Giles

oh so they think ... I see stuff that parents that let children do, that'd I'd never let them get away with. (but I'm digressing).

elijahmagallon

Firstly, thanks for all of the suggested films, I will be vetting some of them sometime soon.

As to whether or not toddlers should be watching any TV/movies, my personal opinion is that there is nothing wrong with it so long as it is regulated by the parent, watching with them and talking to them about what they are seeing. It helps to develop empathy. It should also be balanced by other experiences, reading, listening to music, socialising with others, etc.

What it shouldn't be used as IMO is as a free babysitter.

Giles

hah, talking with them?, half the stuff goes over their heads and some have the attention span of a gnat.

Groucho

The Muppets in I Spit on your Grave

Mabuse

I've been updating this thread for several years now:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/...-age-14-a.html

I'm the father of a 5 year old and a nearly 2 year old daughter. They were definitely exposed to the television before the age of 2. Things will be different for different kids. For me I try to show them very few commercials because it makes them beg for stuff. Many children’s channels have no commercials.

As far as age appropriateness goes you have to use your judgment. My sister in law noticed a change in behavior in my nephew after showing him Star Wars so they stopped showing it. My daughter watched it with no problem.

And of course I try to expose them to as many age appropriate movies as I can. And there are plenty out there beside Disney. I can attest to the amazing power of Totoro. I've witnessed it yet I can't fully understand how a film with so little action and plot that unfolds so slowly can hold the youngest children at full attention for 90 minutes. It is a magical film.

Giles

I have a niece and nephew that were utterly transfixed with Totoro. The last time they visited I got them hooked on 'Kimba the White Lion' (the real 'Lion King' )

Brack

Dumbo

elijahmagallon

Do you have a 3 year old child of your own? Have you had? You'd be surprised. I thought exactly the same way before I had kids but the comprehension of a 3 year old is surprisingly advanced.

orangecrush

I was going to recomend this. Also, don't listen to foo's advice on how to raise your kids. That is just a good rule of thumb. Not specifically directed at advice giving in this thread thus far.

milo bloom

Yeah, this. They pick up so much. Mine is 5 1/2, and I'm surprised by the topics he touches on in his play. Like the other day when his colored pencils lost their parents and became orphans but joined with others in The Force to become a new family.

foofighters7

Fine, don't listen to me. Not my fault when one of you people's kids robs a liquor store.

bluetoast

The Red Balloon - as mentioned
Corduroy - based on the book

elijahmagallon

Oh dear, I had so been hoping to blame you when that happened.

Tarantino

Weren't you the one that was indifferent to Kinski's child rape?

fujishig

I watched Dumbo with my kid and she was a little bored. Heck, I was a little bored, and I loved that movie as a kid.

Agreed with Totoro. My daughter caught Homeward Bound on TV a few months ago and loved it, and so I had to track down the (nonanamorphic!) DVD.

Totoro is a great movie, but the Ghibli films are all over the place in terms of appropriateness for kids. Stuff like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, and probably Nausicaa are probably a bit too violent. Kiki's Delivery Service would probably be my next choice. My kid loves Arietty but there are some scary parts.

She also somehow has fallen in love with the Christmas Charlie Brown special, though I have to reinforce that it's not ok to call people stupid all the time...

majorjoe23

What do you mean, you people?

foofighters7

No, I was the guy who was trying to get people to understand that simply because someone was making a claim it doesn't mean you should start casting stones.

Of course, being reasonable isn't what this place is about!

PenguinJoe

Das Boot is great for toddlers.

davidh777

It will probably end up being foofighters7's liquor store that gets robbed.

Brack

Not to sound sexist, but it's not really a movie girls like. I guess this topic should be about what toddler girls should watch.

In that case:

The Wizard of Oz
Babe
The Muppet Movie
Charlottet's Web (1973)
Free Willy
Beauty and the Beast
Mary Poppins
Annie

just to name a few

Brack

When I was a kid, I pretty much watched anything and I didnt grow up to be a serial killer. Just saying.

Jules Winfield

How would we know that? You could be wearing a necktie made out of butt skin for all we know as you were typing your response.

Jules Winfield

It went a little overboard when the amputated muppet penis sang a showstopping number while floating in the bathtub.

Mabuse

My daughter really likes Dumbo. I'll also point out that while Bambi and Dumbo are male characters 99% of the public thinks they are little girl animals. A recent line of Disney childrens clothes I saw at Target features Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen, the Big Bad Wolf, and The Lion King on boys clothes and for the girls all of the princesses and Bambi and Dumbo. Strange.

My daughter watched Mary Poppins over the weekend and really liked it.

Obi-Wanma

My 3 year old twin girls also really like Dumbo. That's actually one of the few movies they can agree on. One of them will watch anything if you say the word princess. The other likes Toy Story and Cars, etc. She can watch what she likes. I'm not gonna tell her she has to watch girly stuff because she's a girl.