Thought I would follow-up to the post I write the other day about my excitement for the Halloween special, “The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Last night I watched it with my nearly 3-year-old.
I wrote that I wasn’t sure if he’d understand the plot or “get” the show. Turns out that he seemed to really enjoy it and especially liked the parts where the kids when Trick or Treating and going to the pumpkin patch. I, however, was a bit mortified. That’s sounds a bit strong; it’s just that I was caught off guard with a couple of the aspects of the program. In particular:
- Lucy and Sally both shake poor little Linus when they get mad at him. They physically grab him and shake him, calling him names (see next point).
- These kids call each other “stupid’ and “blockhead.”
- Snoopy, the WWI flying ace gets gunned down from his pretend plane. Then, he goes “behind enemy lines” where there are sounds of shooting and bombs.
These things aside, I was fine with the show. It just goes to show how I assess things now that I have a kid. I see everything through his eyes and wonder what questions he will have. And, I think it’s good to have them ask questions. Weather we like it or not, people are called stupid every day and there is war and shooting in the world. I just wasn’t prepared to discuss that last night while we were enjoying some Halloween family fun. I had forgotten that Charlie Brown isn’t “The Wiggles” or “Sesame Street.”
I think I’ll skip the Charlie Brown Christmas episode (or watch it first) this year — saving it for a bit later when I think my son would be better prepared to accept the answers I give him to some of his potential questions.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the Great Pumpkin but I’m firmly of the belief that the comics and shows are more geared for adults – the jokes are jokes that adults would get but kids wouldn’t necessarily get.
Melissa, I do think many of these are for adults. I doubt kids get why Charlie Brown always gets rocks in his trick or treat bag!
I remember watching The Great Pumpkin for the first time with my kids and thinking ‘They sure do say stupid a lot!’ My kids enjoy the CB specials and we make it a big event at our house by making cookies and sitting down to watch them together. Very fun!