Teletubbies - TV-Y

Fantastical, benign show meant for the very young.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
2554_orig.jpg
details
  • TV Rating: TV-Y
  • Network: PBS
  • Cast: John Simmit, Nikky Smedley, Pui Fan Lee
  • Genre: Children's Live Action
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show out of Great Britain is a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers. It's never explained exactly what the Teletubbies are, but they're ultimately cute and benign. But the question comes down to this: How old should children be before they are introduced to television? The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend any TV time for kids under 2; that said, there are no content concerns within this show for the youngest viewers.

Families can talk about why kids are so enthralled by the Teletubbies (and perhaps why a lot of parents aren't!). Is it the colorful characters? Their special language? Their bright, fantastical world? The fact that they repeat themselves so often? What do kids learn from these happy, giggly creatures?

Message

Social Behavior:

The series sends the most basic messages of harmony, friendship, and fun and introduces basic learning concepts, such as numbers and words.

Consumerism:

The Teletubbies have spawned a vast array of merchandise.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Language

The teletubbies speak in a giggling baby language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Joly Herman

First and foremost, the obvious question: What are these TELETUBBIES anyway? Aliens? Children? Nobody knows, and no explanation is offered. Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Tinky-Winky, and Po giggle like toddlers, speak in partially formed words, and apparently live together without parents in their mushroom-shaped cottage. They bounce around, playing and pantomiming, and plenty of kids are enthralled by them.

Is it any good?

3

Teletubbies, though gentle and mild in tone, might be confusing to the youngest viewers: It appeals to non-order just when kids most require order to organize their formative mind. On the other hand, the show is non-violent, multicultural, and curious. It embraces love and play. It's slow and gentle -- though its emphasis on watching the videos that play on the Tubbies' tummies is a bit redundant.In the end, although Teletubbies is unique and fascinating, it's not necessarily educational or important. You may want to decide whether it serves as a treat -- or a distraction -- before letting your child watch more than twice a week.

Other choices

Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 43 reviews.

1


Posted on 11/27/08 by Heatblast227 Kid contributor, age 9

I lost six brain cells watching this!

!@#$%^&*()What? I hate this show!1.No Education 2.Teaches babies to watch TV 3.Of course there is way more people that hate it.!@#$%^&*()
5


Posted on 11/24/08 by Ylndgomez Kid contributor, age 14

I LIKE THIS SHOW

I LOVE TELETUBBIES.
0

Posted on 06/29/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

baby show with stupid humor

first of all, their babys, not aliens. I have not watched it since I was like 4. Its not educational, its just 4 stupid baby-alien things discovering things on the golf course they call home. Lately, im sure you have heard rumors of tinkie winkie being a gay icon, and he basicaly is, being a purple, prissy, man with a purse who has a triangle head piece. He is gay in my opinion. this show is a waste of time and will teach kids nothing. I reccomend the ones on youtube, which make fun of it in a way, and it might cause a laugh. I dont recommend it to anyone.
0


Posted on 11/09/07 by Southparkfan4 Kid contributor, age 12

Jesus Christ...

The only reason I put an off rating is because one glimpse of this crap is enough to drive you senile! I was flipping channels and saw this and I was horrified to think that this show was created by parents who want their babies to remain stupid.
1


Posted on 08/07/07 by TKDTaylor97 Kid contributor, age 10

Oh boy.....

I haven't watched this in years! It's dumb in my opinion!!
3


Posted on 08/04/07 by plaah Kid contributor, age 13

It's Ok!

It's a little kid's show for pete's sake!!! The only reason they have it is to Entertain BABIES!!! Not 12 year olds!!!! Stop hating it if you have no business with it.
0


Posted on 07/05/07 by sdh Kid contributor, age 9

i hate it

this show is babyish
1

Posted on 06/21/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

How does this make you more intelligent?

I honestly don't have any idea of how this show is supposed to make kids more intelligent and caring. All it does is tell kids that babbling is a good thing! For some kids, though, it might be beneficial simply because they share. but it's hard to catch them sharing because they don't talk in any recognizable language! Anyone older than five, BEWARE! The weird little multicolored aliens will come for you! lol just kidding!
0


Posted on 06/04/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

Horrible...

