I would be willing to wager that every person reading this article has seen at least one episode of a Disney Channel show, or at least a Disney Channel Original movie at some point in their life. A die-hard Disney Channel fan who had the daily show times memorized, could sing along to every theme song, and could identify an episode from the first three seconds of screen time. No? Just me? Regardless of your dedication to the Disney Channel, we all reached the age where we decided that we were too cool for the things and shows we used to love.

For me, that age was 12. I threw out my Lizzie McGuire VHS tapes and my DVD copy of High School Musical 2. Maybe I was too old for it. I was mature now. But I was wrong, because at 22 years old, I now watch more Disney Channel than I ever did as a kid. But when we hit that age of maturity, the criticisms against the shows and films we once cherished begin to appear. We mocked the plots, the acting, the premises, and characters that we used to hold so dear to our hearts.

Well, I am here to dissect and disprove some of the most popular Disney Channel criticisms seen and heard during my lifetime, because I believe that nothing is truly as awful as the Internet makes it out to be.

25 "It's All Just Mindless Entertainment"

Via Buzzfeed

I want to start this section off by stating that there is nothing wrong with mindless entertainment. Life is temporary and, other than following the law and paying taxes, there is nothing that we are really required to do with our time on Earth. We have the right to spend it however we want, and if watching superficial shows brings you true joy, then that is wonderful.

But I disagree with the titular statement.

Yes, there are some shows that are higher quality than others. However, I cannot agree with the idea that all these shows are empty and vapid. Teaching children how to be good people, how to find their way in the world, and how to ask for help when you need it, is anything but "mindless."

24 "Why Are These Adults In High School?"

Via Tumblr

This is a bit of a loaded subject, so I will do my best to dissect it as briefly as possible. The majority of shows that use older actors to play teens do so in order to be legally able to produce shows with less kid-friendly subject matter. Shows that discuss consuming beverages, close behaviour, substances, and other coming-of-age topics (which Disney Channel tries to address) require legal actors due to the intense protection placed on their child counterparts.

I know it can be frustrating to only ever see fully formed adults pretending to be teens, but when it's done with safety in mind, I can respect that. Also, the Disney Channel actually tries to use properly aged actors for the majority of its title roles.

The CW, on the other hand, is a different story...

23 "It's Nothing But Reboots"

Via Playbuzz

Reboots and never-ending franchises can indeed be exhausting. You can’t just go to the theatre and see a movie. Now you have to see six thousand different but slightly related movies in order to get the proper background information needed to see this one movie that you actually wanted to see.

It can feel inauthentic and like a lazy cash grab.

But when done well, it can be an amazing way to bring a story to a new generation. A great example of this is the 2015 Disney Channel film: Descendants. However, we can’t forget the amazing, original, and game-changing Disney Channel films that have been created over the years: High School Musical, Camp Rock, The Cheetah Girls, The Thirteenth Year, Double Teamed, Pixel Perfect, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Going to the Mat, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-Off, and so many more.

22 "All Of The Actors Go Crazy"

Via Giphy

In order to tackle this issue, we must first ask ourselves a few questions. Firstly, are we willing to separate the actor from their craft? What about the production company from the final product? Are we willing to still watch a film if the lead actor has done some things we can’t personally condone? If the answer is yes, then why do the personal life and struggles of these people matter to us?

Secondly, the Disney channel is a huge company that has made dozens of shows and hundreds of movies over the years. Each film has roughly 40 actors, 5 of them being underaged. And, in the past 20 years, only ten or so Disney Channel actors have publicly shown signs of erratic behaviour or actions that our judgemental society might find questionable. That is a ridiculously small amount of people given the sample size we’re dealing with.

21 "That's Not Funny, That's Just Mean"

Via We Heart It

One Disney Channel criticism that always seems to find its way onto review blogs is the fact that the comedy on these sitcoms can run a little ruder than some parents would like. Now, I need state that I am an only child, with no kids of my own. The last time I spent an extended period of time around children was when I was one myself.

Now that we’ve gotten that disclaimer out of the way, let’s dive into this.

I will admit that some jokes that I’ve witnessed can fall on the more harsh side of comedy. However, these lines are not explicitly offensive, nor are they cruel. But if you are worried about your kid picking up these behaviours, then talk to them. Sit them down and explain that these sorts of jokes are not okay for them to repeat. Talk to your kids about the media that they ingest, and they should be fine.

20 "That Just Isn't How Bullying Works"

Via Tumblr

You know exactly what I’m talking about. There are always those ‘serious’ episodes that focus on bullying where the cutesy lead character stands up to the bully by calling them out in front of the entire class. This always ends with the bully backing off while their peers cheer and peace is restored.

But this criticism is right, that really isn’t how things work at all.

