to think that rastamouse is the best thing since sliced bread for pre-schoolers on cbeebies?

[semi]

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8293129/Rastamouse-CBeebies-preview.html

We love it in our house. I hadn't thought about insulting rastas - so will ask the rastaman my daughter and I see everyday on our way to school....but hold on postman pat, do postmens get offended? OK so I know that's a profession and not a religion, but you 'catch my drift'? Oh no - rastamouse speak! I don't think it will be just small kids watching it - I personally can see whole families (especially first and second generation black) watching rastamouse. the fact that it is on cbeebies might just be limiting - it probably should be on CBBC! It is the first time ever that I have heard anyone in a stop motion show speak with a proper Jamaican accent - my mum came to the UK 55 years ago - and so for the first time in over half a century Cbeebies have made something that I connect to at the deepest level. I want to see rastamouse in schools, rastamouse everywhere. I love rastamouse!

I disagree that it will appeal to white middle class progressive parents....if we flip this on its head - what does that mean about charlie and lola? How do you think black/minority parents view that? ....Well in fact we love it in our house too. Children see colour, it's a fact! They also need to hear colour too - again if that makes sense. 'Listen with your eyes, listen with your eyes and sing everything you see' - we all know that lyrice - and now finally it's started to make sense. Rastamouse rules!

the writer of rastamouse - michael de souza is in fact a rasta - so will take the rap for offending rastas everywhere!! if a language therapist says its spot on then only reinforces what i thought. that this was a great step forward for the bbc - ie broadcasting this - nb - not creating it - as i said above that's micheal and genevieve's accomplishment. maybe the bbc is making up for lost time - i certainly would have welcomed this 30+ years ago when i was a preschooler. but then we weren't big on sitting kids in front of the tv like we are today - with dedicated channels. ...i will be fan of rastamouse forever and hope that it has the long life it deserves

I am not offended by the Rasta mice,it's the blinging rapper mouse that pisses me off! Why put in a character that visually represents a homophobic and misonagistic group of people?

not all rappers are created equal! that's a massive generalisation.

I like the programme. I like the story lines and the characters

BUT

I am at the stage of teaching son to say 'I' instead of his name or 'me'. This programme is not helping. Think it is good to teach children of other cultures etc but would be better if he watched it after he has mastered 'I'. Anyway, I am sure he will get it and this programme wont be the end of his English skills :o

Ds likes it and we like it too.

I can't believe people are taking rastamouse so seriously! Since when did children's programs need to make sense? It wasn't made for adults anyway so whether or not any of us enjoy it is totally irrelevant at the end of the day. It's a good natured cute program that has a positive message with some culture thrown in, what could possibly be the problem.....? People need to lighten up and stop being so over PC.

DS (3) LOVES it, especially the music. His favourite saying is now "YO" instead of hello and he is desperate to go on a jet-ski like Rastamouse. Don't really see what the problem is.

It's a sorry state of affairs if television should be completely responsible for educating children about understanding and tolerance of other cultures. That's where one may be forced to do some parenting. Sorry to break it to you...

Oh and by the way... I'm unlucky enough to live in an are without many ethnic minorities, I'm sorry to say that I've never even met a Rastafarian. It's odd then that I should be able to understand every word spoken on the programme, despite the heavy accents. That's why I don't really buy that others can't.

Mind you, I shouldn't be so harsh on you lesser mortals. It might all be down to my awesomely high intelligence, not to mention my startling good looks. ;)

to princess.i bet u would let your child watch telletubbies and crap like that...what u said about black people is bordering racism..sounds like you wouldnt have your kid mix with different races if you could help it...
open your eyes to something different princess..

u average person!!

I wouldn't say I dislike it but I don't really get what the fuss is about.

Zingzillas OTOH is shite. DD refuses to watch it.

Timmy Time and Octonauts are favourites here.

my little lad loves it so thats all that matters to me!!!!!!

Well my DD likes it. She likes the theme tune, she likes the way they speak.

We don't know anyone who speaks like that so she hasn't connected it with being black anyway.

Would it bother me if she did? Well no.

If she said "Mummy that man sounds like Rastamouse!" I would expect him to not be bothered either. And if he is, then he can blame the BBC