Who doesn't love Super Bowl Sunday?
You've got the best teams in the league at the top of their game. You've got commercials that are entertainment unto themselves (and they've gotten progressively more family-friendly over the years). And you have license to eat as many hot wings as you want.
Whether you're a fan of the New England Patriots or the Atlanta Falcons, cheering on your favorite team as a family is part of the fun of the day. But some of the issues that have come up around pro football -- from players kneeling during the national anthem to discussion of domestic violence arrests -- can be confusing, and even scary, for kids.
If you're watching with kids, you may want to avoid some of the trickier issues and focus on the fun stuff. But kids are pretty savvy, and since the Super Bowl is a live event, anything could happen. The announcers might mention the Patriots' 2015 "deflategate" scandal, an edgy commercial or the halftime show could spark a debate, or rival fans in your living room could get a little heated.
Before you know it, you're caught off guard with subjects that you (let alone your kids) are not quite prepared for.
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Hopefully, your game day experience will be one full of fist-bumps and finish-line dances. If any one of these issues arises, here are some questions and ideas to discuss with kids. Remember: This is a fun day, so no need to lecture. Your goal should be initiating conversation to get your kids to think more deeply about the stuff they see and hear.
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick earned praise and criticism when he kneeled during the national anthem to draw attention to the oppression of African-American people. Other athletes have risked fines to wear cleats that represent issues that are important to them. As a way of sanctioning players' protests, the NFL lets them wear cleats that express their views during a special Cleat Week.
Ask your kids:
It's hard not to notice that there's one group of people on the sidelines who are only half dressed. And what they're wearing is pretty provocative. Sure, it's tradition for football teams to have female cheer teams. But the blatant sexism of their costumes is pretty hard to defend.
Ask your kids:
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The Big Game is a huge promotional opportunity for advertisers. They go all-out on commercials that are memorable and will get people talking long after Super Bowl Sunday. Don't feel guilty about enjoying them. Use them as a chance to help your kids understand the relationship between the broadcast and the commercials.
Ask your kids:
Leaving aside for the moment that this year's halftime show is literally called the "Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl Halftime Show" (see "Commercials"), the mid-game spectacle is a live event and anything can happen. Super Bowl 50's halftime show starring Cold Play and Beyoncé incited controversy when many people perceived Beyoncé's performance to be an anti-police political statement. This year, Lady Gaga is performing. Just let that sink in.
Ask your kids:
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There have been some notable cases of domestic violence within the NFL. Due to high-profile cases, the NFL tightened its punishment for players found guilty of domestic violence and has adopted domestic violence as an awareness cause.
Ask your kids:
Where there are games, there is often cheating. That should come as no surprise to kids. Both the Patriots ("deflategate") and the Falcons (using prerecorded crowd noise) have been caught cheating. When the pros cheat, it's confusing for kids who are taught to play by the rules.
Ask your kids:
In recent years, many former football players have been found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease tied to the concussions they suffered while playing. The NFL tightened its safety rules, but the game is still a risky contact sport. The movie Concussion starring Will Smith deals with the issue.
Ask your kids:
Budweiser, Mountain Dew, Skittles, and Snickers -- not exactly the breakfast of champions -- are all advertising during the 2017 Super Bowl. Studies show that viewing junk food ads contributes to obesity and watching alcohol ads leads to underage drinking. You won't be able to turn off every commercial you don't want your kids to see, so help them resist being influenced.
Ask your kids: