Tales of the unexpected with The Boy, my pride and joy.
Money is tight in our house, so when it comes to movies we only go to the cinema when it’s something we really want to see on the big screen. The rest of the time we get our entertainment at home. Over the years we have tried several different options for meeting our entertainment needs and below is an outline of all the different services we have used.
This post is contributed by Christina Moore
From sitcoms and mockumentaries to dramas and sci-fi, television series have shaped the face of contemporary culture. To give you an idea of what shows have been most influential, here's a roundup of the top 10 greatest TV shows of all time. [Read more…]
I have always adored the quality of the television programmes on CBeebies, in my opinion they are worth the license fee alone! Sometimes I have a little quibble about the scheduling, but 98% of the programmes are absolutely fantastic and we really enjoy watching them together.
This year's there's been a wealth of quality new shows starting on the channel and one of them is Tree Fu Tom. I looked forward to it starting and was sorely disappointed, and surprised, when The Boy didn't take to it. I don't think it helped that in the first episode there was a giant (slightly alarming) mushroom chasing some of the characters. Since then he's refused to watch it.
Last week I had my first ever genuine surprise parcel through the post, and it was such a lovely thing to receive.
This gorgeous box of Easte treats was from the very generous and lovely Nick Jr and contained a plethora of high quality chocolate and a very special Easter Egg in the form of an information pack about forthcoming special celebratory Nick Jr shows.
Not only was it a lovely parcel to receive but also it's come at a really good time. I'm at that stage with The Boy now where his taste in television programmes is changing. Gone is BabyTV and in has come Nick Jr alongside the stalwart of CBeebies. He has his preferred shows on the channel, mainly Peppa Pig, but also Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom and, of course, Team UmiZoomi: he's obsessed with it! However, the range of fun programmes on there is more than I had previously realised.
Hope your little ones enjoy the Easter specials as much as mine did!
I was sent the above package as a surprise present from Nickleodeon. They haven't asked me to blog about it, but I've chosen to because I'm on the look out for Easter-themed programmes and thought you lot might be too!
I don't tend to rant on my blog, possibly a little bit on twitter, definitely in real life. My blog, however, tends to stay nice and safe. Therefore, please excuse this mini-rant.
Last week, I was sent a press release from CBeebies about their new and upcoming programmes, and a few changes to the schedule. I've been meaning to blog it since I had it, but you know how it is, other things happen and suddenly it was the Monday morning when the 'Love to Learn' block started.
At 9 o'clock.
When Show Me, Show Me should have been on.
I'll just give you a moment to allow that to sink in shall I? ….
…
… sorted? Right, good. See in this household, and I'm pretty sure in hundreds of thousands of others nationwide, Show Me, Show Me is an institution and a matter of routine. CBeebies don't really demarcate the passing of time throughout the day, apart from luncthime and the bedtime hour, so Show Me, Show Me is one of those natural timings for the children. They know it's the start of the day proper.
That's aside from the wonderful educational content of the programme, the old-fashioned or traditional play style, the songs, the acting, the interaction from children, the slight innuendoes planted for parents. I have compared Show Me, Show Me in the past as being like Playschool but for our children's generation. And we all know how that ended when they stopped showing that.
Now, I know that CBeebies have merely reshuffled the schedule to accommodate this new learning block, and not taken Show Me, Show Me off the air for good, but that brings me to my next point.
My son is two years old and he won't start school until September 2013, therefore I do not want him to experience a 'lesson' until then. Even then he won't because of the introduction of the Foundation Phase, which promotes learning through play and experience. I've watched the new 'Love to Learn' block for two days in a row, and it doesn't sit comfortably with me; it feels like forced learning. Someone said to me (earlier on twitter), "Well, turn it off then!" but really that's not the point is it? Of course I can, but surely a television company don't want you to do that? They want you to stay tuned? Keep the schedule as it is, and I won't be.
I don't have a problem with any of the programmes: Numtums seems a little simplistic but that's just me; I'm not a personal fan of The Numberjacks but The Boy loves it; and you can't go wrong with Alphablocks or Abadas as far as I'm concerned. Each of these programmes is good, however combined together into a 35 minute block I think has been a wrong decision. I think they have more effect when they are interspersed with the other programmes; more of a drip-drip gentle learning than 'here are letters and numbers: learn them'.
And yes, I'm a teacher. And yes, my son knows his colours, shapes, recognises single digit numbers and can count to 39 (40 is 30-10 according to him). And yes, he typed his name on the laptop the other day. However, this has all happened through gradual play activities and learning through play. Not through 'here, you must learn' activities or television programmes.
Now, anyone who knows my blog will know that I adore CBeebies and feel that they never get it wrong.
However, CBeebies, you've got it wrong: put Show Me, Show Me back on at 9 o'clock and lose the 'Love to Learn' block please. It's not helping the channel or our children's education.
Five years ago I could often be heard in the shower singing the latest Keane or Kaiser Chiefs song.
Today?
Today I sang about "Raggles and Blue Bird, Big Bear and O-o-o-ak-l-e-e-y!" The last time this happened, the theme tune was in my head for weeks. I'd be driving home from work singing it! It's just one of those tunes that gets into your head and happily stays there.
And I am happy for it to stay there because it's such a lovely programme. Everything about the programme, including Rosie, is friendly, happy and attractive.
