Barney & Friends

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Love him or hate him, Barney is a hit with preschoolers.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this long-running, very kid-friendly program promotes creative problem solving, civic participation, group cooperation, and active play. Music encourages children to join the characters in song and dance. Preschoolers will benefit from its pro-social themes and emphasis on active play.

  • Kids will learn important social lessos about topics like working together and understanding each other. They'll probably pick up some song lyrics, too.
  • The show promotes strong positive messages about teamwork, cultural appreciation, and problem solving. It also emphasizes active play.
  • Barney is upbeat, friendly, and inclusive, and his music and songs help encourage kids to be active.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

BARNEY & FRIENDS is a well-loved veteran in children's television. In fact, you'd probably be hard-pressed to find a child who doesn't know the Barney theme song. Barney's world is set in a community playground where he and his friends dance, play, and learn about helping others in their neighborhood. While the show's set and cast of children have changed over the years, the core themes of the series remain.


Is it any good?

 

Younger children will love Barney's colorful musical world. Every episode is filled with song and dance, and Barney really encourages little ones to get up and boogie along. Barney and his friends also love crafting and will likely inspire your child's creative side. Among all the fun, each episode is based on a pro-social theme such as respect, teamwork, and courtesy for others.

While Barney & Friends does offer quality entertainment for kids, parents should know that the show's songs have been criticized for being overly infectious and may wind up stuck in your head. And while preschoolers will love watching Barney's adventures, older kids may find the program's happy, sappy style a little too much. Nonetheless, Barney & Friends is a well-loved classic and will likely continue to delight preschoolers for years to come.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the importance of empathizing with others' needs in order to encourage children to play and cooperate with others and to appreciate others' differences.

  • Certain episodes (such as one about a missing cat) can help promote discussion about individual responsibility, coping with loss, and the importance of community service.


This review was written by Andrea Graham
Adult
May 28, 2010
 
bad
Honestly, a scary naked purple pedophile is not a very good role model

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Kid, 11 years old
May 1, 2011
 
i hate barney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
barney is so annoying just remember, it's ok to hate barney wether your a boy or a girl

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Teen, 16 years old
June 12, 2009
 
2+
You won't belive it. But did you know Demi and Salena were in barney. So embarassing!! LOL!

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Parent of 11 year old
December 5, 2009
 
Barney is a big purple dinosaur, he often where's revealing or more often than not no clothes at all. He can also be very frightening with his happy yet unrealistic songs. He also kisses kids who are like 5. Since he is a dinosaur he is also like a 20 million years old. He also got fired once for swearing at a kid. He also probably takes little sips from a flask in between takes, how could anyone be that happy if he didn't.? He also gives unrealistic outlooks on life and I think kids should know early on that life isn't all hugs and puppies and friendship. You can have enimies and there is war and famine. It disgusts me. Plus there is no real plot.

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Teen, 15 years old
July 22, 2010
 
This show is great, but in my opinion definitely not for ten year olds. It is so educational! At a glance, you'd probably figure, "Oh, it's all about being a good person", but it's that and SO MUCH MORE. Kids can learn so much educational stuff from this, too! It teaches ABC's, 123's, colors, shapes, body parts, colors, etc. Plus manners and how to be a friend and share and care! My little brother loves it, and I watched it too as a baby. I feel it's not for ten-year-olds because when I was five and in Kindergarden(in 2002), people made fun of me for watching Barney.

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Adult
June 8, 2011
 
A horrible show
Oh, PLEASE keep your kids away from this. It is a bad example for kids of all ages. I am concerned abut the one show were barney shows ANTONIO, a character in the show, how to use the G11 assualt rifle. After that, antonio and barney go smoke a joint, then the show ends. My 4 year old wanted to know what weed was after he saw this. I keep him away from this show at all times.

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Kid, 10 years old
July 2, 2011
 
Barney is AWESOME!
Barney is an awesome show. People who say it has smoking or violence in it are liars. Barney is an educationaI TV show that everyone can enjoy. I still watch it and I think it's meant for kids 1- adult. Adults can still enjoy it because it doesn't matter how old you are watch what you want!

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Kid, 13 years old
June 16, 2010
 
Barney is the best!
Barney is the best! I used to have all his shows! But, the ones who don't like him be quiet! Don't watch his show then if you don't like it, because that does not make any sense! If you don't like it watch something else! And don't tell people don't let them watch Barney because it's there choose! Just mind your own bussiness and just change the channel!"And I'm sorry I said that way.

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Adult
June 23, 2009
 
Stupid Show
I hate this show. Me and my friend made up a song, "Barney is a dinosaur with no imagination, stepped into a doctors office and had a vaccination"

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Kid, 13 years old
April 29, 2011
 
k lol
k lol

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This review was written by Andrea Graham
Topics:dinosaurs, friendship, music and sing-along
TV rating:TV-Y
Network:PBS
Cast:David Joyner
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Andrea Graham
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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