Postman Pat - TV-Y

Small-town adventures just right for kids.

TV Rating: TV-Y Network: HBO Family Cast: Ken Barrie, Archie Panjabi Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this program promotes social and emotional development, exploration of one's surroundings, and community participation. The show's small-village charm encourages children to get to know their neighbors and make friends. Preschoolers will benefit from the show's lighthearted tales about friendship, safety, and respect for others' feelings.

Families can talk about the importance of being polite and lending a kind hand when interacting with others. Why is it important to help others? Should you wait until you're asked to help out? Has your family ever helped your neighbors?

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Andrea Graham

A long-running classic, Britain's POSTMAN PAT has been broadcast to and loved by young children throughout the world.

Featuring stop-motion animation with clay figures, the program tells the tales of a mailman named Pat, who loves nothing more than to make deliveries and help his fellow neighbors in the small English village of Greendale. In Greendale, everyone knows each other and works together to build a happy community, and there is always a project to be completed and a friend to be made.

Postman Pat's quirky-yet-loveable villagers will delight preschoolers and provide good examples of neighborly behavior. Pat's interaction with his community illustrates the value of helping others, while also emphasizing the importance of safety and thinking before you act. Plus, Pat's adventures reflect preschoolers' own curiosity and eagerness to explore their physical and social world. The show encourages this wonder and teaches children that they, too, can contribute to their community.

While preschoolers will be happy to watch Postman Pat, slightly older children (up to 8), may also get a kick out of watching Pat and his silly friends tackle problems. As the show is British, children may enjoy the characters' accents and word use. This tendency can add a fun layer: Kids can compare and contrast their world to Greendale.

All in all, Postman Pat is "brilliant!" Other strong, similar shows include JoJo's Circus, Miffy and Friends, and Balamory.

Rate It!