Pippin's mischief (Come Outside)

Member Name: abbadabbado

Product:	Come Outside
Date:	28/10/08 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: captures little ones attention

Disadvantages: not as fun as other shows

There are a few programmes my 17 month old daughter will sit through the whole duration of, giving me time to leave the room and actually get something done. Come outside is one of them. I think it's all thanks to the star of the show Pippin the dog.
Come outside is a programme aired on CBeebies about a lady called Aunty Mabel and her dog Pippin. They have various adventures flying through the sky in her spotty plane and visiting lots of different places to tell the children an educational and informative story.
Each episode is set around a certain subject. Usually this will be finding out how something works, and going to the factory or the start of the process to find out how you might get a carrot in your plate for example, or where wool comes from to make the jumpers you are wearing.
All the programmes are done in a fun way and they are not too over bearing for young minds to follow. They certainly don't come across as a lecture, and I have been known to sit through a couple of episodes myself.
My daughter doesn't follow the stories, she is too young, but she does get engrossed in all the mischief Pippin gets up to and seems to be entranced by him.

The stories are coupled with songs that Aunty Mabel will sing as they go along their journey. They usually relate to a nursery rhyme and it all adds to the interactiveness of the show, as I can imagine my daughter dancing along to this when she is a bit bigger.

Lynda Baron plays the role of Aunty Mabel. She comes across as a typical grandma character. She lives on her own and is always well presented, but has a loveable approach to her, and she is always smiling. I know this is obviously all for the show but she comes across well and is a character of how I would want my granny to behave like, and she did back in her day.

Come Outside was originally broadcast in 1994, and the episodes are on every day at the moment for 20 minutes at a time. There didn't appear to have been too many of them made, and a lot that we are watching now are repeats, but as my daughter is too young to notice this I'm happy if she's happy.

I remember watching Come Outside with my oldest daughter a few years ago and I was pleased to notice that it has obviously been popular enough to still be shown on TV today.
I don't think the educational contact is as subliminal as perhaps Big Cook Little Cook is, but it still does a very good job of trying to teach the children something whilst having some fun.

Summary: a good educational show for kids