Geek Parenting: Level Expert
For the last four years, I have had one very specific goal: make my daughter the most fantastic, geekiest kid possible. From a Beatles themed nursery and daily “good music” lessons (no kids CDs allowed unless They Might Be Giants released them) to frequent Dr. Who marathons, I’m a mom on a mission.
So what’s on our geek curriculum this week? I’m glad you asked!
Movies- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (original live action), Super Mario Bros. (also original live action), The Wizard of Oz, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (or anything Audrey Hepburn), Star Wars, Star Trek, and the good Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks movies.
TV- Anything from 90s Nickelodeon, The Avengers cartoon, Spiderman, Doctor Who, select episodes of the Big Bang Theory, occasional MarioKart instruction, Hello Kitty PS3 game.
Books- Everything and anything she can get her hands on. Reading is a #1 priority in our house. Also, frequent trips to Downtown Comics to pick out age-appropriate comic books.
Toys- blocks, dress up (because being girly and looking pretty is fun), her Merida bow, cars, LEGOs, basically anything that doesn’t have an on/off switch. There is no such thing as a boy toy or a girl toy- Thor and Capt America costumes have been her most recent request.
People tell me that I’m setting her up to be bullied, to not have friends, blah blah blah. Personally, I think that’s ridiculous. Being an intelligent woman who can hold her own in a Filene’s Basement sale and a comic book debate not only makes a more well-rounded person, but just a more fun person to be around. While the age of mean girls will never end, the geek era is upon us. Being unabashedly enthusiastic about things we love is a geek right and, personally, I never want my daughter to grow up feeling like she has to hide who she is. Yes she will face adversity- we all do. Would I stop it if I could? Of course! But we don’t live in a world full of unicorns and cotton candy trees (unless it’s princess dress up time and then we do!). I believe it is better to equip her with a passion for life so deep, no one will be able to take that from her. Plus being a geek is just so much fun, and that’s what life is about!
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Claire is a self proclaimed books and movies nerd, and spends her free time watching way too much TV and playing with her daughter who loves Doctor Who. By day she’s a grad student studying sustainability, by night a geek mom making the next generation awesome. She drinks too much coffee (if there is such a thing) and enjoys relaxing with her dog Judy and a good book.
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How old is your wee one? My Geekling turned 4, and there are times where I’m wondering if she’s been a bit too young for some of the stuff she’s been exposed to, like Doctor Who.
She’s 4 as well. I limit some episodes of some geek shows I watch when she’s in the room (like BBT), but Dr. Who doesn’t tend to scare her (she was a Dalek for Halloween). I think I would limit it more if the monsters if she got scared. Recently she’s gotten in to a “You’re not my friend stage”, so I’ve been using the everyone is important line from the Doctor to counteract it.
As a child of the 80’s, one thing that improved my geekiness that I remember enjoying at that age (maybe a little older), were the Jim Henson non-muppet shows: The Dark Crystal (still one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever designed), Labyrinth, Storyteller.
Bravo with the geek infusion and the emphasis on reading. No little ones of my own yet, but I aspire to do the same one day. Also, I think things that don’t terrify children, but are a little scary as long as they like them are good. Kids like a bit of adventure that way, and as long as they’re not freaking out it’s healthy. I grew up on PBS and the Disney Channel, lots of Star Trek The Next Generation, and Star Wars. Also, not to sound corny, but science fiction like that is full of moral allegory and life lessons. It’s also a way more fun way to learn about it than Dora the Explorer.
On the mean girl level, you’re completely right. Because I grew up loving what I loved, at times I would be made fun of and bullied. But not much more than those who didn’t, it’s easy to forget the constant struggle that ‘popular’ kids go through.
Ultimately I think I’m a happier person because I have so many things to enjoy and look forward to as well. And you’re right, I think the era of the geek has arrived or is arriving. It’s not really a derogatory word anymore.
I think it is awesome you are raising your little one into the geek world. I have been trying to get my kids to play with Lego’s and enjoy TMNT as much as I did but unfortunately I did not start the infusion at an early enough stage. I think every child should watch PBS and Doctor Who. Keep up the good work with your geekling.