In the night garden .wierdly good viewing for little ones (In the Night Garden)

Member Name: georgiesue

Product:	In the Night Garden
Date:	10/04/09 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: they love it and it fosters learning

Disadvantages: a big marketing scam

Quite frankly I dont want to like this programme but with a 16 month old ive ended up watching far more of it than i would have liked and I have to say i'm a bit of a convert.

Whoever thought up the concept is a marketing genius. They have entirely tapped into the small child's psyche and there is something about the characters, their presentation and manner that is just compelling to little ones.

What I hate about the programme is that it feels like a big marketing ploy. With all the associated things that you can buy that are "night garden" related the programme must generate millions in revenue.but kids just seem to love it and its not just that children like televison generally. My daughter doesnt watch television much at all. I try very hard to limit its use in the house and in fact the only programme she ever really shows an interest in is this one.

Whoever wrote it must have been on some sort of illicit substance at the time because its strangely bizarre. the main characters all have their own strange ways, from iggle piggle who is obsessed with his blanket to macca pakka who wants to wash everyones face with a manky looking sponge thats seen better days . He also likes to stack stones into piles. But heres the thing. My daughter (in common with most baby/toddlers) likes a blanket adn she likes stacking things into piles and in that way the characters cleverly imitate much of a small toddlers actions and so I guess thats why they really relate to it.

what I like about it is that it opens up a world of learning. Through the characters we have explored language, role play and she really has benefited from the things she has seen on the programme. I think its really important that parents watch the programme with their children so that there can be this positive interaction coming out of it. The first jigsaw my daughter did was a night garden one and she was really interested in it becasue it was the characters that she knew and loved from the programme. From this enthusiastic start she has gone on to become really good at jigsaws. Also she loved her night garden books which has helped to foster a love of books which im sure will continue and which i now expand on with other material.

The programme is on at 6pm which is a great time as its in the run up to bed when toddlers are getting tired and need to start to chill out and my daughter and I love to cuddle up together and have some quiet time enjoying the programme and talking about what we see. The only thing I think is that it is a bit long at half an hour an episode. We generally only watch for about 15/20 mins and thats enough for her in my opinion.

All in all its bizarre. wacky but little ones love it and used in moderation and not as a babysitter I think this programme has lots of benefits for children...And they love it and enjoy it so thats good enough for me.

Summary: in moderation its great