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My kids love to watch “Go, Diego, Go!” on Nick Jr. (think Nickelodeon for preschoolers). It’s a great little show about all sorts of different animals that Diego has to help out of trouble.

Today’s episode was about a snake – an anaconda – named Ana. While I didn’t watch the entire episode closely (I was surfing the web and catching up on email) the last part of it really bothered me. After Diego has rescued Ana, she’s wrapped around his body and neck and saying thank you and smiling sweetly. To which, Diego responds, “Ana knows how to give great hugs!”

REALLY??? We’re going to depict a deadly python who constricts its’ prey to death as a sweet, smiling snake that gives good hugs?? There’s something wrong with this picture. While I am all for conservation of animals and keeping rare living things alive, I’m not about to suggest in any way, shape or form, that my child go hug a python! This all seems just a bit irresponsible on Nickelodeon’s part in my opinion. I don’t want to even imagine the headlines that would stir up after some child encountered a snake and wound up getting hurt because they thought they could give it a hug.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just overreacting because I don’t really like snakes all that much…