BBC programming for kids (CBeebies)

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	CBeebies
Date:	23/11/08 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Educational and appropriate programmes

Disadvantages: Space Pirates is entirely unsuitable, all shows are repeated

Sometimes CBeebies is a saving grace and sometimes it's a pain in the neck, today it's a saviour!

CBeebies is the tots version of CBBC, children's BBC programming, highlighting programmes which are a just a little slower and aimed at preschoolers, having said that I think kids up to the age of around 7, depending on the individual, would benefit.

We first started putting Cbeebies on tv for our girls around 18 months ago, in short bursts and chose programmes suitable for their age, generally Tweenies, RazzleDazzle and Something Special.
The first, Tweenies, 4 characters played by actors but in full body costume to look like some humanoid type toddlers and the show is based in a nursery or after school club and shows what they get up to together, craft activities, singing, visits and stories.
It's colourful and lively and seems to appeal to young children.

RazzleDazzle is a visual presentation of sound, stories and speech in general, it features presenters working together with children to present each section of the programme and therefore creating an extra level for young children who enjoy watching one another.

Something Special is a programme which is frequently reviewed separately but worth knowing about here. It focuses on Makaton sign language, the children's version of sign language. The presenter uses Makaton to tells stories, sign songs and talk about the world around and our experiences of it.
There's an opportunity for children to learn here and the show is fun regardless of the learning aspect, twofold benefit.

In between shows there are a variety of presenters who interact with their studio space to create the impression of a house where they all live. They talk about the shows, make small art projects, work on numbers and letters and demonstrate singing and dancing, all of which help emphasise the educational aspects of the channel.

There are many other programmes besides and now our girls are older there are more programmes they can watch with understanding, they've become fans of:
Charlie and Lola
In The Night Garden
Little Robots
Pablo The Red Fox
Tikkabilla
Storymakers
The Shiny Show
Lazytown

and aside from those you can also find:
64 Zoo Lane
Tommy Zoom
Big and Small
Mister Maker
Balamory
Fimbles
Boo!
Jackanory Junior
Lunar Jim
The Numberjacks
Doodle Do
Finlay The Fire Engine
Andy Pandy
Big Barn Farm
Come Outside
Big Cook Little Cook
Bobinogs
Jakers
Little Red Tractor
Brum
Ethelbert The Tiger
Bob The Builder
Bill and Ben
Teletubbies
ToddWorld
and many more besides.

Some are cartoons, some are puppets, some are animation and other are human presenters who interact together or with other characters.
Some are very intentionally educational, others might have a moral message about some aspect of life, like sharing or being friends.

There are a couple of programmes I really don't approve of, one of them is Space Pirates, a music programme similar to the Saturday morning programmes found on every channel known to kids. Music, pop bands and characters relating to a space radio station. It's way above my kids heads, the humour is more suited to children aged 7-10 ish and right now my kids like nursery rhymes by preference, not boy bands.

Although the good points are many there are bad points worth keeping in mind so you can be choosy about what your kids are watching.

Most programmes last between 10 and 30 minutes, varying for each one and interspersed with others of different length which keeps it interesting.
It begins at 7am and ends at 7pm after a bedtime wind down which includes a narrated story with a guest presenter, these are quite often Coronation Street actors and others who are well known on tv.
However, the morning programme is until 9am, then supplemented by the daytime programming which is repeated in full later in the day before ending with the bedtime selection.
When I used to let my kids watch tv in two short bursts we'd often end up catching repeats, which was no fun! However, it meant the tv went back off and we did something else, or put on a Pingu DVD or similar.

I like that the channel is augmented by the website, giving resources and activities for parents to enjoy with the kids or to oversee and to begin basic pc use for younger children.
You can find that and a lot more information here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/

Summary: Daytime tv for tots