This show is absolutely horrible.
0


Posted on 04/14/07 by ApricotstarP Kid contributor, age 12

PIECE OF CRAP!

This is the worst show ever!

See all 43 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 19 reviews.

Age 17+
5

Posted on 11/10/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 2+
4

Posted on 06/11/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

We love it!

We are 5 years and 3 years old. We like this show. We like the baby's face. We love the bunnies. (note from mom: they especially like the SLOW pace and the repetition!). We love the bunnies. (I know, but they wanted to say it again.)
Age 2+
0

Posted on 04/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 2+
5


Posted on 04/14/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor

Age 8+
0

Posted on 04/08/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 2+
0

Posted on 03/01/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Scary

Although my grandson watched this show once or twice, it was with a troubled look on his face! I object to the chimes and bells. It appears very regimented, and reminds me of 1984! Where children are being introduced to a factory life, with bells announcing the move to the next station. Avoid it.
Age 2+
3

Posted on 11/30/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

my son

my son loves the telletubbies it was the first show that he actually got into the show and would dance and sing and scream all there names out. i don't really like the show but my son loves it.
Age 2+
5

Posted on 08/14/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 2+
0


Posted on 06/24/05 by abatf Adult contributor

No No

The speech in this show is awful. I wouldn't let any child older than 1 year old watch it.
Age 2+
1

Posted on 05/24/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Oh no!

While the content is harmless, what this show is doing is training your child to watch TV. It is aiming at the pre-verbal child, thus the seemingly non-sensical language. How to appeal to small children was researched to the nth degree while this show was being developed. It does it's job, but is this really what we want to do--train our babies to watch TV? Don't they learn that early enough already?
See all 19 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 24 reviews.

1


Posted on 11/27/08 by Heatblast227 Kid contributor, age 9

I lost six brain cells watching this!

!@#$%^&*()What? I hate this show!1.No Education 2.Teaches babies to watch TV 3.Of course there is way more people that hate it.!@#$%^&*()
5


Posted on 11/24/08 by Ylndgomez Kid contributor, age 14

I LIKE THIS SHOW

I LOVE TELETUBBIES.
0

Posted on 06/29/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

baby show with stupid humor

first of all, their babys, not aliens. I have not watched it since I was like 4. Its not educational, its just 4 stupid baby-alien things discovering things on the golf course they call home. Lately, im sure you have heard rumors of tinkie winkie being a gay icon, and he basicaly is, being a purple, prissy, man with a purse who has a triangle head piece. He is gay in my opinion. this show is a waste of time and will teach kids nothing. I reccomend the ones on youtube, which make fun of it in a way, and it might cause a laugh. I dont recommend it to anyone.
0


Posted on 11/09/07 by Southparkfan4 Kid contributor, age 12

Jesus Christ...

The only reason I put an off rating is because one glimpse of this crap is enough to drive you senile! I was flipping channels and saw this and I was horrified to think that this show was created by parents who want their babies to remain stupid.
1


Posted on 08/07/07 by TKDTaylor97 Kid contributor, age 10

Oh boy.....

I haven't watched this in years! It's dumb in my opinion!!
3


Posted on 08/04/07 by plaah Kid contributor, age 13

It's Ok!

It's a little kid's show for pete's sake!!! The only reason they have it is to Entertain BABIES!!! Not 12 year olds!!!! Stop hating it if you have no business with it.
0


Posted on 07/05/07 by sdh Kid contributor, age 9

i hate it

this show is babyish
1

Posted on 06/21/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

How does this make you more intelligent?

I honestly don't have any idea of how this show is supposed to make kids more intelligent and caring. All it does is tell kids that babbling is a good thing! For some kids, though, it might be beneficial simply because they share. but it's hard to catch them sharing because they don't talk in any recognizable language! Anyone older than five, BEWARE! The weird little multicolored aliens will come for you! lol just kidding!
0


Posted on 06/04/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

Horrible...

This show is absolutely horrible.
0


Posted on 04/14/07 by ApricotstarP Kid contributor, age 12

PIECE OF CRAP!

This is the worst show ever!
See all 24 kids reviews >
Review It
more
What do your kids do online?
Surf
34%
Homework and research
19%
Download music
10%
Chat with friends
37%
132 votes