However, the main point of these plots is actually important and shouldn't be ignored. It is true that calling your bully out won’t make them run for the hills, or immediately give up their cruel ways. But knowing your boundaries, calling out the people who cross them, and standing up for yourself and your friends are very important lessons to learn, regardless of their outcomes.

19 "Too Many Pint Sized Geniuses"

Via Tumblr

It's true that some shows do take the "brilliant little sibling" trope way too far. However, the majority of Disney Channel shows avoid this irritating role altogether, so I don’t really understand the criticism. Cory Baxter on That’s So Raven wasn’t some infallible super genius. He was able to outsmart his parents on a few occasions, but they usually figured his plans out before they were fully realized.

Jim and Tim Possible from Kim Possible were tech geniuses that were able to build the craziest objects for pranks, but, to be fair, they were the children of a rocket scientist and a brain surgeon. The point is is that there are hundreds of shows on the Disney Channel and most of them veer towards the “weird” and “out of the box” little sibling trope instead of the child prodigy tropes.

18 "Lizzie McGuire Is An Entitled Brat"

Via Clevver

This criticism genuinely surprised me as I always thought of Lizzie McGuire as one of DCom's greatest examples of “how to be a good person". She is bratty, and can sometimes talks back or even she storms up to her room when her mom is being “unreasonable.” Sometimes she lies to her parents when she wants to do or get something that they don’t think she is ready for. But, I mean come on. 

What thirteen year old hasn’t done one or all of these things?

The important thing about Lizzie is that, while she makes mistakes, she always owns up to them. She can be selfish and lose herself for a moment, but she always finds her way back and owns up to whatever mistake she makes along the way. That’s life. That is growing up. 

17 "The Parents Are Plain Stupid"

Via Wiki

While this most definitely is a valid criticism, it is not contained to the Disney Channel alone. It is my personal opinion that a large majority of sitcoms, both new and old, fall victim to the "incompetent parents and brilliant children" tropes. Somehow, the children always come across as geniuses when compared to their bumbling, idiotic parental units.

There are Disney Channel shows that break this trope.

The Baxters from That So Raven always knew what their kids were up to and busted them before their scheme was seen through. Lizzie McGuire’s parents were always there for her when she needed them and they gave genuinely solid advice. Both generations of Matthews' parents from Boy/Girl Meets World were intelligent, hardworking, and attentive parents, so there is still hope.

16 "Their Clothes Are Ridiculous"

Via Giphy

Okay, maybe this one is true too, since kids layer clothes upon clothes. They all wear tank tops over long sleeves shirts and it often looks like they bought out a Claires. Maybe it doesn’t fully reflect how all modern teens dress. However, they do have to conform to strict Disney Channel dress codes while also avoiding any identifiable brands and making sure to express each character's individual personality.

That is a lot to ask out of an outfit.

Not to mention the fact that the majority of these shows centre around middle school kids. I don’t know about you but I was not a beacon of fashion in my pre-teen days. There was experimentation. I tried several different styles until I found one that felt like me. 

15 "It's All Just Kids' Stuff"

Via Giphy

You know what? Maybe this one is actually right. Maybe these shows are nothing but kids' stuff, and maybe that makes me immature for loving them so much. But I genuinely enjoy these shows. They make me laugh and their lessons still touch my heart.

Kids are not conceited, nor naive enough to believe they are done learning.

I think that these shows have something to teach anyone who watches them. No matter what age you are, we all need to be reminded to think about how our actions affect others.  We should remember not to spread ourselves too thin, and that it’s okay to say no and ask for help. Adults don’t always know everything, and they can be scared, childish, and even wrong sometimes. And that you should always be honest with yourself and the people you love.

14 "Walt Disney Would Be Turning In His Grave"

Via Pinterest

Walt Disney created an amazing company that brought joy to so many people and it still does. He should be proud of a legacy that endures and continues to connect generations of people.

Maybe High School Musical wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when he planned out his first animation. 

We'll never know what Walt liked nor what he would have thought about a show about a psychic teen or a part-time spy part-time cheerleader. But that’s okay. Entertainment has evolved so much since the 90's, and it will continue to constantly evolve for the rest of time.

And I honestly think that is beautiful.

13 "Mind-Numbing Laugh Tracks"

Via Giphy

Laugh tracks are definitely not a favourite of mine. But they aren’t as terrible as some people online claim they are. I once had a friend that would refuse to watch any show that had a laugh track on it. Do you know how much television that eliminates? True, the majority of Disney Channel sitcoms do have laugh tracks. These laugh tracks can sometimes become incredibly invasive and annoying.

Nothing ruins a good show more than an awkward and brief eruption of laughter that occurs every 37 seconds.

