We're all looking for Blue's Clues, because it's really fun! (Blue's Clues!)

Member Name: i_am_joy

Product:	Blue's Clues!
Date:	10/05/09 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful characters, educational for very young children, Kevin is a star!

Disadvantages: None whatsoever

Flicking through the children's television channel last week I came across Blue's Clues on Nick Jnr 2. I remember my now ten year old granddaughter loving this show as a toddler, she was even potty trained in Blue's Clues knickers, and I was rather surprised to see it still being shown some eight years later. I put it on for her 23 month old sister and it became an instant hit, we have just finished watching a rather sweet episode themed around babies and my granddaughter has sat stock still for the duration of the 20 minute programme which is somewhat of a change for this little busy body!

Blue's Clues is a real man, a Liverpudlian called Kevin, who is joined by a selection of cartoons who over the course of the programme will help Kevin to find the item or story he is looking for in that particular episode. He is joined by the very sweet Blue, a little blue dog who is just so cute you could munch him up! It's Blue who will direct Kevin by stamping a paw print on an item or character that will help lead him to whatever he is looking for.

I think Blue's Clues is a fabulous little show and it's really stood the test of time, admittedly these are episodes that I recognise from years ago and I haven't seen any new ones but I think this is testament to what a lovely programme it is as the Nick Jnr channels will continue to show it during peak time viewing, a space usually reserved for brand new character shows.

Despite being very sweet and a lot of fun to watch, Blue's Clues is educational for smaller children in many ways. I find the programme really involves children who are watching at home, in much the same way as happens in Dora the Explorer Kevin will ask a question to the camera and then pause for the children to answer. My granddaughter is too young at the moment to really be shouting her answers, but I remember her big sister used to scream and shout at the television while Blue's Clues was on and would love to help solve the puzzle.

It does help somewhat with the lateral thinking process I think too and as children get that little bit older they will begin to put two and two together and begin to follow the clues for themselves. It's not rocket science and I think there is a fine line between the age that children will really benefit from this aspect of the programme and the age when they'll begin to feel underwhelmed by it all. I know my older granddaughter became a little disenchanted by Blue's Clues by around three and a half years old, but even then she'd still enjoy watching it because the characters are so friendly and child-like.

Also because the characters are generally household items (a bookcase with a face for example) this will also help older children to learn the names for everyday objects, this may sound silly to you but just this morning my granddaughter learned the word 'salt' from one of the characters (Mrs Salt Pot) and has been repeating it ever since!

Even forgetting the fact that Blue's Clues helps to teach your child certain things, it's still a joy to watch. I think these kinds of shows are excellent in moderation, my granddaughter can sit and enjoy the fun that comes with watching Blue and Kevin plus in a subtle way she is learning at the same time.

You can find Blue's Clues on Nick Jnr 2, shown regularly throughout the week by the looks of it. I think it is going to become a firm favourite with my granddaughter and I just hope the Blue toys are still available after all these years.

Summary: An excellent pre-school television programme that has stood the test of time.