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Boohbah (PBS)

common sense media says

Move, solve, think, & talk with active learning.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series is designed to involve kids all along, but the right viewing age may be hard to determine. If your child just stares at the screen blankly, s/he might be too young -- simply being mesmerized by the colors isn't the point. But older children who can interact with the program and learn from it may have already moved on to more sophisticated programs. The series is designed to help build active learning skills inlcuding movement, math, problem solving, language, and imagination. The best approach may be to watch together a few times and see if your child responds to it.

Positive messages: Diverse cast of colorful creatures and humans.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Boohbah

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how the characters found solutions to their tasks, reaffirming problem solving. Recreate the segments from the show by having your child dance to his/her favorite song or "actively" help clean up toys.

What's the story?

What's the story?
BOOHBAH can, upon the first few viewings, appear so silly and strange that parents might conclude it could very well have a detrimental effect on their kids. But the odd-looking creatures are in fact atoms of energy that live in a glowing ball of light. The content of the show aims to help children develop movement, math, problem-solving, and language skills while also engaging their imaginations. This is achieved through predictable segments that feature the Boohbahs warming up with some dance moves and real children demonstrating different kinds of movement. Each episode also includes a visit to Storyworld, where human characters solve a simple problem, such as how to get a bunch of colored balls into a wheelbarrow.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Boohbah tries to give kids opportunities to participate in what happens onscreen. As in Blue's Clues, off-screen children help control the action. "Active viewing" is a philosophy prominent among today's children's programming. Shows aim to get children to use their brains and bodies rather than just passively watch a show. It's an admirable goal, but the real test is whether or not the show works with your kid.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: PBS
Cast: Alex Poulter, Cal Jaggers, Emma Ainsley
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: PBS
This review was written by Betsy Wallace
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Jigglypuff
kid, 13 years old
4
 
THIS SHOW IS LAME! I saw it when I was 4 and thought "WHATE THE HECK IS THIS CRAP!". What other kind of show has creepy furry things that go "BEE-BAH!". I watch stuff like "Invader ZIM" and "AAAHH Real Monsters" and THIS creeps me out! BTW, on the show "MAD" I actually ENJOYED Toys"4"Brats and I am creeped out by THIS, holy crap! And I used to think Robot Chicken was stupid!
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Blue-Bunny
teen, 18 years old
17
 
Tisk. Tisk. Tisk.
I know this may sound strange, but I adored Teletubbies when I was younger and still do as they bring back memories of my toddler days. However, I thought this was an utter piece of crap. What was this supposed to teach? It definitely taught me nothing. In fact, I thought it was more creepy than cute or funny. If you want some real shows, try Teletubbies (like I said earlier) or In The Night Garden. Both are very relaxing shows for toddlers. Skip this nonsense.
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CelticBoy
teen, 15 years old
 
ack!
This is creepy, vapid, and generally scary! Odd little fat things dance around real weird! I don't get it! Stick to teletubbies, Sesame Street, or Nick Jr. This creeps me out and I've seen movies like Kingdom of Heaven and Braveheart!
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MADLover
kid, 11 years old
2
 
I used to like but now AHHHH!
Creepy!
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suitelife
teen, 17 years old
 
oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sister runs away and crys when this show comes on and she is 4!
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24cool
kid, 8 years old
17
 
The worst show ever unless they make a worse show
I hate this show it's so scary its gonna happen in the year 2012 (just kidding the worlds not gonna end in 2012) and the teletubbies is on for 2+ and this is on 3+ probably because this is the creepiest toddler show of all time why does common sense media give it three stars they should give it negative five stars this is so scary it's crap don't watch it not even one little second
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mkalv
teen, 17 years old
2
 
Weird.
This show is about aliens who dance with rainbows, make gassy noises, watch play with characters like Mr. Man and Miss Lady. Pointless.
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ILUVMEAT
teen, 17 years old
 
OMG, mutant teletubbies! They are gonna get us!!
This is like mutated teletubbies. It is like four or five fat furry things with baby heads. Names include stuff like zing zing zing bah. Hello, that is retarted. This will scare kids more than educate them. It is so retarted. ughhhhhhhh.
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montiki
adult
 
???
my toddler absolutely LOVES the boohbah web site - great sites and sounds for a little one. but i have little positive to say for the show itself. too bad!
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HTFMime
teen, 16 years old
9
 
Glad its not on anymore.
When I was 9, my stupid sister always forced me to watch this show! I always hated it. Boohbah was a stupid rip off of the teletubbies. I also agree with that adult reviewer, it is a brain drain.
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jennylyn85
adult
 
What the H*ll!!!
I know, the intention are good. But what adult more less child would understand without ready. It mesmerized my 18 month old which I think is scarey. She laughes, but she isn't learning anything. I was pro teletubbies, I thought they were cute and you learned. But these things are just plain freaky. My mother hate there "energy pods" saying they look like aliens.
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PS2freek
adult
 
Pointless. If anything, this show will scare your toddlers.
Actually I had a nightmare after watching this show. The boohbahs all had pitchforks and they rose up in an angry mob and overtook the world (in my dream, of course). The show is weird, and very poorly done. Sometimes they use real kids, in which case you will be able to see the Green Screen line around them due to the poor Alpha Keying effects. My advice: instead of letting your kids watch a pointless and sometimes creepy show like this, go get some education out of TV time and watch something like Blues Clues or Dora. Of course I hate all baby shows cause im 14 but your kids will like the Nick Junior content a lot better. Ditch PBS.
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PALMommy
adult
 
Brain Drain!
My child's iq increased when I changed the channel. I just don't "get" this show's appeal at all.
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Mrs. Lady
adult
 
Best show ever!
This is the greatest show on Television EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
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VForNoVendettas
kid, 10 years old
2
 
Trippy
I think the creator of the show must of been tripping balls on acid when he made this.
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revawave
adult
 
Can tv get any more stupid?
This show has absolutely no point. They say it is to get kids up and moving, but the only thing this show made my son do is sit on the couch with his eyes glazed over. Seriously, this show is dumb, the boobah things, the little skits they do with absolutely NO point, and the little farting noises the boobahs make? Come on.
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kbonardi
adult
 
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joethomas9
kid, 13 years old
17
 
This is... Retarded.
Is this seriously supposed to teach kids how to exercise? How are kids supposed to process this?? The only message that's gonna come out of your kids is pure horror. I'm 12 and not even i can process this! I was watching an episode and they were just jumping around doing stuff that looks like crunches? What kind of sick mind came up with this scary piece of garbage?
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Zimhatesu
kid, 12 years old
 
WTF?
WTF is this show? Totally Creepy! I never liked it. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! ZIM HATES THIS SHOW!!!!! I WILL USE MY ALMIGHTY IRKEN MIGHTY FIST TO BEAT UP THOSE MONSTERS!!!!! IT'S TOTAL CRAP!!!! I HATE IT!!!!!! BUT GIR WILL LIKE IT. WE HUMANS HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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emmasmom513
adult
 
Awful!!!
This show makes no sense at all. And am I the only one who thinks the creatures look like little penises?
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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