The vast majority of pop-cultural references that pop up in these "kids'" imaginations fly right over my son's head. That's fine for segment-based shows like Sesame Street that invite adult interaction and have to keep those adults involved, but in this show, those details are needed to support the complex story-lines and consequently, the show just doesn't hold my son's interest for long, despite the clever musical themes and well-choreographed dance numbers. I suspect that by the time his attention span has grown long enough to sit through the elaborate plots, he'll consider himself too big to watch the cutesy little-kid characters. The fact that the dance numbers are done by real people before getting mapped onto the animated characters makes it possible for a real kid to emulate them and actually learn some real dance skills in the process. Definitely the coolest thing about the show. Worth giving it a try on that basis, alone, if your kid's a mover and shaker in the literal sense.
The Backyardigans
(Rated TV-Y, Children, cartoons, & animation, Starring Jonah Bobo, Zach Tyler, Jordan Coleman, Where to watch: Nickelodeon, DVD, Online)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Animal friends find kid-friendly adventures.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 4 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Backyardigans was written by Sarah Wenk
Parents need to know that, since young children love repetition, this show might be fun for them. But for viewers older than about 5 or 6, the show's simplicity may not be quite as inspiring. The Backyardigans use their imaginations to create adventures, but there's not much interaction with the audience to encourage viewers to do the same.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about and imagine their own adventures. Where would kids like to go if they could travel anywhere in the world? Who would they meet there, and what would they do?
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More on The Backyardigans
What’s the Story?
THE BACKYARDIGANS are a group of animated animal friends (and one pink alien) who reside in a suburban neighborhood and have imaginary adventures in the backyard. As the characters begin their play, the scene changes from the bucolic suburbs to whatever environment they're imagining. The stories are simple -- in one, for example, the animal friends, in the guise of Mounties and Ski Patrol members, explored the snowy wastes looking for people to protect; in another, as a group of secret agents, they snuck into a museum to restore the "mystery bone" to its rightful owner.
Is It Any Good?
Although there's nothing wrong with that premise -- particularly when it comes to encouraging the use of imagination -- the series isn't as exciting as some other shows for preschoolers. The computer animation can feel a bit flat, and the stories progress very slowly, with lots of repetition (fun for kids, not as much for adults). The show also includes a lot of music, since the adventurers sing about their undertakings, which errs on the repetitive side (but again, it's fun for kids). Young children will enjoy these adventures, but older kids and parents aren't likely to be as enthralled.
Our Members Say
See all 82 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
fun for the patient and music/dance-obsessed preschooler
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect For Young Children, Not A Thing Wrong.
I give this all thumbs up. First of all, it's very educational, and teaches young children to use their imagination, which can lead to better writing skills, better reading, etc. And second of all, it sends a very positive message: be whatever you'd like, and what I mean by that is that it shows kids they can be astronauts, explorers, etc. It really teaches them to follow their dreams. And the role models are really great, and they all have very different personalities that young children can really relate to. Overall, the Backyardigans are just the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread, in my opinion.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
backyardigans rock all ages!
I love this show and my daughter loves it! She's been a fan since she was 20 months. Loves the international/cross-genre music and dances along with the characters. Not only does she know most of the lyrics to the songs of the episodes we own, but she uses the language in day-to-day conversation. Whenever she comes out with something totally cute and precocious, I ask, 'where did you hear that?' invariably the answer is Tyrone, or Pablo. Did i mention that I too enjoy this show? We even went to see them live. Good, educational, musical fun.
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect for preschoolers and their parents
My son has loved this since he was 3. Nice mix of music that's never monotonous, which is huge for the adults that watch. He loves to recreate the stories later on. Personally, I like how imaginative the stories are. Also, while there may be some sort of conflict/race/teams element to the story, there are never bad guys.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 67% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 67% | of parents say it's educational |
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