Terrible ads

Please explain how kids 'physically look like brats?'

I'm not saying a kid might have not tried to pull the stunt about
insisting on going to CEC's after cleaning their room. I'm sure some
have - but a good parent would have put a stop to that very quickly.

"The kids in the commericals are being bribed my parents who can't
handle their kids"... is that your case? If so.. I highly suggest
Super Nanny lol

First off, no TV commercial, song, book, whatever is going to make any
kid be anything that they weren't already capable of doing. I hate
when people use that as an excuse.

And what exaclty do brats "physically" look like? Apparently, at
least according to your letter, they look like your son and your
friend's son. FYI, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. . .


While I am all for caution in advertising that is geared towards
children, at the end of the day, YOU are the parent and YOU have the
capability and responsibility to raise your child in the best way you
can. That DOES NOT include blaming your shortcomings or the natural
rebellion of a child on a commercial!

Oh, & the state of NY called. All their "gangsters" will be over at
your house around 5:30 to be taken to your local Chuck E. Cheese for
dinner.

This has got to be one of the most absurd letters I have ever read on
here. You're the parent!!!! If my kid did that, he wouldn't be going
to CEC for a month, maybe two. CEC is not responsible for your son
being a brat and refusing to clean his room unless you take him there.
I haven't seen this commercial, but I have a difficult time
understanding how it is the main culprit behind you son refusing to
clean his room. CEC is a business, you are the parent. Take some
ownership.

Kids are literal when they are young in their interpretation of
commercials. We all have to go through how our kids react to the
influences on them and manage the child from there. Welcome to the
wonderful world of parenting.

Brats are created by their parents. Start taking responsibility

First I will say this. Your letter is silly. Kids might TRY to pull
that but that doesnt mean you have to give in. Because you are trying
to blame CEC for your son's behaviour makes me wonder if you are the
parent here..or if you expect everyone else to be.

Second I want to ask..how does a kid physically look like a brat? I
have never seen a kid and automatically thought "Wow!! That kid sure
LOOKS like a brat!" I have seen some really nice looking kids who were
the devil in disguise and I have seen some sad looking kids who angel
wings were just hiding.

My son has flaming red curly hair and freckles all over his face. He
likes to wear jean and t-shirts with things like sharks, snakes, or
dinos on it. He sometimes wears fake tattoos or little bubble gum
machine "bling bling" necklaces. Does he sound like he looks like a
brat? Seriously..I want to know because he ISNT a brat and I certainly
dont want him looking like one and being judged by people such as
yourself.

And thirdly, I hate to admit this but yes, some kids DO try to act out
what they see on tv. Does anyone remember a commercial a few years ago
where this kid pours chocolate syrup all over the living room
furniture? I think it wasa carpet cleaning commercial. A friend of
mine's son decided to try the same thing while she was out one night
and her husband was supposed to be watching him. So yes, this kind of
thing does happen and its not the fault of the parent. HOWEVER, its
down right silly to write a company and complain about their
commercials. It IS a perfect time to be a parent and teach your kids
about the REAL world and how life REALLY works.

This is just a suggestion, but perhaps you should actually parent your
child instead of sticking him in front of the TV. Lay down the law,
let him know that if he doesn't do his chores then he won't be able to
enjoy certain pleasures such as TV and the computer.

I'll also say that it's rather mean of you to say that a kid "looks"
like a brat. That's a serious stereotype.

Wow! You're upset because your child decided to throw a stink about
chores and used a commercial as an excuse? I hate to break it to you,
if he's old enough to do that, he's old enough to know he's trying to
play you to see what kind of reaction he'll get. Good for you for
not giving into it, but why blame a commercial for a making kids
spoiled brats? Commercials don't make spoiled brats, parents do.

Be responsible for your own kids not wanting follow your direction.
Obviously you don't have their respect. Which would not be the fault
of a commercial.

Wow.

An animated rat has a bigger influence on your child then you do.
Amazing.

Here's a novel idea: if your child is so easily impressed by things he
sees on TV, don't let him watch it anymore. That'll straighten him
right out.

