Tom and Jerry for kids?

I also have thought about this problem, so when I choose the films which can let my son watch. I always watch it before let my son do it. When he was 3-year old, I let him watch TELETUBBIES?

I sure hope this doesn't sound waaaaay too hypocritical, but. . . I grew up watching all the Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, WB cartoons and stuff. But I don't let my kids watch any of them. Why they don't watch is not really violence/content motivated though (I'll talk about that later). Actually, I think the older cartoons are much more 'harmless' than most of the new garbage being made that's supposedly 'for kids'. IMO, I think the cartoons and telly programs made today are a whooole lot more violent and filled with bad messages than the old ones were. That being said, here's my take on your son watching the T&J show. I think you should make a point to sit down with your son after he watches T&J or whatever show he's going to see. Take the time to discuss with him what he just watched--kind of like a little 'deprogramming' of sorts. He won't be able to clearly put into words what he thought of the program or recount details of the show. But if you start conversations with him like this, it will help him learn *how* to do that. After listening to what he says, take your turn to explain that what he watched wasn't real (i.e., that cats and mice can't really talk, etc.), that the characters weren't doing nice things when they were fighting/arguing/saying mean things, and so on. This will help to reinforce that just because he saw a character on the telly do it doesn't make it right or something that we should do. One important thing to remember is that you need to watch your son's actions and monitor his behaviour after he's watched a program. If after viewing he starts acting aggressive or starts copying what he's seen, that should be a huge warning sign to you that he's being negatively affected by the program. And in turn, he probably shouldn't be watching that particular show again. Around here, the telly is rarely on if ever. And when it is on, I monitor very, very carefully what the little ones watch. I don't want them watching things that will prompt them to start bad behaviours (kids do that quickly and easily enough on their own!). The real biggie for me and the telly though is I don't want the kids to get programmed that they can sit there endlessly watching one show after another letting their brains go to mush. I'd much rather they spend time playing with their toys, making up their own games, or learning to play board games and the like. I think that is much better for them than sitting and watching something that doesn't make them think at all. Around our house, three is too young to really be watching any telly/videos at all. Again though, please understand that is just my own take on kids and the telly and what works for us. Hugs!

I grew up w/ Tom & Jerry, along w/ all the Looney Tunes, etc. I turned out fine. I think it's all how you approach it. Some kids think it's so funny they want to mimic it, but they have to know it's just a a cartoon and it's not ok to do. other kids won't get any effect from it. If you think about all the boy cartoons out there, Tom & Jerry is pretty mild. It's a boy thing. It's little guy humor...lol. I try to get my kids to watch alot of the classics like Tom & Jerry, Flintstones, DuckTales, etc. I'd rather them watch those than these cartoons that are out now. Some of the new ones are so crude, rude, and nothing but stupidity. But, your son is 3. my kids are now 5 and 6. at 3, you might want to just stick to mainly the educational shows. Once they start watching just plain cartoons, they will lose interest in Big Bird singing his ABC's. lol. I think 3 is a little more fragile than 5 and 6. It's hard to say. At 3, he's still learning cause and effect, how to act around people, how to treat people, etc. And, at that age they don't understand the difference between reality and fantasy. My kids thought that elmo lived in the TV. lol Your son might think that hitting is ok because Tom does it. But, at 5, my son knows hitting is wrong. Not saying that your son doesn't know hitting is wrong, but when you teach them something, it's good for them to see it enforced by others, not just you. So, Tom & Jerry might not be the best thing at his age...but in a couple years, it'll be fine. In the mean time, you might want to switch to baby looney tunes....My kids loved those, and still do. Plus, you want your child hooked on something that's not sitting in front of a box. like coloring, building blocks, etc. He's too young to be a couch potato. A little bit is fine, because i know it's easier to get things done while they're glued. lol Every minute should be him learning something, though. so, something educational on the TV will do alot better for him right now.

I was babysitting for my granddaughter one night and we had on the cartoon channel. Tom and Jerry came on. She kept telling me that the mouse needed a time out. I didn't really connect her thinking with what I was seeing because my kids watched Tom and Jerry. Suddenly she turned off the tv and got her legos. So we were building a lego tower out of her legos (the big ones) and she had part of the tower in her hand....she stood in front of me and said...don't do it grandma....don't hit me and before I could get the words, I wouldn't hit you out of my mouth she smacked me on top of the head with the tower. I put her in time out and she fell apart....why? Because the mouse hadn't gotten time out and he did what she had done!

Well my son is just 4years old and watches different kind of cartoons, including tom and jerry. On the first few weeks I found a negative effect. He started to follow some scene in the episode like pushing or hitting me but obviously more for the fun of it. So what I did was told him that its not a good thing to do. Apparently, he doesn't do it anymore but still watches tom and jerry. I think the important thing is to monitor always what our children is watching and teach them the right values.

Like others, I grew up watching Tom and Jerry and I've never put a mouse in my mouth nor hammered a cats tail! It's a little violent but in a very playful and quite unrealistic way.. I don't think it would have much effect. I'd be more worried about teletubbies - they speak in a childish voice and it generally seems a bit moronic - maybe I'm wrong but I prefer the old ones!

My 4 year old started watching Tom & Jerry recently, I don't think it does them any harm, i remember watching them when I was young. He knows he can't go round hitting people or harming them for fun. As long as they are told what cartoon characters do is funny but not to be done in real life i think it is fine. Its not like he is watching real people harm eachother.