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Wiggles, Elmo are fun for kids but costly for mom and dad
Who would have thought that a little red muppet or four musical men singing children’s songs could achieve rock star status?
Noah was able to spout off the names of the Wiggles - Jeff, Murray, Anthony and Greg - like they were his best friends in school before he ever set foot in a classroom. Ah, yes - Disney strikes again.
I confess, I fell for the Aussies in their colorful shirts singing catchy tunes about fruit salad. Even today Noah occasionally asks to watch The Wiggles do their thing. I happily oblige because I’d rather he ask for the Wiggles than Pokemon which makes no sense to me and I still consider the boys too young for.
Naturally, when the Wiggles went on tour, we did what many parents do - bought tickets and indulged our young fans.
It was a slightly different experience than sitting through a rock concert. Show-goers can actually kick the chairs in front of them, have a screaming meltdown when the cotton candy runs out and fill their pants without be escorted from the premises.
The kids were moving and shaking to Hot Potato, but the adults were bleeding cash. Trinkets galore were luring kids with their flashing lights and triple-the-value prices. We said “no” to many Wiggly items but still left with our pockets turned inside out. Yet, we got sucked in again - this time with Elmo.
Nicholas has recently decided Elmo deserves the highest honor in his realm of childhood heros. So, when Elmo came calling at the Nutter Center - we were there to meet him and all of his Sesame Street pals.
The cost of our four tickets could have paid Elmo’s salary alone. But, Nicholas was star struck and it was priceless. He sat in awe as Elmo danced around the stage singing about imagination.
During intermission - a necessity for children’s shows - a man came out carrying a minimum of 100 Elmo balloons, maybe 200. I couldn’t believe he was able to stand sure-footed on the ground with all of that helium defying the law of gravity.
At the sight of the balloon man, thousands of little eyes lit up with greed and the demands commenced, “I want one!” Parents swarmed around the balloon man shoving money at him and temporarily appeasing their Little Highnesses. The balloons were sold out before intermission was over.
Yeah, we’re guilty of bringing home one of these Mylar treasures. It lasted about two weeks. Each day Elmo looked a little less like Elmo. He drifted ever closer to the floor - eventually deflated.
While I intentionally avoided decorating our new daughters room in anything character-related, I did unconsciously allow castles and ponies to be painted on the walls of our little princess’ bedroom.
I can see the future now filled with Cinderella dresses and “Daddy! I want a pony!” I’d better get to redecorating.
Tell us about your children’s show experience.
Email this contributing writer at Motherhoodcolumn@yahoo.com.
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Comments
By WOW
December 8, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
Sheesh, what does the child’s name have to do with anything? Kids I know with more common names like Kevin and Jack beg for and are given just as much junk. The whole point of these shows is to enduldge in a little unneccesary spending and I don’t see anything wrong with getting a ballon or some cotton candy for your kid,it’s not like Elmo is in town everyday. I too, took my daughter and nephew to see Elmo at the Nutter Center and was shocked at the ticket prices, considering my little girl was just over 1, but she is pretty tall and the ticket girl charged me full price citing only children under 1 get a discount. But, it was worth seeing the smiles on their faces. It’s all a rackette but the kids were mesmerized and it’s semi-educational. No harm, no foul.
By sheesh
December 8, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this
Disney prays on people who, for instance, name their sons “Noah”. Here is an idea, don’t buy the stuff every single time the kid asks for it. Learn how to say no. Then again, most of the “Noahs” and “Dilons” and “Braydens” of the world will continue to bleed their parents dry, it is a shame.