You: Junior, why isn't your room clean?
Jr.: I won't clean it until you take me to CEC!!
You: And why is that?
Jr. Because the kids I saw on a commercial while I was sitting in
front of the neglectovision cleaned their room and got to go.
You: Alright, you've lost your TV privledges until you can understand
that I, not a cartoon mouse, run this house.

Also, what does a brat "physically" look like?

"It's making kids be spoiled brats."

???

I thought it was commercials for sugary cereals and cheap plastic toys
that were making children spoiled brats.

Here's a tip: try being a parent. Junior needs to learn he doesn't,
and shouldn't, just get rewards for doing things he is expected to do
anyway.

So, in your house, the mouse - be it Chucky or Mickey - has more
authority than you - the parent - do? Oh, dear.

I just think it's a "phase" your child is going through. Ever watch
"Supernanny" and see how kids respond when bounaries are put in place.
Your kid is just broadening his horizons, testing his wings.
I seriously doubt it has anything at all to do with a cartoon
character on a tv ad, or the death of Mr Rogers, or anything like
that.
Maybe show the child there are consequences to his actions and explain
that you are the adult and he is the child. And maybe not teach him to
judge a book by it's cover (or a cartoon character or child actors by
what they look like or are wearing)
If a child needs Chuck E Cheeses as a reward for good grades, can you
imagine how many children are learning poor food choices?

First of all, I'd like to complain about your post. Spelling, grammar,
syntax...barely existant.

Secondly, yet another person blaming external forces for their lack of
parenting skills.

Physically look like brats? Big B on their forehead or something? Or
do they look like those Bratz dolls with the big heads? Well thought
out statement.

But your final pseudo-statement (mangled English and all) sums it up:
"The kids in the commericals are being bribed my parents who can't
handle their kids"

Priceless.

Don't blame them because you can't handle your kid.

I really hate the fact that we as a society have started blaming
companies for everything that's gone wrong with our children today.
If our children are fat, blame the companies that make and market
sugary cereals, blame the fast food restaurants, blame the schools,
but don't blame the parents who buy the products, it's out of their
control! Same goes with revealing clothing. If our 7 year olds look
like they should be walking the streets rather than going to school,
lets blame the clothing companies for marketing Britney Spears style
clothing for kids. Hey, we shouldn't feel bad for giving in to our
kids, it's all beyond our control right?

We as parents need to be responsible enough not to buy into the hype.
Unfortunately though, there are parents that give in to their
children, too many in fact. That is why the cereal companies, the
clothing companies and the Chuck-E-Cheeses of the world will stay in
business for many years to come.

As for your letter Autumn, you need to think about re-writing it if
you want to be taken seriously. Have someone look over it before you
send it, as this version has many many grammar and capitalization
mistakes. It makes it hard to understand. You also need to leave out
the comments about Chuck being a NY gangster and the kids looking like
little brats. Neither comment has anything to do with your core
complaint.

How does a kid 'physically' look like a brat?
Do they have an extra toe or purple eyes or something?

I've seen kids who looked absolutely angelic throw fits of rage that
would make Attila the Hun freak out.

I suspect that after a few challenges of this sort, which you will of
course respond to as a parent, your son will realize that giant mice
do not outrank you. It's not the commercial that makes kids into
spoiled brats, even if it does provide them with an idea for
attempting to convince their parents to spoil them.

Having said that, and without having seen the commercial (I don't have
kids, and I don't watch kids' programming, and I suspect that this
protects me from CEC commercials), it does sound as if they're sending
the wrong message -- and so I applaud you for giving them feedback on
this point.

I suspect, however, that good grades commercials are really only
effective around the start and end of semesters. It would have been
cool if you had been able to suggest other kinds of commercials that
would be effective at this time of year and that did not involve
children deciding that they deserved compensation for the
contributions they are expected to make in their families. Maybe a
child could do something unexpected, thoughtful, and time-consuming,
freeing up her parents' evening and prompting a visit to CEC?