Nick Jr is a BIG hit in Our House! (Nick Jr.)

Member Name: English Lady

Product:	Nick Jr.
Date:	06/12/04 (1112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good programming, educational , Programmes not often swapped about

Disadvantages: We need more new episodes of the popular shows!

Isn’t it funny how you just get used to one behaviour and children suddenly change their mind and move on to something else? Beth was always a Playhouse Disney girl up until she was about 2 years old then all of a sudden we ended up watching far more Nick Jr.

Nick Jr is the specially made for toddlers telly channel from Nickelodeon. I would say it is just about perfect for children between the ages of two and six. There is a good mix of programming and it is the same 7 days a week (except for very occasional all day of one programme specials) and this is only ever changed a programme every so often so you never get a whole line up change in one day. I think the major catalyst in our move from Playhouse Disney to Nick Jr Was the change in running time of Jo Jo’s Circus. Beth used to watch this and then know it was bedtime. Suddenly it wasn’t on at that time any more, and our bedtime routine was tipped on its head.

Therefore, we looked for other options. My sister doesn’t have the Disney option on her line up so when we’re there she watches Nick Jr’s line up of Maggie and The ferocious beast and Max and Ruby. So a new viewing habit was born.

Nick Jr lives on channel 71 on NTL and channel 618 on Sky. It does repeat programmes throughout the day but only twice, so very rarely will a child see the same programme repeated on that same day. Here is a list of some of our favourites.


Dora the explorer is one of Beth’s very favourites. Dora is a little Spanish American girl who goes off on all kinds of adventures with her friend boots the monkey. It is an interactive programme with encourages children to think, learn Spanish words and to move about and be active too. There is a line of Dora toys now as it has become very popular. Dora is a favourite for all of us. It is a good programme, which isn’t too annoying. Even Mummy and Daddy don’t mind watching it. Dora is on at 8.00 am, 10:30 am and 5:00 pm currently.


Peppa Pig. Is only on at 12:30 but is a roughly drawn cartoon about a family of pigs. Not one of my favourites but Beth is always enthralled. There are a lot of bright colours and it addresses a lot of everyday issues. Especially good for children with siblings. As Peppa has a little brother.

The Wiggles. Ahh now this is a sing along show that will fill your mind with such lyrics as “fruit salad, Yummy yummy” and “Get ready to wiggle” which you will find yourself singing and humming at the most inappropriate moments. They’re good though and have actions and often morals too. Grand. The wiggles are on at 7.30 am and midday.

Little Bill. This cartoon is devised by Bill Cosby of The Crosby Show fame. Bill is a five-year-old boy who experiences a lot of things 5 year olds do. He gets chicken pox, gets stage fright, has a poorly pet, accidentally breaks a present, plays pretend and has a favourite TV show. Little Bill is a great show just for helping children recognise certain situations and helping to put coping mechanisms in place for these events and happenings. I love Little Bill but Beth isn’t quite so taken. 9am is Little Bill’s time slot!

Maggie and The Ferocious Beast is a joy. We all love Maggie. It is so imaginative. Maggie is a little red head who visits nowhere land where she plays with her friends Hamilton the pig and The Ferocious beast. Beast isn’t ferocious, he’s playful and mischievous. The imagination is wonderful; each story is a joy with lots of visual humour, and older adult jokes in puns. Maggie is the best thing on Nick Jr and is on at 9.30am, 1pm and 7.30pm. Definitely have a watch. It’s magical!

You have other favourites like Bob the builder, blues clues, Angelina Ballerina (I cannot stand that whingy whiney mouse) and Thomas the Tank engine. In the morning, the links are done by Arnie and Barnie Worm who mostly annoy me. In the afternoon, it’s the turn of two annoying humans with a flower and a mushroom. This is a new thing and I’m not impressed. The best has to be Face. He is just a cartoon face that moves and changes shape and colour but he is so entertaining. Between the £real” programmes you get songs and educational bits and pieces that are short and snappy.

Nick Jr is very much focused on learning and learning through fun. It looks good, the programming doesn’t get mucked about with and there aren’t too many repeats in one day. However some of the shows only have a couple of series so soon you have seen all the episodes over and over. That is my only gripe. They need to be making more episodes of the popular shows.

Anyway, if you have little ones do yourself a favour and tune into Nick Jr for a while. It’s Kids Programming at its best!

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