to think that BBC children's programmes are just...nicer?

[SenseofEntitlement]

I might just be biased through only having had freeview till recently, but (apart from Thomas) don't you find the commercial channels a bit overwhelming? The kids on them seem more brash as well, and more badly behaved.

Or am I missing an amazing, calm, educational channel? We have tivo so we can skip adverts now.

I really like CBeebies - the programmes all seem educational in some way, and I don't agree with advertising aimed at children anyway.

I have no doubt that there are other good programmes on the other channel - I do like Pocoyo for example - but it doesn't seem worth the bother to keep changing over. My DS watches most programmes, no matter what age group they seem to be adapted for - but he prefers to watch them on iPlayer so he can replay the theme tune as often as he likes if he wants to.

He also taught himself the alphabet watching Alphablocks and playing the word games on the website. Can't complain...

Oh wait, yes I do. I despise the way those damn Piplings refer to themselves in the third person all the time. Surely unnecessary. But apart from that, yes the programmes on CBeebies are Nicer. IMO.

Mostly CBeebies here though my DS went through a phase of LOVING Cat In The Hat on CITV. I also force him to let him watch Horrible Histories as he loves the songs and I like the one who dresses up as dick turpin

YABU - Peppa, Ben and Holly, Fireman Sam, Dora, Diego, etc. There are some great Cbeebies programmes but some ghastliness too eg Chuggington, I Can Cook, Grandpa In My Pocket and so on. I also hate that the programmes are on a loop. If we watch for a while in the morning, go out, etc, the same thing will be on again later. Why?

My mum only ever let me watch bbc children's programmes. The first kids thing I ever watched on ITV was The Tomorrow People, when I was eight or nine

I'm the same with DS but cut him some slack with pokemon cartoons which he is obsessed with and I SkyPlus so he can zip through the ads.

I actually think that all the BBC channels are bloody good value.

YANBU I do get the CBeebies thing. (I was also never allowed to watch ITV as a child) It's somehow calmer (probably the lack of adverts) and safe IKWIM? But sometimes it can be a bit too sickly sweet & nicey nicey! I also think now that DD has lost interest in alot of it as it can be a bit babyish (she is nearly 3.6) there does seem to be a bit of a gap IMO on CBeebies for her age group.

We have the wonder that is Sky+ so mostly we record programmes that DD likes to watch from across the channels. She does actually recognise some Spanish words thanks to Dora & Diego!

Most watched: Little Einsteins & Curious George on Disney. Peppa, Ben & Holly, Humf, Dora/Diego on NickJr. Charlie & Lola, Abney & Teal & Show Me Show Me on CBeebies.
(Not all in one day!!)

Think you just need to be very selective with the commercial channels. Having the ability to FF the annoying adverts is a bonus!

when i was younger bbc was dull dull dull but then again i am less bright and a bit naughty

YABU - Milkshake! is soo much better :)

My DS has gotten into the havit of waking up at bang-on 7:25, so by the time I get him downstairs and turn on the TV he hears "They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight!" and laughs.

He absolutely loves Thomas, Roary, Bert & Ernies Great Adventures, Mr Men Show and Peppa Pig. Hanna's Helpline and Peppa Pig are a bit of a hit-and-miss. Sometimes he likes them, sometimes not.

If I had Sky I'd probably put on Milkshake! in the mornings and then Playhouse Disney for the rest of the day. I miss Handy Manny and the Imagination Movers I only watched them because of my young cousin I promise!

I will say though, Milkshake! has gone downhill. They've got a bloke from Ireland on there and he just grates on me. I'm happy for the lovely woman with the light-brown side-ponytail to stay on there all the time. And they aren't sponsored by Sing-A-Ma-Jigs anymore either. My DP was aghast! He loved their little clips!

Hanna's Helpline and Fifi are a bit of a hit-and-miss* Sorry! Should really proofread!

CBeebies is the way to go - it's 'purer' than the commercialised rubbish on other channels.

purer? really this thread is a bit silly

The only programme I remember being banned in our house was Grange Hill.

Are there really no ads on Disney Jr? I thought only the beeb had no ads?

Another no ITV childhood here too - although what mum Mum was actually against was any of those kind of prog's with gunge in (Crackerjack, Noel's House Party and that one with Pat Sharpe all spring to mind!).

I'm definitely following in her (Ecco wearing) footsteps!

No ads on Disney.

We watch a lot of Disney Cine.

Just got rid of Sky - ds had discovered iCarly (trash) and boyband stuff. Back to CBBC which is generally good (although Tracy Beaker does nothing for a 7 yr old's attitude and language - so it's banned for the time being). Often catch her watching Cbeebies - Justin is still an attraction:)

DS1 will be 8 in July, and still only gets to watch CBeebies. I'm not sure he's realised there are any other channels out there yet...

YANBU. I tend not to watch commercial channels anyway as I can't stand adverts, and from the little I've seen of Nick Junior etc I really don't like constant bombardment of children-specific advertising the put on between the programmes. DS seems happy with CBeebies and his Thomas DVDs at the moment so until he asks otherwise I'll be putting up with blummin Mr Tumble for the foreseeable future!

No, no ads on Disney Junior. They have ads for their other programmes in between the programmes (coming up later...etc), IYSWIM, but no commercials at all. It's lovely!

CBBC has US programmes - Arthur, Wingin' It.

The best bits are the morning and afternoon continuity links with Ian and Hacker. Although these days we leave too early and get home too late to see them.

absolutely agree. was home with ill dc the last couple of days and we had a look at other channels (mainly because ceebeebies becomes a little repetetive after a while). I found them rather garish coloured with badly done animations.

My youngest (16months) gets hypnotize by babytv, im probably a bad parent because I allow it to happen. My eldest two love bondi rescue, i admmit there are worse things I would sit and watch with them

When I read this thread title in Active, I immediately thought "except for Tracy Bloody Beaker"! I see I'm not the only one . DH is absolutely convinced that dd got all her sarcasm from that programme. I admit, that it's been on for so many years that I am now heartily sick of it and would like to think that the actress changes career so I never have to hear her or see her again. That's soooo mean, I'm embarrassed - almost.

Milkshake is best. Little Princes, in particular. I DS got her book out of the library too

we stick to CBeebies to avoid the adverts. I hate advertising aimed at children!

Think the programming generally is just nicer; Mr Tumble, Abadas, ITNG.

Disney is OK, DS loves Curious George and Handy Manny, but poor Mickey Mouse has suffered horribly from the change to CGI animation :( I can't bear it!

Haha, you fucking snobs

"I remember noticing, when I was young, that all the naughty & less bright kids watched CITV..."

Really. Were you banned from Grange Hill too?

plenty of crap programmes on cbeebies/cbbc - Justins House/Mike the Knight/Tracey Beaker/various programmes about slime etc

I didn't realise that disney junior had no adverts. Thats very good. I don't have access to it but I am impressed. I do agree that Some shows on Cbeebies can be a bit old for the age 3. I could easily list the ones I absolutely cannot bare!