IMAGE: Screenshot of Netflix show "CoCoMelon Lane"
 

By Michael D. Daniels

The popular kids show CoComelon, in their new Netflix series, shows a boy dancing for his gay dads in a tutu and tiara. Netflix seems to have forgotten the controversy over the viral videos of Desmond Napoles, who, at 8 years old, was recorded dancing in drag for all the gay men at the 2015 NYC Pride March. Many accused his parents of grooming him from a young age. Now Netflix may be fairly accused of trying to groom my kids.

CoComelon Was a Trustworthy Learning Tool—At First

I was tricked! My kids partly learned their ABCs, how to count, their colors, names of things, and daily routines through the catchy songs CoComelon plays on YouTube. These videos reinforced what we were already trying to teach them, so my wife and I were glad when Netflix picked up the show. With Netflix’s parental controls, we felt comfortable stepping out of the room to make dinner or get things done.

But it was a dirty trick. Netflix added a spin-off called CoComelon Lane—and slipped in Satan’s agenda.

The Episode That Crossed the Line

Naturally, kids and parents assumed CoComelon Lane was safe. But in episode 8, a redheaded boy named Nico is encouraged to “try something new.” He goes for a photo shoot and struggles to decide what to wear. Bathed in a purple spotlight, Nico sings, “If I’m not sure what to choose, how will I know what I’m supposed to do?” The response? “Just be you.”

Nico then asks, “Just be me?” while glancing at a tiara atop a pile of hats. He holds a girl’s tiara in one hand and a boy’s spinner cap in the other, unable to choose. His dads sing, “When you’re trying to decide, think about the things you like to do. Just be you.”

Subtle Messages, Not-So-Subtle Agenda

Nico tries on a fireman costume and a chef’s outfit, and his dads are encouraging. But then they say, “Something that we know about you: you like to get up and dance. How about you break out those moves?” Next thing you know, Nico is wearing a tutu and tiara, dancing in a little musical number—for his dads.

I don’t think it’s reading between the lines too much to say this entire scene could easily be interpreted as Nico deciding between being a boy or a girl—or even choosing between being gay or straight. With his dads’ repeated advice to “Just be you,” how can we not think of the popular homosexual mantra, “I was born this way”?

We Must Protect Our Kids

My kids don’t understand anything about sexuality. And yet Netflix, Disney, and others seem to be trying to groom them to be like Desmond Napoles.

So how do we keep the corruption out? The truth is, we can’t keep the world out entirely. We caught this one because we don’t allow our kids to watch anything we haven’t reviewed. But what about conversations they’ll have with other kids?

Train Them Up

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

I grew up on Chick Tracts. Much of my biblical worldview came from those illustrated stories paired with Scripture. My dad read Bible stories to us every night. It worked for me and my siblings. Now, I’m doing the same for my kids.

It is so important that we train our kids to have a biblical worldview. If you don’t already have solid Bible storybooks, get a Chick Tract assortment and start reading them to your children. Netflix may have tried to groom my kids, but with God’s help, I’m going to train them to resist the devil.