My personal favourites are Raggles and Oakley, The Boy is very fond of Big Bear and Blue Bird, and of course we both adore Rosie! I hate it when CBeebies move the programming around because it's one of those shows that we prefer not to miss, the morals and stories told in it are excellent resources to help The Boy understand how to be kind to his friends.
On 6th February, will be the first Everything's Rosie DVD release date, and we've been very lucky to have previewed the disc. Everything's Rosie: ‘The Greatest Show In The Garden And Other Stories’ has over two hours of fun, and features thirteen episodes from the show, including:
and many more!
Over the past four days, there has been much television watching in this house thanks to the lovely bug we've all had. Everything's Rosie: The Greatest Show in the Garden has been a saving grace and a welcome distraction from a certain Mr. Fletcher in his various guises. A really lovely DVD for all pre-schoolers, it is available for pre-order through Amazon here (released 6th February 2012).
Keep your eyes peeled though over the next few days as I will have a competition for two of you to win a copy of this DVD!
I was sent a check-disc of the series for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Can you believe that Postman Pat has been going 30 years? I know, me neither! Although, I used to watch it as a child, and seeing as though I'm 34 now, it shouldn't come as a surprise. However, it is true: Postman Pat, celebrates 30 years of delivery adventure this September. As the longest running animated TV series on the BBC, Postman Pat has captivated audiences for three decades and will be celebrating his birthday in style this autumn with a very 'special delivery'.
I don't know what it is about Pat that draws people in, and I say people because it's not just little ones that like him, parents enjoy watching his stories too. Well, we certainly do. However, we never seem to catch him at the right time of day, therefore when we were sent an advance copy of the limited edition ‘Happy Birthday Pat’ DVD to review, I was over the moon.
This special DVD will be available from 12thSeptember from all retailers, and includes eight special episodes with more than three hours of fun.
"Everyone in Greendale is helping to arrange a surprise party for a special someone’s birthday… Postman Pat! The preparations are underway with kids, adults and even Ted’s machines helping out. But all the while Pat thinks friends and family have forgotten his special day. Will everything go to plan and be ready in time for the big surprise?"
There's also a free limited edition party CD with 15 tracks to sing along to; we've been listening to it while doing craft activities and The Boy has started dancing to it.
I really would recommend buying this DVD as it is excellent value and is traditional Postman Pat at his very best!
For more frivolity visit www.postmanpat.com
We were provided with this DVD for the purpose of this review. Our honest opinions of him are based on thirty years watching (although clearly not continuosly) and our enjoyment.
Postman Pat images: Postman Pat© 2010. Woodland Animations Limited. Original writer John Cunliffe. Lic. Royal Mail Group plc.
KateTakes5 has come up with a very interesting topic this week. I was quite anal for the first year and didn't let The Boy watch any television, with the exception of the very occasional '3rd and Bird' episode. The box may have been on in the background with my daily fix of Phil and Holly, but no children's programmes. I know, cruel hey? I also didn't let him have any sugar, salt or processed food until 1yr old either. How times have changed…
I am rather controlling in what I let him watch. My fantastic mum looks after him while I'm working and I was getting a bit fed up of coming home, turning on the television and finding certain channels on. No I don't mean dodgy ones, I'm talking the American channels (I know that seems Xenophobic but it is not. My child is British, I want him to grow up with a British accent not one learnt from the Disney Channel). In my head is that advert from a few years ago: The Wombles with an American accent. Therefore having asked her not to have Cartoonito or the Disney channel on a million times, but still finding them in use I blocked them on sky+. Yes, I used the parental controls on my mother!
Basically this list is easy for me, anything that's not on CBeebies or BabyTV is pretty much a no-no. There are some decent programmes on Nick Jnr as well. Snob I know, but I may as well get my money's worth from my licence fee. However I can identify these programmes as irritating the hell out of me, and yes some of them are on my beloved CBeebies.
1) Barney. He is a big purple dinosaur. He looks nothing like a dinosaur and they weren't purple. I don't care that he teaches the children about being kind and sharing, he's a purple dinosaur! The child actors on it are sickly sweet and schmaltzy and they do my head in. No! Not in this household.
2) LazyTown. The rubber masks are slightly alarming aren't they? They look like the Dead Presidents about to rob a bank. And it's not very realistic: Stephanie is actually about 22 and The Boy would have no concept that Robbie Rotten is naughty so why subject him to it?
3) Gigglebiz. Justin Fletcher may well have an MBE and it is well deserved. I think that every mother should be given a voucher to use that entitles them to 3hrs of childcare courtesy of Mr. Tumble to be redeemed in person in extreme cases of tiredness. The man is a genius and 'Something Special' is a firm favourite in this house with all of us. However 'Gigglebiz' is not funny: as I see it, it's a cross between 'Little Britain' and 'Benny Hill', both of which leave me reaching for the remote control. I think he's tried to indulge his love of slapstick and enforced it on children. No thank you.
4) Teletubbies. I actually like the programme and so does The Boy, but he gets really upset and cries when they disappear over the hills. I can't allow my child to develop separation anxiety for a red creature with a flipping circle on its head and a television in its stomach! So it stays off for the moment.
5) Spongebob Squarepants. I don't get it. That's all I have to say on the matter.
While I'm at it, remember this advert?
