Have you seen the new McDonald’s advert?
I saw it for the first time this week and it made me cross……… very cross!
In times where we are facing a huge obesity crisis and children don’t get out and play nearly as much as we did at the same age, it is an advert that not only discourages kids from being kids, but it also gives the impression that the only time they can get what they want and have fun is when they are enjoying fast food.
My kids love McDonald’s as much as the next child but it is limited to a special treat. I can’t even say we have it once a month, because it is not that often and it’s more about the lure of free toy rather than the food.
Have a watch and let me know what you think:
To me the advert says:
“No, you can’t have fun”
“Museums are boring”
“Kids cannot be kids!”
It is so full of the word “No!”
I know much of it is tongue-in-cheek, but this was aired on a children’s channel at kids that would not get the irony behind it.
The advert is called “Good Times”, when the child is discouraged from having a good time. What I would love to see is McDonald’s do an advert which sees kids having a good time – YES!! – to riding bikes over homemade ramps, climbing through trees, running around a park or playing on the beach, encouraging fun, outdoor, active play and then maybe a McDonald’s treat afterwards.
We live in a world where it is far more normal to jump in a car than to walk to the places we need to go and it can be a struggle to get children off their technology to actually get them outside to play, even though once they are there they have an utterly fabulous time. Even their new restaurants come with tablets to play on.
McDonald’s isn’t all bad, they are doing fabulous work with the FA getting kids playing football from grassroots and up, but this advert sends entirely the wrong message!
Come on McDonald’s – say “YES!” to this!
Kids having fun!!
What do you think?
Well said Kara, I totally agree. I actually struggle to get my kids to eat McDonalds, one only eats half a small bag of fries! That said we are going after school today for ice cream to celebrate BBs first day of school.
I honestly haven’t eaten at McDonalds since early last year. I often tell people who take Hayden out not to give him it either. Something about the ‘food’ just doesn’t sit right with me. I feel so crappy after eating it & now them passing off eating their food as a good time is even worse.
Great post as always Kara!
Charlotte x
My boys are all about McDonalds at the moment because of the Mario toys. But my oldest won’t eat the food! My middle son likes the chicken but that’s it. I wish there was more control over advertising for children, it seems to get more and more sit-on-your-bottom-based as the years roll on 🙁
I couldn’t agree more! It would have been far better to have the happy meal after having fun. McDonalds has an influence over my boys who love the toys so I would worry that would think McDonald’s doesn’t agree with having fun away from screens. Luckily the boys haven’t seen the advert as we are mostly screen free. I also think it’s a sad state of our times that the new restaurants have I-pads.
I remember the days when going to Mc Donalds used to be fun! I would take my older kids because they had play areas and special seating areas for kids with colouring books and activities, really bright and colourful and fun. I think the advert suits Mc Donalds..they have no idea what fun is now.
H can count the number of times he has been to McDonalds as I try to avoid it. He does love the toys, but the meals just don’t work for any of us. H often asks for more food an hour or so later as the happy meals are small. I agree kids should be having fun outdoors.
I can’t say I’ve seen the advert until now, but I totally get where you are coming from. It annoyed me the way it was edited together, because, sure you can’t run along by the pool, and you may not be able to touch certain things within a museum; they’re rules. But the telling your kids not to jump in a puddle or try and do a small trick on their bike? No. Then, hey it’s okay to blow crap in your dad’s face? It’s full of mixed messages on that score. And yes, the tongue-in-cheek would totally be lost on a kid.
Cheeky Chap frequently asks to go to McDonalds and we rarely say yes. Even when we do say yes, he hardly ever actually eats it! Like you say, it’s more the lure of the toy than anything else.
Mine do love a McDonalds – me too if i’m honest, but I see what you are saying about the ad. It seems to be ‘no’, ‘no’, ‘no’, then good times at McDonalds. I would much rather see the kids having a McDonalds after having outdoor fun – now they have worked up an appetite.
I saw someone post about this on Facebook and I normally skip the ads so hadn’t seen it, I was amazed by it – how do they think that’s a good advert 🙂 x
Great post. I’d only seen the advert once and I actually found it funny – that the kids wanted to be adventurous and the parents were basically being mean and a bit over-protective, but you’ve made me see it in a whole different light!
I hadn’t seen that advert at all. What an odd advert. Mcdonald’s is a real treat in this house an d my boys also make sure that they choose healthy and would rather have grilled chicken wraps than a happy meal!
I hadn’t taken much notice of the advert to be honest but taking a proper look, I understand where you’re coming from and totally agree.
I totally agree, you have hit the nail on the head
We don’t do McDonalds in this house and I always find their adverts a bit weird and unrelatable (is that a word?)… someone should do a version with all the things a McDonalds takeaway says no to 🙂
You are absolutely right, it is a very negative advert. I also, as often happens with McDonald’s adverts, cannot for the life of me see what it has to do with their food, or general dining experience. Silly ad.