Sandra Dee Anderson

My 4 year old Grandson and I were watching a commercial on the television about Domino’s Pizza being delivered in a daycare classroom. The children were quite clear about not wanting the toppings they were presented with on their pizza. The pizza delivery commercial started out nice full of smiles and laughter from the children and adults in the classroom. The children are running and playing and they are just adamant about what is not a good topping for a pizza. My grandson is laughing and enjoying the commercial when it comes to an end with one of the children throwing a ball, hitting one of the adults in the face. My grandson looked at me with his face serious and then looked back at the television. “Grandma that wasn’t nice.”

It seemed as though a thousand thoughts were going through his mind at the same time as if he was trying to think what to say next. I don’t know how many times my grandson had seen this commercial before this day. He does not like for me to see children acting out in an improper manner. He just looked at me waiting to see my response on the commercial.

I got up out of the seat I was sitting in, watching his face as he continued to watch for my respond. I asked him was that appropriate for the child to hit an adult in the face with the ball? His reply was “no, balls are not inside toys.”

With this being said, the marketers did not take into consideration how this commercial would affect the little minds who would be watching this commercial. I know there isn’t anything as joyous and calming as the sound of children laughing, but this commercial took the fun out of child’s play.

Are marketers making our kids think violence is acceptable and cute?

Graphic Credit:
Animationfactory.com