Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

I began watching this with my son just before he turned 2 and quickly turned it off. Yes, there is behavioral modeling, and trains who are acting 'badly' always get it in the end and learn a lesson, but along with the lesson they learn, I believe it's also teaches bad behavior with examples of jealousy and envy and plain old mean spiritidness. I know this has a big following, and it is age appropriate, but I don't want my son modeling his behavior on these trains.

This show is still good for my 1 year old, I wish I could rate it ON for kids 1 & up. In one episode this is a little superising but in Diesel said "Shut up" to Thomas. It's not a bad word, not really language my kids can't use. But It's just kind of rude to say to somebody. Anyway I used to love trains when I was a kid so I am glad they made a show with trains that talk and go on amazing adventures, All characters are good role models even though they are sometimes grumpy, cranky and mean like Cranky the Crane. It's not just the trains that talk. All kinds of machines like cranes, trains, cars, buses, planes, boats and helicopters talk because they have faces on any part of the object that has a lot of space. Some trains get into exploasions, accidents or crashes which is the only thing to watch out for. Anyway. It has a really good messgage and it's educational. Love It!

I have been watching Thomas The Tank Engine since I was 6 months old, and I think this is the best stuff you could show your kids. But I also want to point out that the older episodes (Season 2 in particular) is a lot rougher and gruffer than today's lightweight stuff. The phrase "Shut Up" is used 3 times in season 2, but what you parents need to realize (I'm talking to you too reedsmom) is that thomas was NOT originally designed for television in the children-protective United States of America! It was originally written by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry in Britain for books. He was a die-hard railfan and really wanted to reflect people's behavior (the good things and the bad, like friendship, honesty, and on the bad side, arrogance, arguing, and fighting) on railway locomotives. His stories were adapted into TV episodes until about season 6. I personally find the pre-season 6 episodes to be much more enjoyable, because they were actually FUN to watch. They were providing good role models. In Old Iron, James was acting arrogant about Edward's slow speed, but when he uncontrollably runs away, Edward comes to his rescue, regardless of what James said. And I also liked that I could watch a show that wasn't SHOVING the moral RIGHT down my throat. There are morals BUT their not forcing it down your throat. ALSO the older episodes didn't constantly have new characters introduced JUST so the creators could make a quick buck. So If you are okay with letting your child get away from all the abc's and 123's and watching a show that does provide some good morals and role models and is entertaining, I'd highly recommend the earlier seasons. (The episodes with "shut up" in them are: Edward's Exploit, Breakvan, and Diesel's Devious Deed) but for the parents out there who are particulate about what their children can and can't see, and only want their kids watching shows that deliberately cram morals down their throat without the engines arguing or fighting, I would recommend today's episodes (S8-15).

This TV show has some education about helping out which is a good role model. This TV show appears on sprout which is a kids channel for learning. It's not too bad when the engines are mad or sad, which is appropriate. In one scene when James was lost, Edward saved him and that was a good role model. When James was stuck on the dirty track, Gordon pushed him because he was a friendly engine. You must like this show because there is no content that's inappropriate.