This is especially true after nothing funny was said. However, most shows have subdued or natural laugh tracks and some, like Gravity Falls, Phineas and Ferb, Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire, and Even Stevens had no laugh track whatsoever.

12 "Hannah Montana Is A Bad Influence"

Via Gfycat

Robby Ray was a bumbling baboon but he has a kind heart, knows when to put his foot down, and he just wants his children to grow up into the best versions of themselves. Miley and friends can be quite rude with each other, but it feels like they have relationships in which these jabs are accepted. If you worry about your children engaging in this sort of humour, again, I would encourage you to talk to them about what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.

But a more important aspect of the show is the lessons it taught.

Every episode seems to focus on the importance of honesty, hard work, and respect. I also enjoy how the show shed a light on the darker side of fame: the paparazzi, the scandals, and the fake campaigns and relationships that get forced on stars.

11 "They've Never Made Anything Good"

Via Giphy

Quality is genuinely subjective, and something that one person loves could be hell to another. Blanket statements on whether something is ‘good’ or not rarely hold up. While there are some shows that might not be for everyone, there are some solid gems on the Disney Channel that should not be overlooked.

Gravity Falls is one of the greatest long-form shows that I have ever seen. Phineas and Ferb is insanely clever and cute. Kim Possible was one of the first female spy shows directed at children and that’s amazing. The Even Stevens Movie is an undeniable classic. And you are lying if you say that you have never sung or danced along to a High School Musical or Cheetah Girls song.

10 "What Are These Shows Teaching Our Children?"

Via Blavity

That’s So Raven shows kids that what makes them different also makes them powerful. Good Luck Charlie showed us that family, in all shapes, sizes, and forms is where we find our strongest support systems. These shows shaped generations, and that is not something to scoff at. Girl Meets World discussed how people change as they grow up, teaches how to respect peoples boundaries, the importance of someone's heritage and that you can’t just adopt someone else’s culture.

They touched on the fact that children are not responsible for their parents actions, and that sometimes all someone needs is for someone to care. Going to the Mat is a movie about a blind kid who wants to be a wrestler- and has to fight for it. There are hundreds of more examples but sadly, I must move on.

9 "Kim Possible Was Just Ridiculous"

Via Pinterest

You know what? Kim Possible IS ridiculous. I mean, it’s a show about a teenage girl who wears a belly shirt to high school without getting dress coded! Jokes aside, a show about a teen girl who saves the world in her spare time, maintains a perfect GPA and countless extracurriculars while also getting the proper amount of sleep, and has an active social life IS a little out there.

But shows are not made to be realistic.

They are made to teach and to entertain. I can’t tell you how empowering it was to be a little girl watching this show, knowing that I could do anything if I genuinely put my mind to it. And while we are on the topic of unrealistic spy shows, why don’t we make the same arguments about James Bond? You know why.

8 "It's So Stuck In The Past"

Via Rebloggy

Let’s face it, some shows just aren’t reflective of our modern world. We don’t have 80’s style cliques anymore. Popularity isn’t a central concern for today’s kids, and most shows entirely ignore the impact of social media. And though many shows have struggled to adapt to this new world our kids are living in, I do believe that Girl Meets World did a fantastic job at portraying a G-rated version of the struggles of the modern youth. Riley was cyber-stalked, bullied through text and called out for cultural appropriation, in her attempts to find herself.

Though there weren’t any apparent cliques in the show, the children still struggled with the labels of teen years. Maya and Riley also didn’t struggle with popularity as much as they struggled with people not accepting their true selves. It was a modern take on an old formula, and was incredibly well done.

7 "Why Do They All Sing?"

Via Clevver

Like the “Every Disney Star Goes Crazy” theory, this one is simply a case of sample size. There are usually 10-15 characters on a show and only 2-3 of them have a successful music career. However, to become a child star, you have to have a set of marketable skills.

You can’t just be one thing anymore and the singing-acting combo is a fail-safe in Hollywood.

They want talented kids to head these shows, so the children with a more varied resume are usually the ones that get the lead roles. The kids in the lead roles get an incredible amount of mainstream attention and fame, using their skills to make a name for themselves, so that they have a career to fall back on when their show ends.

6 "They Teach Children To Disrespect Their Parents"

Via Perez Hilton

Once again, a lot of sitcoms fall victim to the “stupid parent and genius child” set up. For the sake of comedy, the parents usually laugh off the kids' snide remarks. But that can translate to kids trying to replicate that sassy behaviour in real life.

But, as a parent, you can always engage your child about the media that they are consuming.

You can’t know everything that they are watching and they are guaranteed to sneak the occasional risk. But if you watch shows with them and discuss the behaviours shown, let them know that you are there for them. They might not come to you about everything, but keep that door open. And don’t blame the TV for the lessons they learn. It’s not the Disney Channel’s responsibility to raise your children.