To ask if anyone can solve the mystery of the “Clifford Temperature?”

[CliffordMystery]

This has been puzzling my husband and me for about 11 years now…

When my daughter was nearly 3 years old, we asked her if there was anything she would really like as a present.

She said she would really like “a Clifford Temperature.” We obviously asked her questions to try to ascertain what a Clifford Temperature might be, but to no avail.

We guess it might have been something to do with Clifford the big red dog - the Puppy Days one was on CBeebies at the time and she watched it occasionally. I can’t think where else the name Clifford would have come from.

We both imagine the “temperature” element to look like the old totaliser for the Blue Peter appeal - like a giant thermometer.

Of course we did extensive googling at the time, but there did not seem to be such a thing as a Clifford branded thermometer or anything that looked like one in existence.

Does anyone have any ideas as we’re still intrigued to know? Is anyone a Clifford expert and knows an episode where it might have featured?!

I think (and not to pull rank, but I am a child psychologist ) that she wanted a Clifford height chart. You measure both height and temperature and a height chart looks tall and thin like a thermometer. She just got the measuring concepts a little muddled.

Gavel.

As a toddler DS used to like dancing to songs on YouTube. He would ask for Fire Hole and cry and cry when we couldn't put it on for him. We knew it was by Coldplay and scoured their lyrics and videos for anything that might fit.
Then one day it came on the radio.
Turned out to be Violet Hill.

’take the buses'... toothbrushes?

It was definitely something he wanted to eat, I think. I guess I’ll never know!

There's a Clifford book where they visit Granny in hospital and Clifford licks the thermometer. It's an old fashioned glass thermometer, I guess that might seem exotic nowadays!

I like the height chart suggestion.

There's a 'whistle and play' Clifford toy in google searches - whistle/thermometer?

Clifford Visits the Hospital:

I’m dying at some of these. Sun carrots! Brilliant. Also the toy ‘in my head’

Take the buses could maybe be toast and butter?

Yeah, the height chart seems like a good guess 👍🏻 particularly as you say your DD’s pronunciation was clear.

Love all these quirky little toddler stories 😊

Years ago when I collected my 2 year old DD from nursery the staff told me she’d been asking for “moo-nix” all afternoon and was getting increasingly upset as they had no idea what she wanted. “Moo-nix” was her way of saying “music” - bless her. She’s 16 now and when we’re in the car I still ask her if she’d like to put the moo-nix on 😂

This thread reminds me of a documentary I watched about past lives where young children gave verifiable details about people who had died. So Clifford's Temperature could be from the 1800s.

PseudoBadger

Chicken in the wicken =
Chicken in the (wicker) basket?

My DD asked for “a temperature” at a similar age. She then clarified “in a special bag”. Turned out she wanted a doctor bag with thermometer etc…
Surely Clifford sometimes went to the vets and if so she could have seen a doctor/vet set portrayed on screen.

The height chart sounds like a good possibility to me, especially if puppy Clifford was measured as he grew?

My DD wasn't very clear with speech at all when she was young so the year she was asking Santa for poop and a bum was great. She wanted Scoop (from Bob the Builder) and a drum.

Clifford medical case, like with a stethoscope, thermometer etc in?

OK, I have your answer.
Clifford the Big Red Dog Series 1 Episode 27, Emily Elizabeth is not well, and she has a temperature. Clifford and that small crappypoodle, whatever it was called, decide to get her flowers, a balloon and a card to make her get better, and the story is about how they came to get those three things, and how happy Emily Elizabeth was to receive them.
Flowers, a balloon and a card.
You're welcome!

Cute post. Thanks

My son spoke about a "heffter". Said he wanted to go on one. Couldnt work out what he meant at all till we were out in the car and said, look a heffter. It was a combine harvester. He's 26 now and we still call them heffter's.

Thermometer probe covers

Clip for d' temperature?

I am fucking fascinated with the things as an adult. Would love to have a thermometer which required them. So much faffery. So sophisticated.

@Laiste

Don't know OP. Apparently, when i was very small, there was something i used to see out of the car window - only when driving in the countryside - which would cause me to point and panic and cry.

Once i was old enough to try to talk i'd point and cry and shout ''Gum-chumps!

My parents moved heaven and earth to try to work out what the hell a gum-chump was and why it was so upsetting, but never did manage.
(and i don't remember!)

This is quite weird as when I was little I used to talk about “poo gum’s” apparently everyone had one except my mum. There was a recording of me too and still no idea what the hell a poo gum is!

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff

My 3yo wants "political jam".

Any takers?

Apricot?

@MissMarianHalcombe

When my son was about three we asked if he’d like carrots on his dinner. “No I only like Sun Carrots “ It tools us ages to realise I normally said “Would you like SOME carrots?

Awwwww this is so cute

Is it something about a 'Clifftop Adventure'?

My son suddenly started calling my mum 'Your Majestin Dit-Dilys' about twelve years ago (he's 14 too, for clarity). I always thought I'd watch one of his programmes and it's jump out at me, but it never did.

My DD at two constantly asked for the "Wee-wee-vee-ah" song. Over a year later, Adele's When We Were Young came on, and she started singing "Wee-Wee-Vee-Ah". I'm with those that think a Clifford Adventure but misheard.

Kids are so funny.

My kids used to love Clifford the big red dog when they were toddlers. I quite liked it too.
I was very excited to find out that there’s a Clifford film coming out soon, my kids now much older, don’t seem interested. I’m disappointed. 🤣

My DS is asking for a germ gun for his birthday at the end of the month. A gun that shoots out germs. He cannot be convinced it's not real.