 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Wiggles
Common Sense Media says
A fun show for preschoolers from Down Under.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that with millions of CDs and DVDs sold, it's no wonder these Australians have maintained a huge following with the preschool crowd for more than a decade. At first glimpse the show may appear to be lacking in educational content, but the good, wholesome fun and music encourage 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds to listen for musical cues, move their bodies to rhythms, and, most of all, be age-appropriately silly. The four Wiggles and their lovably goofy cast of characters really do know what they're doing.
What's the story?
When the three orginal members of THE WIGGLES (Greg, Murray, and Anthony) met while studying to be preschool teachers in Sydney, Australia, they merged their interests in early-childhood education and music, added fourth band member, Jeff, and soon became one of the most popular and successful children's performing acts in Australia. They brought their album to New York City, and soon launched their hit TV show. The foursome (Greg left the group in 2006 due to illness and was replaced by an understudy) clearly knows what's entertaining to this age range -- they've mastered the kind of songwriting that invites little bodies to move and sing along with the funny lyrics. The Wiggles is like a variety show for young kids.
Is it any good?
In this era of high-tech expectations, it's wonderful to see that a show that uses silly skits and simple sets and costumes (each member wears distinctive, long-sleeved, primary-colored T-shirts and black pants) can still capture the attention of preschool-aged children. The other colorful characters -- including a polka-dotted green dinosaur named Dorothy who wears a bonnet and eats roses, a friendly pirate named Captain Feathersword, a purple Octopus named Henry, and a floppy-eared dog named Wags -- add even more humor to the show and have developed their own following.
The format is simple. Usually there's some situation such as Jeff won't wake up or Dorothy loses her voice, and everyone gets together to solve the problem in a few very short skits, using simple dialogue, some quirky sound effects, and lots of facial expressions. Along with skits, songs are performed by The Wiggles as a band, often using child dancers. Quite often they sing songs from other cultures, but they typically do not have many children of color participate on the show. Despite this limitation, The Wiggles will be entertaining preschoolers for years to come.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes the group so appealing to kids. Kids: Do you like the music? The characters? The colors? What makes the Wiggles' songs so catchy?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Dancing fun
My 2 year old loves the Wiggles. They sing and dance throughout the show, often teaching social lessons in a way small children can understand.
As an added perk, if you need an aerobic workout, try to keep up with your little one, as s/he dances along!
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AGE
High quality and clean entertainment
My daughter (age 3) has been addicted to the Wiggles for over a year. We have eight or nine of their CDs and watch the show frequently, and have seen them live in concert. The more I learn about the Wiggles the more I respect them - they are originally child educators and musicians, they have strict requirements for their cast members (no swearing, etc.), they are careful and aware when dealing personally with children. The music teaches and entertains. The recent shows with Sam (the replacement for Jeff) are super colorful but are so far limited in the songs and skits - I actually prefer the older shows. I believe this is a gentle show appropriate for young children. The songs are so catchy that I sing them to myself (to my chagrin), and honestly I had as much fun at the live show as my daughter did.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 5, 2011
AGE
God show. :)
I used to like it when I was 0-7!
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AGE
Just Like School
my kids watched alot when they were little but now it seems boring but they got lessons from this show so i thank the creator for what he/she has done to make my kids a better family member
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AGE
booooo
i hate um i hate um i hate um i hate um not funny note cute
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AGE
The Wiggles have been great for my kids!
Our whole family loves the Wiggles...my 8 and 4 year olds have been die-hard fans since they could watch tv. We've been to 16 concerts, met them 4 different times, and even my hubby gets into it sometimes. I'll admit, the first time we bought a dvd and watched it with our son, we thought "okay this is just weird". But, they are great and so genuine on and off the screen. The Wiggles have been nothing but a positive influence on my kids :) I will say though that their DVDs are better than the TV series...you can find cheap copies online. Give them a chance!
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AGE
We Love The Wiggles!!
We LOVE The Wiggles!!!!! We have so much fun singing and dancing along with them. My daughter has been dancing along with them since she was 1 year old. She is 3 now and loves to watch them more than ever.
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AGE
the dudes kind of freak me out a little but my baby likes them.
you know, at 1st I thought get his off my tv. but then my daughter actually liked it so I just finished it... not sure if I still like it.. but she does. So I guess it's okay.
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AGE
i loved the wiggles as a kid and now i find myself during the most random times singing their songs.
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| Topics: | friendship, music and sing-along |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Network: | Sprout |
| Cast: | Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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