Hi-5

 Review

Common Sense Media says

High-energy music and dancing for young viewers.
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

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series offers engaging singing and dancing, yet the quality of the material is sometimes sacrificed for the quantity of material. Colorful sets and the enthusiastic cast will be enticing for young viewers, but parents might find the content anemic, if not trying. Real-life videos of kids playing and doing creative things are the highlight of this program. Well intentioned and generally inviting, but not truly educational.


What's the story?

Though they should get an A for effort, the cast of HI-5 can only do so much with the material they've been given. Kimmee (Kimee Balmilero), Karla (Karla Cheatham-Moseley), Shaun (Shaun Taylor-Corbett), Jenn (Jennifer Peterson-Hind), and Curtis (Curtis Cregan) burst into seemingly arbitrary songs about random things for which the writers have composed music.


Is it any good?

 

For example, one song has a cast member looking at the stars and singing a song about a "saucepan" and a "starfish" that she sees in the sky. Why not take it a tiny step further to name the constellation, rather than using words that are ultimately employed as rhymes in the song? Another sequence uses repetition to drive the point home: "We will find an adventure, an adventure, an adventure," sings a cast member. Then she proceeds to sing it twice more during the two-minute skit. How adventurous is that?

Though some songs are based on real things like recycling or counting or making shapes, other songs are nonsense. When a cast member says "I am pretending to be the keeper of the night sky..." the audience understands that he's pretending, and consequently the skit is successful. But when another skit suddenly begins with the words, "I just landed on planet Move-a-Lot" and a song is sung about it, it's not as clear what's being referred to or whether the cast member is pretending. Remember, the youngest viewers are just learning the difference between real and pretend. Hi-5's writers would benefit their audience by making these distinctions consistently.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the purpose of the show -- what's the ultimate goal here? Do your kids sing and dance along to the music? What is it about this group that's so enticing?


This review was written by Joly Herman
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
very fun
My daughters(age 1 and 4.8) love this show. My oldest has been watching since she was 6 months. I like the music too.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Our favorite children's program
Hi-5 has been a favorite in our house for over two years. The energetic cast and catchy toons are a big part of it's appeal. My children and I have gotten to know and love Curtis, Kimee, Jenn, Karla and Shaun through the show, dvds, cd and several concert appearances. I would recommend Hi-5 to anyone with kids!

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Parent of 9 year old
April 9, 2008
 
My 4 year old loves this program and the songs are catchy!

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Parent of 2 year old
December 30, 2010
 
es todo bonito

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Fun song and dance
Both of my daughters (currently 20 and 42 months) LOVE this show. I quite often catch myself singing along with the songs - or singing them later in the day. The cast is fun and energetic, and the message is good, clean fun. There aren't huge lessons to be learned in this show, but they do touch the bases (colors, numbers, and most importantly to my little girls - social niceties). Our whole family loves this show, and don't miss the new ones when they come out.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
AWESOME!!!!!
Hi-5 to the Hi-5 team! My daughter has been watching for almost 3 years and my son (now 2) also loves them. We have all 3 DVDs and both music CDs, and we can't wait for the new season to start and some new DVDs and CDs to be released. We saw Hi-5 at the Vancouver PNE last year and again (at least) a dozen times this year...they are an awesome, energetic bunch that get and keep my kids movin' WE LOVE Hi-5

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Awesome and musical
It rox! I used to watch it. Still love it. Great show to get kids every age to get up and groove. Even my 17 year sister loves it!

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This review was written by Joly Herman
This review was written by Joly Herman
 

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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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