sign up. She's learned
all sorts of reading & spelling
just by online chatting. She's often asking me "mom, how do you spell...?"
and then I tell her.
And she remembers, because she is having fun and having real conversations
with people.
I signed up, too, with my own avatar & sometimes we'll chat with each other
from our separate computers <g>.

My son is 12 and his favorite Xbox game is Halo 3. Rated mature.
I think it often that unschooled kids have PERMISSION to like things for
what they are, without regard for "suggested age limits".
Some of my sons friends LIKE Halo, but aren't allowed to actually play it,
even when they come stay with us.

heather m


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanna Wilkinson

Is it easier for unschooled
> kids to like things "intended" for younger kids?
>
> For that matter, is it easier for unschooled kids to
> like things "intended" for older kids?
>
> Jenny

I think yes to both.

My 8 and 11yo were watching Barney the other day. It's been a while
since I've heard that voice and those songs. Maybe it was a little
nostalgic for them. I still love Sesame Street. I love the humor.
My kids play dress up and pretend and all kinds of things that school
kids would probably not consider cool.
My 11yo and his 13 yo old friend (homeschooler) discuss polictics,
world peace, the environment, science, animal rights.... They made
picket signs that said "honk for peace" and "save our planet" and stood
out in front of our house yesterday trying to get cars to honk. I was
not involved at all. I didn't even know they were doing it until I
noticed cars honking more than usual and looked out front.
My 17yo who did end up going to high school, still plays with Barbies.
Mostly giving them make overs now, but she would not care a bit if
anyone knew. She probably tells people about it. She does some pretty
amazing stuff with them.
That's one of the really cool things about unschooling. Nothing is off
limits. No age segregation.

Joanna W.

Sandra Dodd

-=-Is it easier for unschooled
kids to like things "intended" for younger kids?-=-

Yes.

-=-For that matter, is it easier for unschooled kids to like things
"intended" for older kids?-=-

Yes.

But not really because they're unschooled. There are unschooled kids
who have been shunted and shamed away from liking TV or sheets with
cartoon characters or "junk food" or emo kids or whatever.

What makes it possible for a human of any age to be discerning about
what he or she likes without fear or prejudice is for the people
around them to encourage them without teasing them or asking those
leading questions that are really criticism in bad disguise.

Here's something recent, about Holly who's 16:

http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/2008/03/whole-and-real-mature-or-
immature.html

I could bring the text, but it's better with the photos.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-My 17yo who did end up going to high school, still plays with
Barbies. -=-

Holly (nearly 16 and a half) bought a Barbie the other day. She
drove herself, used her own money, and brought home an America's Next
Top Model Barbie. She and I talked for quite a while about the
features (limited poses, but some good ones, and removable panties!!)
and the eye makeup and the hair, and which things she owns that would
fit it.

Holly had a Poison Ivy doll (some comic-book super hero kind of
character or villain, I don't know), and the clothes will fit the new
doll. The Poison Ivy doll is being Bree Vandecamp (sp?) from
Desperate Housewives now. Holly has dedicated barbies to be
characters/action figures in various scenarios.

Here are some accounts and info on Holly's Barbie scenes and Jayn
Coburn's:
http://sandradodd.com/barbie

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

m_aduhene

Hi,
My daughter is 7 and my son has just turned 4. They often tune into
the wiggles together and enjoy a good sing-a-long. we went to their
concert last year and dd danced and sang along. my daughter also
enjoys watching "cbeebies" (intended for pre-schoolers). My children
have never been to nursery or school and therefore have no concept of
what "is cool or not cool" for children their age. Also to note dd
has 2 friends down the road who go to school (10 and 5) and they
practically live here after school and weekends. The 10 year old
joins in quite happily with dress-up games and playing schools and
dolls. I just wonder if her friends at school know about this....?
blessings
michelle

Bob Collier

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>
>
> What makes it possible for a human of any age to be discerning about
> what he or she likes without fear or prejudice is for the people
> around them to encourage them without teasing them or asking those
> leading questions that are really criticism in bad disguise.
>
> Here's something recent, about Holly who's 16:
>
> http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/2008/03/whole-and-real-mature-or-
> immature.html
>
> I could bring the text, but it's better with the photos.
>
> Sandra
>
>


Wonderful!

I never did understand that "age appropriate" concept.

Bob

(Age 56, who has Spongebob Squarepants and Animaniacs listed amongst
his favourite TV shows on his Facebook profile. :D)

Bob Collier

--- In [email protected], Heather <swingdancechick@...>
wrote:
>
> >
>
> My son is 12 and his favorite Xbox game is Halo 3. Rated mature.
> I think it often that unschooled kids have PERMISSION to like things for
> what they are, without regard for "suggested age limits".
> Some of my sons friends LIKE Halo, but aren't allowed to actually
play it,
> even when they come stay with us.
>
> heather m
>
>
>


LOL

My son's 12, too; we were playing Halo 3 together only yesterday.

Bob

Joanna Murphy

"I still love Sesame Street. I love the humor."

I've loved getting to watch all the Disney movies (and some of the other good ones too)
with my kids. It's my guilty pleasure. And I even liked Barney--shhhh, don't tell!

I enjoyed watching Saturday morning cartoons (we didn't have cable) until I was at least
15. And the X-mas specials--don't get me started! I think it kinda' ruined it for me when
they went to videotape and they could be watched any ole' time...

My kids watch all kinds of stuff for all ages. One of the games my daughter (9) likes to
play with her grandparents is that magnetic fishing game. They just told me that today,
with a laugh about how that game is for three to seven year olds. They didn't seem to, but
I get it--sometimes it's fun to do something that's easy. I don't always want a challenge
either. I like to play games that are simple and repetitive sometimes, and so does she.
Just for fun. And my MIL said that dd could always beat them because her reactions are
faster than theirs.

We were at our videogame day yesterday. We have a great community that's been
together awhile, so kids are really comfortable. There were kids from 4 to 13, and
everyone mixed, everyone played. It was more about personalities than ages--which feels
so much more natural to me. There was considerable time when one of the 13 year olds
was happily playing with the four year old.

I had a friend that was two or three years older than me--I might have been 11 or 12 and
she was 14 or 15. It was in a community group rather than school, and we really
connected after a long time for either of us not connecting with anyone. It made my
mother so uncomfortable for me to have a friend that was older (and she was a really
"nice" girl--no trouble in sight) that she made me end the friendship. That was very sad
for me.

Joanna