Disney Junior’s BLUEY Causing Children to Develop Australian Accents
By Movieguide® Contributor
Some American children have picked up Australian accents and phrases from the children’s cartoon show BLUEY, highlighting the subtle yet strong effect media has on young brains.
BLUEY, an Emmy-winning Australian children’s show, tells the story of a dog family living in Brisbane, Australia. After watching it, one American child began using the word “dunny” instead of “toilet.”
Another beloved children’s cartoon, PEPPA PIG, has caused many American children to pick up British accents. While saying “Can I borrow the hot sauce?” in a British accent is sweet and endearing, this should be a wake-up call to parents who allow their children to view media without discretion.
These innocent examples pose no real risk to a child, but media can have detrimental and lasting effects on a child’s life. As Movieguide® previously reported, “there is absolutely no doubt that those who are heavy viewers of violence demonstrate increased acceptance of aggressive attitudes and aggressive behavior.”
Teaching children how to think about the media and its influence on them is one of the most essential lessons a parent can communicate.
To help parents think about the media their children consume, Movieguide® founder Dr. Ted Baehr has outlined five keys of media wisdom:
Key 1: Understand the influence of the media on your children.
Key 2: Ascertain your children’s susceptibility at each stage of cognitive development.
Key 3: Teach your children how the media communicates its message.
Key 4: Help your children know the fundamentals of Christian faith.
Key 5: Help your children learn how to ask the right questions.
Even something as harmless as a cartoon can promote messages that can go unnoticed. Dr. Baehr cites an example where a cartoon character is hit by a hammer and continues on his way as if nothing happened. “Many researchers consider this ‘happy violence,’ the worst type of entertainment violence because it’s unrealistic,” he explains. “Such cartoon violence might encourage children to imitate it because it shows no consequences.”
While picking up foreign words and accents doesn’t necessarily pose a risk, parents should still consider the many subtle ways media impacts their child’s development.
Movieguide® has previously shared tips for parents looking to develop their child’s media skills:
Decades of research and evidence clearly shows that the mass media of entertainment creates the culture that shapes the hearts and minds of the average person, especially children and teenagers. That culture also elects the politicians who write the legislation, appoint the judges and hire the teachers that affect families and children everywhere.
To serve and protect you and your family, including your children and grandchildren, MOVIEGUIDE®: The Family Guide to Movies, Entertainment and Culture offers the following questions you can apply to any movie, video or television program, to make you and your family more media wise and more culture wise, so they may choose the good and reject the bad:
- What kind of role models, positive and negative, are the main characters?
- Who is the hero? And, who is the villain? And, how do their character traits agree with a biblical hero or villain?
- Do the moral statements and themes agree with a biblical worldview?
- Are real consequences to sin exposed and rebuked?
- How are relationships and love portrayed?
- How are Christians, religion, the church, the Bible, and God portrayed?
- Does the language honor God and people?
- If violence is included, how is it presented?
- If physical romantic activity is included, how is it presented?
- How appropriate is this material for my family and me?
“Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” – 1 Kings 3:9
Theodore Roosevelt said that if we educate a man’s mind but not his heart, we will get an educated barbarian. Cultural and media wisdom involves educating the heart so that it will make the right decisions.
So, how can you protect the eyes of innocence of your children and grandchildren? How can you redeem the culture?
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Teach your family to be CULTURE-WISE.
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Become informed — movieguide.org.
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Spend your entertainment dollars wisely.
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Support the Christian Film & Television Commission®.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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