Barney & Friends
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Love him or hate him, Barney is a hit with preschoolers.
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
What parents need to know
Educational value
Positive role models
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
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.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
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?
QUALITY
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.
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.
TV details
| Cast: | David Joyner |
| Network: | PBS |
| Genre: | Educational |
| Topics: | Dinosaurs, Friendship, Music and sing-along |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Available on: | DVD |
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What parents and kids say
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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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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!
What other families should know
Educational value
Great role models
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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.
What other families should know
Too much consumerism
Educational value
Great role models
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