Editor:
Ms. Mendoza’s blatant slam on The Wiggles is evidence of her youth and inexperience, as well as her lack of research on the background of The Wiggles.
If she had done her research, she would have found out that three of The Wiggles (Anthony – Blue, Greg – Yellow, and Murray – Red) are not only married and fathers themselves, but also have Early Childhood Education degrees.
She would have found out that these four men genuinely care about the children that they entertain. They are involved in numerous charities that help children around the world. She would also have found that these four men have made connections with many special needs children.
There are numerous stories of children who did not talk until they started watching The Wiggles. My own daughter, who has Down Syndrome, was not able to use a pincer grasp to pick up Cheerios, etc, until The Wiggles taught her to “point her fingers.”
They were able to achieve what I, her OT and her PT could not. When she spent a week in the hospital with pneumonia, the only time she smiled was when she was watching The Wiggles.
If Ms. Mendoza had done her research, she would have found out that these four men are good people with good values and strong family ties, and I would much rather have my children look up to these men and women as their role models than many of the “role models” available to our children through the entertainment and sports industries.
Also, if Ms. Mendoza had done her research, she would have found that the “mail lady” that she assumes is the only female character in the show, actually only shows up once. There are many times in the three different series of Wiggles shows that women or female characters show up.
One of the most obvious female characters is Dorothy The Dinosaur. There are also Officer Beaples, Fiona Fitbelly, Lily Lavender, and others.
I am impressed with the talent that The Wiggles have in the areas of Early Childhood Education and music. They combine the powerful influence of music with the proven philosophies of Education to provide a powerful tool for parents to assist in the development of their children.
My final advice to Ms. Mendoza is to grow up and not try to write about a subject she has no knowledge about, or has no intention of researching.
Laurie Sorensen
Evanston, Wyo.