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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be totally annoyed that Waybuloo does not use proper sentance construction.

84 replies

pigletmania · 25/03/2010 12:21

There was a thread today on this but it was removed, but it did get me thinking. I just cannot stand the language used on Waybuloo, its not proper sentance construction. My dd likes it but is not fussed if she does not see it, and I would rather her not see tbh. Why cant the BBC make childrens programmes using proper sentance construction and proper English, ITNG is another one too but not as bad as the dreaded Waybuloo.

OP posts:
ToccataAndFudge · 25/03/2010 13:20

exactly piglet - actually quite a few on this thread agree with you (and therefore disagree with me ) but none of them have had to use offensive language to express concern about their children not learning to speak properly

TottWriter · 25/03/2010 13:23

Personally I don't have a problem with it. TBH, it's nice to see a programme aimed at the under 3s which doesn't have one or all of the characters unable to talk except in babble or fart noises (tombliboos I'm looking at you).

No, the grammar isn't really there, but at least they actually talk. ITNG has always irritated me slightly although I let it pass because hey, what can you do, and it's only 20 minutes long.

Honestly, I could probably recite the premise (or close to it) of Waybuloo as it was presented to the execs, and it's a pretty good attempt at pleasing the children and parents. Better by far than its predecessors (Teletubbies and [shudder] the Fimbles). You're never going to make a children's programme which the children enjoy if you're only concerned with the parents opinions of it. Parents want their children to learn while they watch, or be taught morals, or this, or that, and every parent is different. Children want to watch something fun and understandable, and if that means taking the language 'down' to their level to catch the late developers as well as the faster ones, then so what? I guarantee they won't be watching it at 16.

And it's a damned sight better than the crap they get fed as they're older; Americanised Manga (which misses the point of manga completely) and sanitised violence with atrocious animation and grotesque characters.

And as it happens, I think 'cheebies' probably comes from 'chibi' which is a Japanese term for 'short person' or 'small child'. It's not just made up (though the 'plumatoes' are pretty daft).

littleducks · 25/03/2010 13:25

I do like show me show me

But why cant they bring back tikkabilla and fun with phonics, far better programs imo

ShadeofViolet · 25/03/2010 13:28

I agree with you Toccata

StewieGriffinsMom · 25/03/2010 13:32

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Iklboo · 25/03/2010 13:34

Big & Small (shudder)

StewieGriffinsMom · 25/03/2010 13:35

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harecare · 25/03/2010 13:37

I hate the "me no like" stuff. I don't mind Cheebies and Pipplings doing yogo though.

pigletmania · 25/03/2010 13:55

Oh Mr Tumble, yes he is also irritating too with all that gurning, but like the use of signs, same ones we used when i worked with adults with LD, Signalong I think.

Yes the other op did use the S word in relation to Cerebral Palsey but could mean other people with disabilities too. Well each to their own with Waybuloo, I myself dont hate it just find it irritating not just the language but other things about it, but its aimed at preschoolers not me . OOps Tocata did not realise you know the person who created Waybuloo, but there will always be those who like it or who are not so keen.

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pigletmania · 25/03/2010 14:01

Toccata My dd loves Wayspoons as she calls it and i do put it on occasionally when I have to do the cooking or washing. After all its aimed at preschoolers not adults. It is an good thread though. I loved Playhouse Disney, dd loved Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, where they learn to count, colours and numbers, besides me teaching her it helped reinforce it in a fun way. Now that we do not have sky my dh recorded lots of Clubhouse and Playhouse Disney onto DVD before we decided not to renew the contract. Dora is good too as is Little Einsteins which dd likes to watch sometimes, her fav is Balamory wins hands down.

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madwomanintheattic · 25/03/2010 14:03

oh my. glad it was deleted i think, except now i'm worrying who the op was lol.

on the subject of children's tv though - please tell me 'king stupid has been wiped from the face of the earth?

ShadeofViolet · 25/03/2010 14:04

Wr are a Mr Tumble family here - DS2 and DD love it

Mouseface · 25/03/2010 15:04

Watching Waybuloo - Peeka!!!

MayorNaze · 25/03/2010 15:07

what i want to know is does badly drawn boy know that his music is being ripped off bigtime here?

ButterPie · 25/03/2010 15:07

I love Something Special and Show Me Show Me. I HATE HATE HATE 64 Zoo lane, bloody 3rd and bloody bird and Lazytown.

I like the yoga and general attitude on Waybuloo but they really need to start using real words. ITNG isn't so bad because they don't just replace normal words with nonsense and the narrator at least talks sense.

Green Balloon Club annoys me for some reason, as does I Can Cook and Big Cook Little Cook, but I like the premise of the programmes so don't mind them.

Alex and Cerrie are good, but I want to slap them during the bedtime song as they get that horrible smug look on their faces.

That is Butterpies opinion of CBeebies. Take note :D

ButterPie · 25/03/2010 15:08

Mayor - I agree!

RiverOfSleep · 25/03/2010 15:16

For anyone whose childre/cheebies like yoga/yogo, try your local 99p store - I got a Yogabugs video there and DD loves it.

I agree with the poster who said its fun to be creative with language - it really is - and thats how we have ended up with a houseful of pecuters, bouncealines and ponycorns

ScreaminEagle · 25/03/2010 17:22

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pigletmania · 25/03/2010 17:27

The op of the other thread was not me . Oh lazytown dont get me started, and Imagination movers on Playhouse Disney.

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ToccataAndFudge · 25/03/2010 17:33

don't think he created it - but certainly directed it.

He's a lovely man, and his wife is too, and their DS's are absolutely adorable.

thepregnantteen · 29/01/2012 07:54

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Sirzy · 29/01/2012 08:00

Ds loves waybulloo doesn't bother me either way. I do think though if you try to apply adult standards to children's program's you could take offence to any of them!

That said when rastamouse or third and bird come on I quickly reach for the tv control!

Cabrinha · 29/01/2012 08:19

If you stick your child in front of the TV all day, I'm sure it would negatively affect language acquisition. But you can hardly blame the BBC for poor parenting.

quirrelquarrel · 29/01/2012 08:30

Why do you let your kid watch TV anyway?

mauwmauw · 29/01/2012 09:01

In this house Waybuloo is the Holy Grail, so therefore is much loved by the 16 month old and the adults alike. My DD has loved it since she was about 7 months and would only settle and have her bottle if it was on, nothing else would do! She also loves Something Special and will touch her nose to send the spotty bag (so cute).

I personally hate Zingzillas (I can't quite explain why), extremely annoying but love Timmy Time, Chuggington, Octonauts, Small Potatoes.
Agree with the other posters who said that they aren't bother by the sentence construction as at the moment DD only speaks 2 word sentences anyway.

I would like to throw in something which makes me less concerned about the evils of TV. A few years ago I asked my darling mother how I learnt to speak English as she and my father have only ever spoke to me in Chinese. She told me that I had learnt it from watching TV, as I could speak English before nursery. I was one of those TV obsessed children and knew how to switch it on.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with my language skills or education level.