8 kids tv shows I love to hate

I’m sure it was the same when we were children, but there’s certain kids tv shows that adults hate.  I suppose children do watch a lot more tv than when I was a child.  Although my mum did moan about how much we watched and there was a stage where my brother and I were only allowed to watch 3 hours of tv each a week – if we chose different tv shows, we could watch 6. It didn’t last long.

N used to watch only Milkshake which was preferable because it was only certain times of the day. But now he’s discovered cbeebies which means he can watch any time he gets a control.  I’m trying to move him on to CBBC, but I’m not having much luck so far.  I blame YouTube for his discovery.  Previously I used to record Peter Rabbit for him but he’s obviously over watched that.  He prefers all the silly characters who are made up creatures and don’t speak properly.  He’s 5….I despair.  Especially as when he was younger he wasn’t keen on tv at all.

I used to think Peppa Pig was annoying but at least there’s quite a few real life ‘events’ and ‘thoughts’ that are obviously included for parents to relate too which can be quite amusing.

Here are my 8 tv shows that kids love but I hate – I’m sure there are more but thankfully we only have Freeview so I’m relieved of having to suffer Nickleodeon as well.

Teletubbies

Why this was brought back I have no idea.  It was bad the first time round – I was at uni then – and it drove me mad then.  Silly characters not talking properly.  Ok so there’s some learning bits, but the rest is beyond my comprehension as to why children like them.

Justin’s House (and anything Mr Tumble)

A whole lot of children screaming, singing and shouting at grown ups dressing up and being silly on stage.  I’d have hated it as a child too.  I don’t think N would be keen being there live, although he does join in with the songs at home.  Silliness + shouting children = despair.  I give thanks I don’t live in a 1 room studio flat when it’s on.  Gigglebiz is just too much dressing up and silliness for me.

Waybaloo

See the Teletubbies above.  Just no.

I suppose it has nice calming music, but N can’t work out the yoga moves watching the creatures (I don’t even know what they are), and calling children ‘cheebies’. Eh?!  Plus there’s no story.  Weirdly N didn’t like Waybaloo when he was a toddler, but now he’ll sit and watch it.

Paw Patrol

Dogs coming to the rescue.  N is obsessed with this whenever it’s on.  I suppose it’s got a good message about helping people, but crikey it’s dull.  And now he’s got a book too…yawn whenever I have to read it.

Octonauts

Similarly to Paw Patrol, it just seems the same – animals (odd shaped penguins?) coming to the rescue of things.  What’s worse is Octonauts is on at just before 8am, which is when N needs to be at morning club. So if I don’t get the tv off before it’s advertised as coming next I get a lot of moaning about how he can’t miss it.  Noooo.

Boj

N always gets excited when this is on, but worryingly he doesn’t know what Boj is, what Boj means (I’m presuming ‘bodge job’ style) or really what the show is about.  I wonder if I can find a way to block certain tv shows?

Baby Jake

This would occasionally be on when N was younger, but even now he’ll tell me he wants to watch it if it’s on when he’s channel flicking.  It’s just odd.  A weird cartoon body with a real baby’s face.  It’s creepy.  And a baby going on adventures and jumping like rabbits?  Just a little bit loony really

Footy pups

I feel sorry for footballer Rachel Yankee having to work with kids playing football and cartoon dogs.  Basically Rachel tells the children how to work on and practise different skills each episode.  Then they play a game to show how those skills can work.  But really N is just watching 6 kids (and cartoons) running around kicking a ball.  Surely he gets more fun out of the football sessions they have at school.

What gets me most is that N doesn’t even like football (or so he tells me), so why does he like watching Foot Pups?  The power and addiction of children’s tv!

I’m also not a fan of The Clangers but I’ll probably get strung up for saying that about a classic tv show.  I think it’s the silly sounds and ‘voices’.  I’d rather tv shows, adult or children’s, had people speaking normally.

My worry is getting N outside or playing, exploring toys inside rather than watching tv. But he knows how to use the tv and control the pause and play of the recorder, which means I have to hide the remotes, and turn the tv off rather than putting it on standby at times I’m not around – ie early mornings when I’m still in bed.

What children’s tv shows aren’t you a fan of?  How do you get your children up and moving about and play off screens?