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Disney has a new family movie, G-Force, out in theaters replete with action, good guys, bad guys, humor, and secret agents-in the form of guinea pigs. The 3D computer animation in the tradition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, only in standard guinea pig size, this specially trained squad of guinea pigs is assigned the mission of saving the world.
Sounds pretty cute and lots of fun. But parents worry. What if my kid doesn't understand that guinea pigs are not really like that? What if my kid wants to BUY a guinea pig as a pet?
It is true that kids sometimes can't differentiate between fantasy and reality. Kids understand the world is a fundamentally different way. Magical thinking is a developmental phase, when kids attribute and accept causality in ways that are unrealistic from an adult point of view. (I hesitate to call this reality.) Even when they "know better," kids are much more able to suspend earthly logic and embrace fantasy. We don't get to be kids for very long. Yet parents often feel compelled to rush children through these phases they view as "shortcomings."
The comedian Lilly Tomlin said, "I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle, it's much too confining." Frankly, even being an adult is over-rated. As adults, when we're supposed to be past this preoperational stage, but we love magic shows and Harry Potter and other things that connect us with this earlier mode of processing and remind us how the word was when everything was magic and the buck didn't always stop here.
Disney's G-Force is another chance to suspend belief and go along for the ride. You may be offended by the overt product placement and marketing push of these new vehicles. Get over it. You may also fear that your children will want a guinea pig of their own, either in action figure or wire cage from Petco. My advice? Take a deep breath and remember when we all wanted a sidekick like Benji, Lassie, or Flipper. (See this list of top 15 sidekicks for a walk down memory lane. ) Who didn't want the ability to twitch your nose like Samantha on Bewitched and just tidy up a few things around the house (or the country). These fantasies speak to our desire for connection, companionship, unconditional love, order amidst chaos, protection, and the perfect parent. Not to mention, it's fun and feel good. In other words, wanting a guinea pig after seeing the G-Force is a pretty normal reaction. So, what's a parent to do?
Suggestions for parents:
- If you child expresses the desire for a guinea pig, real or otherwise, don't snicker or be condescending. Don't say "Don't be silly" or "You don't really want a guinea pig." Of course they do. If the guinea pigs were really like Darwin and Blaster in the movie, I would want one, too. Recognize how appealing this is in substance, not form. In other words, It's not the guinea pig, stupid; it's what it represents.
- Don't deny that it would be cool. It would be very cool and you know it. Say: "Wouldn't it be great if guinea pigs were really like that? Wouldn't it be great to have a sidekick like that? What would you want your guinea pig to do?"
- Remember that while you may be an idiot, your kids probably are not. But if you're worried they really don't know the difference between real guinea pigs and the G-Force squad, contextualize it. You can ask: "Do you think guinea pigs are really like that or do you think they made him look special in the movie? Is that like what they did with Superman, Batman, or the Transformers?"
- Most of all, enjoy it. Share the experience. Help create stories about what you would do if that were real. (I'd have my guinea pig fold the laundry as soon as he was finished with saving the world.) Your kids will enjoy it more and so will you.
- If the idea of a guinea pig remains persistently and problematically desirable to your child, kindly deliver a reality check. Find a pet store that will let your child scoop the poop from the cage.
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Photos: Disney G-Force website
For a list of what it’s like to have a real Guinea Pig, see Mom, I want a Guinea Pig! by Joanne Richards of the Toronto Sun.
