Tell TLC and Discovery communications to stop allowing the abuse of children. Filming as they are exposed to harmful chemicals, exploited and sexualized. Take "Toddlers and Tiaras" off the air. By allowing this show on t.v. you are condoning child abuse. There have been episodes where children, some as young as 15 mos. are being exposed to harmful chemicals known to cause damage. False eyelashes are applied to toddlers and young girls. The glue has gotten into the eyes of several children, burning their eyes and causing them to scream in pain. While the film crew sat by and watched. In one episode a women was advised not to get gel nails for her child as it damages the nail bed. She went ahead anyhow. This happens on a weekly basis. In another episode are mom claimed she used teeth whitening gel once a week on her children. According to recent studies 1 out of ever 3 adults have teeth sensitivity and gingival irriation from teeth whitening gels. It went on to state that childrens mouths are even more sensitive and teeth whitening is not advised for children under 11. There are also claims that when not used correctly teeth whitening can be addictive.
Most disturbing is the spray tanning. The chemical DHA is approved by the FDA to be used on the skin in topical form. In June of 2012 the FDA released a statement stating that DHA can be harmful when inhaled and ingested. Advised that tanning operators take precautions to make sure the spray is not being inhaled or ingested. DHA is known to damage DNA. Week after week children on "Toddlers and Tiaras" are filmed being spray tanned. With no precautions being taken to make sure they do not inhale or ingest the spray. In one episode a 15 mo. old is tanned by an auto shop employee that paints cars. What kind of long term damage is the dna altering chemical going to have on this poor child? Who according to her mom has been getting spray tanned since she was 11 mos. old. Knowingly exposing your child to harmful chemicals IS child abuse. Filming it happening IS child abuse. Putting it on the air IS condoning and contributing to child abuse. TLC and Discovery communications are allowing children to be poisoned while they profit off of them.
In addition to these physical abuses there are a number of emotional damages being seeded in young impressionable minds. During an interview a pageant director said that no one wants to see a child with a tummy how pageants are not for fat girls. In this same episode a mother was pleased that her growing daughter had recently lost 10 lbs. The same pageant director also went on to say that pageants are for pretty girls and that ugly girls should find a new hobby. When bullying and eating disorders are proving to be deadly are these the values that would should be instilling in our children? Is this what a network called "The Learning Channel" should be promoting? The answer is NO! Many children are also denied naps and to keep them awake are fed sugar. Some are given drinks of mountain dew and red bull.
Young innocent girls are made up and coached to act like mini grown women, sex objects. TLC has shown episodes with girls dressed up as Dolly Parton, complete with fake boobs and butt as she strutted around on stage shaking her falsies. A 2 year old dressed as Julia Roberts in "pretty Women" when she was a prostitute. She like the young girl dressed as Dolly strutted around the stage in an inappropriate manner. Most recently a little girl dressed as "bad Sandy" from Grease in skin tight black pretending to smoke with a prop cigarette. What are we learning here TLC? Children are forced to dress up and dance in an adult and often sexual manner. They shake their bodies as if they were a pussycat doll and not a toddler. What kind of long term affect will being sexualized have on these young girls? TLC and Discovery communications we ask that you stop exploiting children and promoting child abuse and the hyper-sexualization of young girls. This needs to end now BEFORE it becomes a social norm.
I have included videos from some of the episodes. Thank you all for your support. It is time we put an end to this abuse and hold the adults profting off of said abuses accountable.
Sincerely, Livja Sorenson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAxEt5YL8w4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu8X1HJBtL0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44FrivOAUJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8DGHwbtgT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q6AbBz8FPw
